New Boat Preview: Beneteau First 30
A new generation of sailors meets a new generation of speed.
Boat-show season is back with a boom. After several years of supply-chain snarls and pandemic-related delays, boatbuilders have regrouped and come out swinging. This year’s lineup includes nimble pocket cruisers, carbon-powered speedsters, hybrid-electric bluewater explorers and floating living rooms with sails. There is something this eyar to to excite every sailor.
What’s most striking is the blend of tradition and innovation: classic hull shapes reimagined with carbon composites, refined rigs paired with hybrid propulsion systems, and interiors that revolutionize life aboard both underway and at anchor.
As you scroll through this preview, picture yourself walking the docks, running your hand over a flawless epoxy finish, marveling at the hidden strength of a carbon mast, or sinking into a cockpit designed for comfort on long days at sea. With these models, the opportunity to make dreams reality and time on the water better spent has never been more accessible.
Not every great sail demands a long hull. Some of this year’s standout designs prove that serious capability and comfort can come in compact packages.
A new generation of sailors meets a new generation of speed.
A fresh take on the small keelboat, the J/7 brings performance, stability and simplicity to a modern daysailer.
The Sirius 35 DS brings big-boat comfort, panoramic deck-salon views and versatile cruising options to a 35-foot hull.
A 20-foot pilothouse micro-cruiser built for solo or couples’ offshore adventure.
Performance remains a compelling draw in sailboat design, and this year offers a range of models that combine speed with liveaboard comfort.
A carbon-reinforced, all-epoxy performance catamaran that blends bluewater speed, luxury accommodations, and shorthanded handling.
High performance meets versatility with the Dragonfly 36 trimaran, starting with its unique Swing Wing folding system.
A carbon-reinforced, ocean-vetted 50-footer that fuses race-bred performance with real cruising comfort.
A modern evolution of a Grand Soleil icon, redesigned for sailors who want true offshore comfort and serious performance.
Sustainability is no longer an afterthought. It’s integral to modern cruising designs, with hybrid and electric propulsion moving into serious offshore-capable platforms.
New Models Arriving Soon!
From storms to hybrid tech, the initial 2026 Boat of the Year trials revealed major shifts in cruising design and priorities.
Belgian skipper completes east-to-west crossing in 24 days in a Mini 6.50, becoming the first from Belgium to hold a transatlantic world record.
Jimmy Cornell reflects on a lifetime of inventive, cautious and sometimes unconventional solutions at sea.
Long-term liveaboards and bluewater cruisers demand a level of comfort and practicality that few boats master, but this year’s crop hits the mark with impressive consistency.
New Models Arriving Soon!
From storms to hybrid tech, the initial 2026 Boat of the Year trials revealed major shifts in cruising design and priorities.
Belgian skipper completes east-to-west crossing in 24 days in a Mini 6.50, becoming the first from Belgium to hold a transatlantic world record.
Jimmy Cornell reflects on a lifetime of inventive, cautious and sometimes unconventional solutions at sea.
Modern cruisers increasingly value spacious, light-filled interiors that erase the line between indoors and out. Several new designs push this trend forward with clever use of glazing, layouts and materials.
New Models Arriving Soon!
From storms to hybrid tech, the initial 2026 Boat of the Year trials revealed major shifts in cruising design and priorities.
Belgian skipper completes east-to-west crossing in 24 days in a Mini 6.50, becoming the first from Belgium to hold a transatlantic world record.
Jimmy Cornell reflects on a lifetime of inventive, cautious and sometimes unconventional solutions at sea.