This is a story I wanted to publish since June this year. Back then, still working for the boat dealer, I sat in the big auditorium during Beneteau world dealer´s meeting, as Andraz Mihelin entered the stage. Andraz is one of the most sympathetic, determined and enigmatic guys I know in the boat industry. If you are not familiar with this name: Andraz and his companion Kristian Hainsek are the founders of Seascape. So. He enters the stage. I become excited.
Usually, when Seascape announces something, it is something cool. I vividly remember when they introduced the First 36 with such an energy that it sparked standing ovations. This time, Andraz seems as motivated and as energetic as a child: And it is not about the new First 36 SE-version he is announcing, it´s because of a brand new project we´ve heard so many rumors about. It seems as if he flies through the – appently very interesting and compelling – new specs of the First 36 SE just to ultimately arrive at the one big thing. He takes a deep breath. And then it starts.
Lighter means faster!
Of course you know by now what Andraz was talking about that day, the anncouncement of the brand new First 30, the long awaited gap-bridger from the Seascape 27 / First 27 SE to the First 36. But it is not just a new boat, bigger version of the 27 or a dwarfed 36. It´s a completely new boat, developed under a very few and very simple briefing: To come up with a boat that makes the fun of planing available for everyone. In this, weight is key.
The new boat will be much lighter that her predecessors, certainly than many of her competitors. 3.000 Kilograms of displacement for an all-out racing boat seems not to be a problem, but for a yacht that offers all cruising amenities like standing height, a proper bathroom, berths, a galley and some coziness is something different. The recent „trend“ in First 30s by Beneteau, namely becoming heavier and heavier by each version culminating in the kind of ill-fated Juan K-boat is definitely over. With a bang. 3 tons means early planing mode!
Unmatched naval competence
Andraz, when I catched him and we started to talk about this, smiles all over his face and almost shivers when talking about the inception of the First 30. He says that the guys behind the development are not only among the finest of their branches – he says that people like Sam Manuard or Lorenzo Argento aren´t there for hire. Those are people who choose their projects. „It´s like calling together the Avengers“, he says: „They saw what we wanted to do and instantly love the craziness about it. So they joined.“
The outcome is a boat that – I am sure – will revolutionize sailing in the coming years. If you read my blog you may have also come across my articles about GEKKO, the First 27 SE I´ve sailed for a few seasons. What still for me is the most compelling fact about this boat was how easy and fast she would be entering planing mode. Around 7.3 to 7.5 knots boat speed GEKKO would leave her wake behind and sprint to life. In this, in the most unspectacular and safe way imaginable. Even with 14.9 knots SOG (my personal best ever) with my two kids and ex-wife (who always fears I might kill the boys) it was easy, stable, fun and never stressful. That is something the new First 30 is about to offer her future owners.
Combining the massive knowledge and experience from Manuard, Argento but also the „structural artists“ of Sito or Pure made sure that the not at all „simple“ briefing for the First 30 was turned into reality. One of which was a price of around 100.000 Euros for the base boat, which is, basically, almost insane. But they did it. And they not only did it, but they´ve launched a boat that follows the design of the First family, retains a very own style and – this is pure Argento – is not trendy, but beautiful in a way that it will remain seen as a nice boat even in 10, 15 or 20 years.
The effortless joy of planing for everyone
„What did the skiing-industry when sales went down?“, Andraz asks me. „Well, they came up with the carving ski. A little modification but it made skiing available for many more people as it became easier and more fun.“ What did the surfboard industry when their market hit a low? Well, they pushed the SUP to an extend that paddleboarding overtook the classic surfing. In a way, the new First 30 may become the carving ski for sailing.
Racing or racing-oriented events are exploding in recent years. Silverrudder, Vegvisir and other events are booming. The Seascape communitiy was a major driving force in this. The return to a more simple sailing culture, bringing back the fun of quick sailing but making it safe, easy and convenient. You want to experience two-digit boat speeds but don´t want to become an IMOCA-skilled skipper? Companies like Pogo showed that the exclusivity of planing-boats isn´t limited to pro-racing. It can be done by you and me. Average sailing Joe. Looking at the bow section in plan view of the First 30 tells a lot: This boat is made for gliding on the waves.
You can imagine my excitement when I saw the renderings! As a boat dealer I instantly understood which big demand is out there for a small, easy to use cruising-capable 30-footer! This is the best size for a weekender, best size for a small family doing fun quick cruising but also for the ambitioned racer-type of skipper. The effortless joy of planing made available for everyone: The central USP of this boat, perfectly shaped.
A boat we all need!
You have read my dozens of articles about #microcruising and especially on the Oceanis 30.1 which was one of the top selling boats in my portfolio. This size is really not an „entry level“ boat anymore (which also has something to do with the crazy high price level now but also, I guess, with a kind of new „modesty“ size-wise of boat buyers), she was simply offering all cruising comforts you´d expect from your sailboat.
That is: Two cabins for four adults, standing height, a fully equipped galley, a bathroom with toilet and shower, a saloon with lounging space and a small chart table. The perfect size for single- and double-handed sailing and for a family as well. But what was missing was the performance, the fun of not being held back by your own wake. The First 30 is that new boat – looking at her layout it´s exactly what her Oceanis-sister offers. But with the extra kick of sportive, fun and fast sailing. Apparently: For everyone.
You liked the interior design of the First 36 with her clever little details, like the „click on“ worktop for the galley or the structurally integrated parts? Well, welcome to the First 30 where the experience of her bigger sister is integrated. The interior is still reduced, white and plain. But there are some wooden and padded elements which make it actually look very nice, I must admit. Modern, modest and plain, but still: Likeable!
Childlike delight
Talking to Andraz is always a win. He is such a likeable guy full of enthusiasm and ideas which are – and that sets him apart from others – doable. The First 30 is in the making right now. In December there will be much more to see from the real the prototype and I guess in upcoming Boot Duesseldorf boat show maybe we will all be able to see her in real life. I don´t really miss the whole stress of selling boats and I´m really happy with my new „life“ but, deep inside, I kind of regret that I won´t sell any of these. Because I know that there is a huge demand for a boat like this.
Andraz´s childlike delight is energizing the project as well as the guys in the shipyard who will manufacture the boat completely in Slovenia without major outsourced parts. Having closed the gap between the (often too small) First 27 SE and the (admittedly very budget-intensive) First 36, the new kid on the block will go through the roofs, I am very sure about that! For now, I join in the excitement of Andraz and look so much forward to seeing the boat first time with my own eyes. Go, Avengers!
You might as well like to read these articles:
Lorenzo Argento on his First 36
Sailing the Juan K Beneteau First 30 Racing-version
Life´s too short for a slow boat