Welcome to the worldwide club for all of us who sail a fast sailing yacht with an interior designed by Philippe Starck

The site is kept by its members but everybody is welcome to discuss questions about the boats or improvements - in any language - just click on register.

First 35s5 was introduced in 1988 and was revolutionizing with its design. Many of us simply could not cope with it at the time. Today more of us belive it is a very modern design. Just until recently Yacht builders have avoided building boats with a non-traditionalistic design, now more and more realize that people want design, for example Hanse Yachts.

Soon to follow the First 35s5 was the First 32s5 (1989) and later also First 38s5 (1991) and First 41s5 (1990). Due to the recession in the 90’s the first two are a bit more common. There are differences between the yachts though. The 35s5 and the 32s5 have the spectacular high windows while their longer sisters have a spectacular design later to be followed with other models from Beneteau with Lewmar hatches as windows. The only thing that really differs between the sisters are the hull design, Jean Berret did not just upscale and downscale the boats.

The sisters all came with 2 or 3 different keel configurations and you could also choose from the ‘Starck’ or the 'Classic' model with a lighter pinewood interior with dark cushions. The Starck version came with white cushions and dark mahogany interior with details in aluminum and marble in the galley (it gives a sturdy impression but is a laminate which makes the stone thin and light). The different interiors share the same wonderful round basic shapes which have followed Phillipe Starck in all his designs from the 70’ until today. You do not have to be a design freak to appreciate round shapes at sea, you just need a rough sea.

The boats are filled with wonderfully smart solutions and neat design tricks.

The boats are built with a singe GRP laminate hull and an inner GRP grid to achieve a very light but sturdy boat. It is said to be safe to hit underwater rocks with the keel without damage. The main disadvantage with this construction is that it is hard to keep it clean between the hulls.

The hull is built with Beneteau’s proprietary Watershield System to help prevent osmotic blistering.

They where produced both in France and USA with minor differences in standard configurations. For example the placement of the main traveller.

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In the middle of the 90’ the sisters of the new Starck series was introduced. In 1993 the 35s7 was introduced with an new exterior that evolved the previous design. The interior was kept the same as in the first Starck series. However the 35s7 quickly evolved into the 36s7 (1995).

The First 42s7 (1994) was first out with a lot of changes. Exterior looks was borrowed from the 35s7 but this time boat designer Berret was substituted with Bruce Farr. A cooperation first tried with the ocean going 45f5  with the f as in Farr. Of course Starck still designed the inside of the boat but it was remade.
The exterior continues the tradition from the later boats in the first Starck series with standard portholes as windows, and a flush deck with hidden halyards. These boats have very much in common with the Firsts sold today with dots instead of s in the name if you look at the design, especially portholes and colors.

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