Design and Construction
The S5’s hull carries clear IOR hallmarks, reflecting the boat’s arrival near the end of that rule-driven era. Beneteau paired a displacement-to-length ratio of 202 with a length-to-beam ratio of 2.99. Those figures place the boat firmly in the light, beamy camp rather than among heavy-displacement cruisers.
The deck has a sloping roofline with six broad overhead ports, set off by a stainless-steel rail—a visual signature of Philippe Starck’s involvement. Below the ports, the cockpit is generously sized and battened in teak, providing a practical, tactile working surface for a boat intended to be sailed hard.
Rig and Handling
The 35 S5 was designed by Jean Berret and marks the beginning of the fractional rig’s dominance in the Beneteau First line. Compared with the overlapping headsail arrangements of earlier IOR boats, this configuration favors a larger mainsail and easier balance.
The hull was drawn for speed, and the boat can give a good account of herself around the cans, supporting her credentials as a club racer as well as a cruiser. Steering is by a splendid carbon tiller. Period reviews singled out its long, soft and precise helm feel as a highlight. With a 6-foot-2-inch draft on the deep-keel option, the bulb keel provides the bite needed to carry the fractional rig’s power effectively to weather.
Accommodations
Philippe Starck’s interior is where the S5 most clearly shows its boutique character. Striking mahogany and alloy sit alongside stark white upholstery, black rubber piping at the deckhead and white-veined marble worktops—a boutique-hotel aesthetic installed in a race-bred hull. Dark-stained mahogany veneers and solid trim add warmth against the white surfaces.
Depending on the layout, the boat has six or eight berths in three or four cabins. One notable development from the earlier single quarterberth was a double quarterberth that wrapped beneath the cockpit sole and tucked behind the engine box, reclaiming otherwise unused space aft.
Verdict
The Beneteau First 35 S5 is a boat of contrasts: a genuinely fast, IOR-derived hull paired with a Philippe Starck interior that some sailors will prize and others will strip out. Its fractional rig and precise carbon tiller make it a joy to sail, while the expanded quarterberth shows clever use of the available volume. For sailors who want race-course competence without giving up weekend comfort, it delivers a singular statement from the 1980s.
Pros
- Hull drawn for speed, with IOR-influenced form and competitive round-the-buoys ability
- Fractional rig and precise carbon tiller provide balanced, responsive handling
- Philippe Starck interior with a clever double quarterberth tucked beneath the cockpit sole
- Generous teak-battened cockpit and distinctive zenithal-port styling
Cons
- Polarizing Philippe Starck décor may not suit traditionalists
- IOR-derived hull characteristics belong to an outdated rule era
- Limited production run means fewer examples on the market
