BoatsBeneteau First 32

Beneteau First 32

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · 1980–1984

A versatile Jean Berret design offered in multiple rig and draft configurations to balance cruising comfort with performance

Designed by Jean Berret & Berret-Racoupeau.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 19 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 19
CoastalBluewater

2.13 — right around the 2.0 line, the edge between coastal and offshore.

Capsize screening 2.13
LightHeavy

172 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 172
EasygoingPowered-up

19.4 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 19.4
TenderStiff

39% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 39%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
39.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
19.4
Displacement / length
172.1
Comfort ratio
18.6
Capsize screening
2.13
Hull speed
7.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1077
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1980–1984
Designer
Jean Berret, Berret-Racoupeau
Builder
Beneteau

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

J J/999.94 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop by Alan Johnstone, designed for competitive offshore racing and fast shorthanded sailing
Feeling 329.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional sloop from the Joubert-Nivelt studio, designed with a light displacement for spirited sailing
Contention 33 (Peterson)10.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Doug Peterson-designed masthead sloop that proved its competitive pedigree with a 3rd place finish at the 1979 3/4 Ton Cup
Dehler Yachts 329.93 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Judel-Vrolijk fractional sloop designed for performance with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio and a stiff hull
Beneteau Oceanis 3219.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA versatile cruiser from Groupe Finot, widely produced as the Moorings 321 and Stardust series for charter fleets
Finn Flyer 32 CR9.85 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA performance-oriented fractional sloop by Eivind Still and Hans Johansson, featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

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