Class CHeavy displacementCruiser/Racer

First 35 (Berret)

Beneteau · Jean Berret · 1979

Updated 30 September 2026

The First 35 (Berret) is a 10.45 m heavy displacement racing yacht designed by Jean Berret and built by Beneteau, first launched in 1979. It races in Class C. Across the measured fleet it goes better than its own numbers promise, ahead of 32% of the designs it races against.

Race Edge32Proven in racing

Goes better than its own measurements promise, and does it better than 32% of the boats it races against.

109th of 159 in its class.

Under 10 kn

10–16 kn

Over 16 kn

Compare with another design

This design has been found in real race results — 183 starts across 65 events — not only in measurement files.

Length

10.45 m

34′ 3″

Beam

3.57 m

Draft

1.90 m

Displacement

5.4 t

Sail area

66 m²

On the podium

Where a First 35 (Berret) finishes when she goes racing.

On the podium

of 183 starts by 11 boats

Wins

Wins3%5

Seconds1%1

Thirds4%7

Off the podium92%170

Read from 183 starts by 11 boats between 2016 and 2026, counting races with six boats or more.

Recent regattas

The latest events where a First 35 (Berret) was on the start line, named as the organisers publish them.

"Πορος 2026"2026
"Αγκιστρι 2026"2026
"Νικολαος Σαρικαβαζης 2026"2026
Aegean Regatta2026
32nd Cyclades Regatta - '262026

Raced one we are missing?

Report a regatta

Round 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

of these races end on the podium

14 races of 10 NM or less

Offshore & coastal

of these races end on the podium

153 races over 10 NM

Level across both. Plenty of designs fall away once the course gets long — a light hull that thrives round the cans can struggle through a night at sea. This one does not.

Who she races against

The designs a First 35 (Berret) actually lines up with, most often first. The bar shows how those meetings ended.

This design aheadRival ahead

First 31.736%ahead in 31 of 87 meetings, 73 races

Atlantic 3156%ahead in 72 of 128 meetings, 70 races

Discovery 30063%ahead in 70 of 111 meetings, 70 races

Oceanis 39353%ahead in 52 of 99 meetings, 68 racestoo close to call

Dromor 2667%ahead in 66 of 98 meetings, 61 races

First 45 (Farr)53%ahead in 40 of 75 meetings, 59 racestoo close to call

Dufour 3049%ahead in 49 of 101 meetings, 59 racestoo close to call

Bavaria 3612%ahead in 9 of 76 meetings, 57 racesalmost always behind

Sun Shine 3659%ahead in 54 of 91 meetings, 56 races

Dufour 34 (Dufour)65%ahead in 48 of 74 meetings, 53 races

Dufour 32536%ahead in 20 of 56 meetings, 50 races

Elan 4034%ahead in 27 of 79 meetings, 47 races

Moody 3460%ahead in 32 of 53 meetings, 47 races

Sun Odyssey 4057%ahead in 35 of 61 meetings, 47 races

Hanse 31579%ahead in 38 of 48 meetings, 45 races

Elan 41043%ahead in 23 of 53 meetings, 41 races

Dufour 3546%ahead in 24 of 52 meetings, 41 races

Nereis 3066%ahead in 31 of 47 meetings, 41 races

Sun Fast 3734%ahead in 17 of 50 meetings, 38 races

Gin Fizz44%ahead in 31 of 70 meetings, 38 races

First 2814%ahead in 7 of 49 meetings, 37 racesalmost always behind

X-33222%ahead in 11 of 50 meetings, 37 races

First 3862%ahead in 42 of 68 meetings, 36 races

Carter 3738%ahead in 15 of 39 meetings, 36 races

Bavaria Holiday 3532%ahead in 23 of 72 meetings, 36 races

Elan 4526%ahead in 11 of 42 meetings, 35 races

Dufour 39043%ahead in 20 of 47 meetings, 35 races

Oceanis 42383%ahead in 40 of 48 meetings, 34 racesalmost always ahead

First 30 (Berret)39%ahead in 14 of 36 meetings, 32 races

Optima 1018%ahead in 4 of 51 meetings, 31 racesalmost always behind

Oceanis 38178%ahead in 32 of 41 meetings, 31 races

First 3229%ahead in 10 of 35 meetings, 28 races

Grand Soleil 34 (Finot)30%ahead in 8 of 27 meetings, 27 races

Grand Soleil 39 (Jézéquel)62%ahead in 24 of 39 meetings, 27 races

Triton 4867%ahead in 20 of 30 meetings, 27 races

Sun Odyssey 33.169%ahead in 31 of 45 meetings, 27 races

Feeling 92074%ahead in 25 of 34 meetings, 26 races

Sun Odyssey 34.265%ahead in 22 of 34 meetings, 25 races

Feeling 10962%ahead in 15 of 24 meetings, 24 races

Sun Odyssey 33 (Andrieu)70%ahead in 19 of 27 meetings, 24 races

Some of the boats it races against

How the First 35 (Berret) has fared against each of them, boat against boat on corrected time. Ordered by how often the two meet, not by who wins.

First 35 (Berret) vs Atlantic 31ahead 56% of 128 head-to-heads

First 35 (Berret) vs Discovery 300ahead 63% of 111 head-to-heads

First 35 (Berret) vs Dufour 30ahead 49% of 101 head-to-heads

First 35 (Berret) vs Oceanis 393ahead 53% of 99 head-to-heads

First 35 (Berret) vs Dromor 26ahead 67% of 98 head-to-heads

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

4.91

39°

Beam reach

7.88

90°

Broad reach

8.50

135°

Downwind VMG

7.47

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.

There is no obvious weak spot here. It rewards preparation and crew work more than it rewards picking the right day.

Where it gains

Its best ground is to windward in a strong breeze, where it does more than its size and sail area promise. It holds that advantage on a reach as well, so the gain is not down to one leg of the course.

Where it pays

It falls short on a broad reach once it pipes up, 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.

True wind

Upwind+0.09 kn

Beam reach+0.12 kn

Broad reach+0.06 kn

Downwind+0.03 kn

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 35 (Berret)

Boat speed in knots, by true wind angle and wind strength.

Angle	6 kn	10 kn	14 kn	20 kn
Beat VMG	3.20	4.39	4.83	4.91
52°	4.91	6.39	6.85	6.98
60°	5.19	6.58	7.04	7.20
75°	5.38	6.74	7.23	7.54
90°	5.37	6.84	7.36	7.88
110°	5.28	6.93	7.59	8.37
120°	5.08	6.85	7.56	8.62
135°	4.53	6.45	7.37	8.50
150°	3.84	5.86	7.02	8.02
Run VMG	3.33	5.10	6.37	7.47

How they are set up

The range each sail spans across the fleet.

Mainsail27 m² – 39 m²

Headsail22 m² – 41 m²

Gennaker57 m² – 82 m²

Spinnaker60 m² – 92 m²

Nearly all carry a folding propeller. Crew weight is declared around 450 kg.

Rigging

First 35 (Berret) rig and sail dimensions

A First 35 (Berret) carries 12.88 m of mainsail hoist on a 4.50 m boom, a forestay 12.83 m above the deck and a 4.15 m bowsprit. Typical figures across the 26 boats measured under the current VPP, with the range each one spans.

Rig

Mainsail hoistP12.88 m11.85 – 13.61

Boom lengthE4.50 m3.83 – 4.70

Forestay heightIG12.83 m12.46 – 13.74

Fore triangle baseJ3.43 m3.19 – 4.08

Spinnaker hoistISP13.00 m12.65 – 14.27

BowspritTPS4.15 m3.40 – 4.86

Boom above deckBAS1.46 m1.22 – 1.77

Sails

Mainsail34.8 m²27.0 – 38.5

Headsail30.8 m²21.5 – 40.9

Gennaker67.5 m²57.1 – 82.2

Spinnaker69.0 m²59.8 – 92.4

The spinnaker spreads widest of all — 57 to 82 m² depending on bowsprit and set-up. Before ordering a sail, read the figure on your own measurement record rather than the typical one for the design.

Other designs under the same name

The name has been carried by more than one design. They are different boats.

First 35 (Farr) · 2009