First 32
Beneteau · Jean Berret · 1981
Updated
The First 32 is a 9.45 m heavy displacement racing yacht designed by Jean Berret and built by Beneteau, first launched in 1981. It races in Class C. Across the measured fleet it goes better than its own numbers promise, ahead of 23% of the designs it races against.
Goes better than its own measurements promise, and does it better than 23% of the boats it races against.
122nd of 159 in its class.
This design has been found in real race results — 110 starts across 45 events — not only in measurement files.
Length
9.45 m
31′ 0″
Beam
3.26 m
Draft
1.77 m
Displacement
4.3 t
Sail area
53 m²
On the podium
Where a First 32 finishes when she goes racing.
On the podium
13%
of 110 starts by 12 boats
Wins
6%
Read from 110 starts by 12 boats between 2015 and 2026, counting races with six boats or more.
Recent regattas
The latest events where a First 32 was on the start line, named as the organisers publish them.
"Αγκιστρι 2026"2026- 6η Regatta Σαρωνικού2026
Trofeo Regularidad2026- Τρίγωνο Καλλιθέας2026
- "Μακης Πανταζης" - Αγκιστρι2026
Raced one we are missing?
Report a regattaRound the buoys, or offshore
A short windward-leeward and a night at sea ask different things of a boat. Here is how this one does in each.
Round the buoys
19%
of these races end on the podium
Offshore & coastal
9%
of these races end on the podium
Sharper round the buoys. Short courses reward acceleration and manoeuvring, and that is where this design makes its money.
Who she races against
The designs a First 32 actually lines up with, most often first. The bar shows how those meetings ended.
Some of the boats it races against
How the First 32 has fared against each of them, boat against boat on corrected time. Ordered by how often the two meet, not by who wins.
Speed at every angle
The shape of this design's speed, drawn from the measured fleet. Pick a wind and watch it stretch.
Upwind VMG
4.66
39°
Beam reach
7.43
90°
Broad reach
8.12
135°
Downwind VMG
7.20
170°
Speed in knots at 20 knots of true wind. Green marks the angles that pay: the closest useful beat and the deepest run worth sailing.
Where it wins and where it pays
Every boat is judged against its own measurements — length, weight, sail area. The quicker those say it should be, the more it has to deliver just to break even. Going fast is not enough: it has to go faster than its own numbers promised.
This design is even-tempered. It rewards preparation and crew work more than it rewards picking the right day.
Where it gains
Its best ground is on the beat in a strong breeze, where it goes better than its measurements say it should. It holds that advantage downwind as well, so the gain is not down to one leg of the course.
Where it pays
It falls short on a broad reach when it blows, giving away time it never gets back. That is weight that has to be driven rather than released.
Above the line it delivers more than promised and gains on the fleet. Below, it falls short. Move the wind: plenty of boats sit on one side in the light and the other when it blows.
Full width is 0.4 kn either way.
At 10 knots this design makes back more than its rating asks on the beam reach.
How fast is a First 32
Boat speed in knots, by true wind angle and wind strength.
| Angle | 6 kn | 10 kn | 14 kn | 20 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beat VMG | 3.03 | 4.14 | 4.60 | 4.66 |
| 52° | 4.63 | 6.03 | 6.51 | 6.65 |
| 60° | 4.87 | 6.24 | 6.66 | 6.86 |
| 75° | 5.03 | 6.42 | 6.86 | 7.16 |
| 90° | 5.08 | 6.55 | 6.99 | 7.43 |
| 110° | 5.11 | 6.65 | 7.20 | 7.89 |
| 120° | 4.90 | 6.55 | 7.23 | 8.16 |
| 135° | 4.37 | 6.26 | 7.06 | 8.12 |
| 150° | 3.74 | 5.69 | 6.76 | 7.71 |
| Run VMG | 3.23 | 4.96 | 6.20 | 7.20 |
How they are set up
The range each sail spans across the fleet.
Nearly all carry a folding propeller. Crew weight is declared around 400 kg.
Rigging
First 32 rig and sail dimensions
A First 32 carries 11.13 m of mainsail hoist on a 4.08 m boom, a forestay 11.85 m above the deck and a 4.00 m bowsprit. Typical figures across the 21 boats measured under the current VPP, with the range each one spans.
Rig
Sails