Design and Construction
The S5's hull form carries clear IOR earmarks, a legacy of its tail-end arrival in that rule-driven era. Beneteau paired a 202 displacement-to-length ratio with a 2.99 length-to-beam ratio, figures that place the boat firmly in the lithe, beamy camp rather than the heavy-displacement cruiser world. The deck carries a sloping roofline with six broad overhead ports set off by a stainless rail, a visual signature of Philippe Starck's intervention. Below those ports, the cockpit is generously sized and battened in teak, a practical and tactile working surface for a boat meant to be sailed hard.
Rig and Handling
The 35 S5 was designed by Jean Berret design lineage and sees the beginning of the dominance of the fractional rig in the Beneteau First line, a configuration that favors a larger mainsail and easier balance than the overlapping headsail setups of earlier IOR boats. The hull was drawn for speed, and the boat can give a good account of herself round the cans race-course ability, confirming her cred as a club racer as well as a cruiser. Steering is through a splendid carbon tiller, long, soft, and precise helm feel, a detail that period reviews singled out as a highlight of the helm. With a 6-foot-2-inch draft on the deep option, the bulb keel provides the bite needed to carry that fractional power effectively to weather.
Accommodations
Philippe Starck's interior is where the S5 shows its boutique character. The décor pairs striking mahogany and alloy with stark white upholstery, black rubber piping to the deckhead, and white-veined marble worktops—a boutique-hotel aesthetic dropped into a race-bred hull. Veneers and solid trim are finished in dark stained mahogany, lending warmth against the white surfaces. Berth count varies by option: she has six or eight berths in three or four cabins depending on layout. One notable evolution from the earlier single quarterberth was the expansion to a double quarterberth that wrapped under the cockpit sole and tucked in behind the engine box, reclaiming otherwise dead space aft.
The Verdict
The Beneteau First 35 S5 is a boat of contrasts: a genuinely fast hull with IOR-derived form, wrapped in a Philippe Starck interior that some will prize and others will strip. Her fractional rig and precise carbon tiller make her a joy to sail, and the expanded quarterberth shows clever use of volume. For the sailor who wants race-course competence without abandoning weekend comfort, she delivers a singular 1980s statement.
Pros
- Hull drawn for speed with IOR-influenced form and competitive round-the-buoys ability
- Fractional rig with precise carbon tiller for balanced, responsive handling
- Philippe Starck interior with clever double quarterberth tucked under the cockpit sole
- Generous teak-battened cockpit and distinctive zenithal porthole styling
Cons
- Polarizing Philippe Starck décor may not suit traditionalists
- IOR-derived hull characteristics tied to an outdated rule era
- Limited production run means fewer examples on the market
