Actually it never was. The community aspect has always been a major part of it. Owners who have many years
of experience with these boats often refer to themselves as members of a tribe that supplies not only knowledge about sailing and maintaining the boats, but also friendships. They meet during annual events, share experiences and develop themselves as sailors. And of course personal bonds are being forged through all of this. I know this from personal
experience. I have done quite a few single and doublehanded races and been part of several events in these planing cruisers. And I have got to know the team fairly well. Last year I did the famously stormy Fastnet Race on a First 36 skippered by Sam Manuard, finishing at the top end of the fleet. And a few months later I was invited to be a part of the inaugural Beneteau First Academy in Croatia, which is where I pulled the curtains aside at the beginning
The Beneteau First Academy
Beneteau is presently building a new generation of the legendary First line. The new midsize models are developed in close cooperation between French Beneteau and Slovenian Seascape teams. The First 36 and First 30 are both true planing cruisers. The owners of different models are offered different types of services: The First SE community is racing in a One-Design circuit all around Europe, while First 36 buyers are offered education and an owners’ community through the Beneteau First Academy to bring like-minded owners together and help them get the most out of their boats. ‘We are no longer just selling
remarkable boats,’ says Olivier Dupont, global sales director at Beneteau Sailboats. ‘We aim to provide full service for an exceptional customer experience. By sharing our knowledge through services like First Academy, we empower owners to live fuller lives on our boats.
Above and top right: the two-boat training format of Beneteau’s new First Academy very effectively reveals the consequence of everything you do…or don’t do
of this story. It’s still early when we exit the bay.
Outside the wind is around 15kts. We are working on upwind trim as we sail towards open sea. The two identical boats are side by side, which is very motivating – and very effectively reveals the consequence of everything you do or don’t do. Our coach, a professional sailor,
gives us feedback and guides us to the best setup for the conditions. As we work the boat surely becomes a bit faster. But more notably it becomes more and more alive, more and more balanced and controlled. More and more pleasurable to be on. Beneteau First Academy is the
latest effort from Beneteau to build relationships not only with customers but also between owners. Tit Plevnik, head of First & First SE marketing and customer experience, puts it this way: ‘The original idea behind the programme was to give owners a first-hand introduction to the specifics of their new boat, directly from the design team. Also, we
The First Academy is a new concept to improve the customer experience
wanted to encourage bonds between owners and help them become better sailors. Beneteau First Academy works with small groups in an intimate environment that allows us to adapt the programme to each owner’s particular interests and needs. Their preferences are checked before each course and the curriculum is adjusted to fit. This is not a regular sailing
course. You will be sailing on the exact same boat as your own, and the training is very focused on your specific needs. Later on, with the development of the programme, we will organise events more focused on particular topics, such as navigational racing, singlehanded sailing, technical racing and so on.’ The courses normally last five
days. They are held two to three times a year in attractive sailing locations around the world. Word is already spreading – the Beneteau First Academy in November last year in Greece was sold out in a day. All events are run by star coaches
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This also gives us valuable insights for the design of our boats in the future. ‘Together as the Beneteau First family
we are definitely
stronger.Next stop: racing assistance for those who desire it!' The Beneteau First Academy is now
working with First 36, a model launched in 2022 that has won a number of prestigious awards and established itself as a success. The next model in line is the Beneteau First 30, launched at Boot in Düsseldorf in January 2025.
SEAHORSE 69
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