New First 36 Spirit unveiled

by Beneteau Group 19 Sep 00:40 PDT 15-18 October 2026

Something profound happens when everything unnecessary falls away. You start to feel the balance under sail. The response at the helm. The logic of a deck where every detail has a reason to be there.

With time, movements become instinctive, the boat becomes familiar and begins to feel less like something to master and more like an extension of your own senses.

This is what true sailors have always understood: the essence of sailing is not about having more, but about feeling more.

First 36 Spirit - photo © Groupe Beneteau

In 1992 BENETEAU gave this feeling a name: "SPIRIT". First of its name - the First Spirit 300 was launched for sailors with a very clear idea of what a boat needs— and what it does not. All while seeking the deepest connection with the two elements: sea and wind.

The Spirit name disappeared.
The sailors did not.
And the technology evolved.
More than thirty years later, we are ready to say the name again. We are proud to introduce the new BENETEAU First 36 Spirit — a planing cruiser that brings the promise of joy of planing for everyone into the 36-foot range.

First 36 Spirit - photo © Groupe Beneteau

Sailing experience

As a thoroughbred planing cruiser, she delivers the joy of planing on a stable and safe platform of the now well-proven First 36. In sailing, her simplicity and lightweight design become immediately apparent. In light winds, First 36 Spirit responds to even the smallest shift in the breeze. As the breeze builds, the super-light, vacuum-infused hull — displacing just 4,620 kg — starts to plane in moderate wind, no longer pushing through the water but gliding above it.

A lot of attention went to her rudders. Twin blades, with CNC milled Corecel core, robust and lightweight, bring safety, control and direct connection between sailor and the boat. All sailing controls were designed with a small crew in mind, resulting in an ergonomic layout and, at times, oversized, high-quality deck equipment. She is a joy to sail even at double- digit speeds, and whether it is an afternoon sail after work or a longer passage with family, friends or even by yourself, the First 36 Spirit does not perform for you.

She sails with you.

First 36 Spirit - photo © Groupe Beneteau

Cosy interior

Under deck you will find that unique combination of comfort and simplicity that is the signature of a modern planing-cruiser. All elements are thought through, designed, engineered and distilled, until only what matters remains.

The three-cabin layout, spacious salon and single head provide everything needed for a comfortable life on board... but not more. Durable worktops, easily removable magnetic doors, innovative open lockers in every cabin with a hanging rail and retaining net. Even the compact head earns its place with a clever foldable sink that returns more space than you would expect.

Cozy. Honest. Light. The kind of interior a sailor steps into and immediately understands.

First 36 Spirit - photo © Groupe Beneteau

A team driven by passion for sailing

The First 36 Spirit was shaped by a team of lifelong sailors and some of the most iconic designers in the industry: renowned naval architect Samuel Manuard, designer Lorenzo Argento, and the young yet highly experienced team at SITO, all brought together and led by the passionate team at Seascape. They did not design this boat from the outside looking in. They designed it from the helm, from the companionway, and from the moments that matter most at sea.

First 36 Spirit - photo © Groupe Beneteau

The Quotes

Thibaut de Montvalon, Director Beneteau Sailing, CSO Sailing Division, Groupe Beneteau: "It is a real pride to have the iconic First Spirit back within BENETEAU's range, with this new First 36 Spirit! At BENETEAU we are a community of passionate sailors. And our passion is fuelled by our ability to design and market sailing boats that will share our love for sailing with others. This is what First Spirit means: joy, simplicity, no artefacts. In a world and age that often feels complex, First Spirit offers simple and authentic sailing to share our passion and expand our community."

Andraž Mihelin, CEO Seascape, First Range Manager: "Working on the First 36 Spirit was particularly special for me because it connects so closely with something I personally believe in: that joy often hides in simplicity. She was born from the understanding that the balance between too much, too little, and just enough is different for every sailor. So we took the standard First 36 through another round of "simplify, then add lightness" and kept asking ourselves what could be removed, refined, or made more intuitive. The result is a boat I find genuinely beautiful in its simplicity, and one that I hope will bring what we call the joy of planing to an even wider circle of sailors."

First 36 Spirit has a simple purpose: to make joy of planing accessible to more sailors. Stripped of unnecessary complexity and with a starting price of €200,000 excluding VAT, she brings the focus back to the essentials — the boat, the wind and the sea.

The BENETEAU First 36 Spirit world premiere will take place at Boot Düsseldorf in January 2027