Sailboat Bénéteau First 53 for sale

Sexy, fast and luxurious: BENETEAU First 53

Does this large sports cruiser suit you? We look at the pros and cons from bow to stern

Are you looking for a First 53 for sale? Then congratulations! You’ve shown you have great taste! When this yacht was presented by BENETEAU in 2019, the trade press went wild. Contrary to what might have been expected (or feared), the shipyard did not jump on the hype at the time about negative sterns and exaggerated IMOCA lines, but instead presented an ultra-chic, flat yacht with classic and timeless lines. Even today, the design is still considered beautiful, because elegance is timeless and not subject to short-lived fashion trends.

The boat, initially known as the 'First Yacht 53', heralded the complete reboot of the First brand. Until then, BENETEAU had no real offerings in the large‑yacht segment or in the medium‑ and small‑performance categories — and where models did exist, they were hopelessly outdated. The Seascapes, now marketed as the First and First SE from 14 to 36 feet, were gradually introduced from the bottom up, and the range was later expanded from the top with the (unfortunately less successful) First 44.

The First 53 can therefore be seen as the starting point and a major benchmark for the French manufacturer's current performance range. It's a yacht that has won back many First fans and, above all, attracted many new customers who hadn't previously considered Beneteau. So you're in excellent company.

A brilliant new start for the First brand: thanks to Argento and Biscontini

The story begins with a new brand manager. Gianguido Girotti moved from Grand Soleil to BENETEAU around 2015. His vision and mission were clear: to spark a fresh start for BENETEAU, propelling the somewhat dated but highly successful Oceanis line — and the long‑neglected First series — back to the forefront. It was a mission loaded with pressure, yet Girotti was able to carve out exactly the freedom such a task demands. And contrary to what one might expect, he didn’t bring in any enfant terribles or trendy designers. Instead, he enlisted two true grands seigneurs of the craft: Roberto Biscontini and Lorenzo Argento. A very forward-looking and wise decision, as we now see and know.

Perhaps Girotti was thinking of the failed attempt in 2010 to take the First 30 to a new level with star designer Juan K, or perhaps it was the briefing and wish of Madame Roux-Bénéteau, descendant of Benjamin Bénéteau and still head of the family company. For the great lady of yacht building, First has always stood for fast sailing, but with style! When Madame Roux-Bénéteau took over the helm at BENETEAU, she hired design legends such as Briand, Starck and Fauroux so it is therefore only logical that Girotti sought help from the 'old masters' rather than the young and wild. The calculation works, we think. And how!

Timeless elegance instead of gimmicky fashion trends

The First 53 is an extremely beautiful yacht from all angles. If you look at the hull from the front, you immediately notice the positive deck projection, which culminates in a beautifully integrated bowsprit. From the side, the flat, chic freeboard of the hull rises in a slight convex towards the centre of the yacht, which creates more volume lower down, while also giving perhaps a small nod in the direction of today’s modern, but often rather overdrawn hull designs.

But the First 53 looks most exciting from behind. The stern can be summed up in one word: sexy! The yacht remains completely open across its the entire 5 metre width, creating a very low-slung and almost beguilingly 'Mediterranean-like' design. This is very bold, as this type of open stern is otherwise only found on large luxury racing brands such as Solaris or Mylius. A real eye-catcher, or 'head turner', as the Americans say.

""Our yachts should still be considered beautiful in 10, 15 or 20 years’ time,"" Roux and Girotti repeat in unison at dealer meetings. And they are right. We think that even today, seven years after its development, the timeless design of the First 53 is not only 'beautiful', but totally exciting. So if you're looking for a yacht for sale that impresses with its classic design, rather than its flashy effects, then you’re not far off the mark with the First 53.

BENETEAU First 53 for sale - hull, construction, design and sail plan

The First 53 in production: hull, deck and build quality

The yacht is manufactured by BENETEAU’s so-called 'Premium Service', which includes a separate production line from the 'normal' Oceanis range. BENETEAU says it uses higher-quality materials and production processes for its large flagships, of which the First 53 is undoubtedly one. Nevertheless, the hull of this yacht is manufactured using normal polyester resin in a vacuum infusion process. Cheaper balsa heartwood is also used as a sandwich core - a concession that helps deliver such a surprisingly attractive price a yacht of this size. The deck is also vacuum moulded, and balsa heartwood is used here too.

The keel variants are equally unremarkable in terms of production technology: ordinary cast iron without a lead end. The standard keel draws 2.50 m and weighs 4.5 tonnes whereas the performance version, also known as a T-keel, has a lead bulb which adds 4,510 kilograms to the yacht, and draws 3.02 m. With this keel, ambitious sailors (who may also have chosen the more powerful performance rig) can point the boat extremely high into the wind while while ensuring it remains safe and stiff.

In total, the First 53 weighs just under 15.6 tonnes and compared to its direct competitors that's not a bad figure at all. The Grand Soleil 52 Performance, for example, weighs 16.5 tonnes (but this has between 157 to 165 m² of upwind sail area; the First 53 has between 160 to 176.5 m²), the Solaris 55 weighs 17.6 tonnes and the X 56 weighs even more at 18.8 tonnes. We think these are fantastic figures, and many customers agree. The First 53 was a sales success for the shipyard from the very beginning and remains a very popular yacht today, both in the new boat segment and on the used boat market; more on this later.

Nimble while sailing: the efficient rig of the First 53

We have already mentioned the enormous sail area of the First 53. Even in its standard configuration, the aluminium mast can accommodate a 87.5 m² fully battened mainsail and a 73 m² 105 % overlapping genoa. With this setup alone, the 'normal' First 53 will sail at impressive speeds, especially when the 254 m² gennaker or the 162 m² Code 0 is unfurled in light wind conditions.

Anyone aiming for a top finish in regattas or who enjoys active sailing should purchase the 3.02 m deep performance keel, provided their berth and sailing area allow it, and also upgrade to the carbon mast. This weighs a full 100 kilograms less, but thanks to its extra metre of length, it also carries significantly more sail area. Naturally, the mast also comes with high-quality rod rigging for the standing rigging.

The nearly 177 m² upwind sail area is a force to be reckoned with and demands to be controlled. It's advisable to upgrade the winches (all electric) as well as the hydraulic rod kicker and backstay tensioner. As befits a performance yacht, no sails are supplied from the shipyard; you'll need to source them from a sailmaker you trust. Make sure you choose high-performance laminates or at least more durable cruising laminates, because this yacht simply cannot be rigged with cheap Dacron…

A challenge to Solaris and co

You’ve probably already read it; the raw data of the First 53 is surprisingly competitive - despite its very 'standard' production methods and materials. In fact, the First 53 performs very well compared to its luxurious competitors. With a new purchase price of (at the time of writing) just over one million euros 'all in', this striking yacht proved tempting enough to lure even die-hard brand fans away from the high-end names. The yacht's high performance combined with its truly successful design plus this price brought many a Solaris or Grand Soleil customer to this Vendée gem.

Incidentally, there is another reason for this and it lies below deck. The layout and design approach of the First 53 were then - and still are today - almost alarmingly revolutionary. But more on this later. Let’s stay on the yacht's deck for a little longer…

Practical gadgets - the First 53 as a fast cruising yacht

Very few First owners, like the skippers of other performance yachts, are dedicated racers. They may take part in a regatta here and there or the obligatory match race when the person next to them on the dock is sailing right in front of them, but most owners use their boats as holiday platforms and cruising yachts. Naturally, a boat used in this way must offer certain amenities that would be taboo on an all-out racer because they would only add weight.

The First 53 for sale comes equipped with all the amenities you would expect to find in the cockpit of a Mediterranean yacht: large bench seats with thick cushions, two optional cockpit tables, ample refrigeration facilities and much more. Naturally, a dinghy garage in the stern is also included. The garage is adequately sized for a yacht of this size measuring 2.48 x 1.69 x 0.8 metres and is able to accommodate a 2.40 metre tender such as the Highfield UL240.

We've already discussed the yacht's complete electrification allowing the boat to be fully controlled and trimmed from the helm at the touch of a button - those opting for the furler boom version can even reef the mainsail remotely. This allows the yacht to be safely handled single-handed and also makes it ideal as a family yacht for long voyages. While the bimini and sprayhood may detract from the yacht's elegant lines, they effectively protect against harmful UV rays while sailing.

BENETEAU First 53 for sale - all the information for skippers/sailors

Travelling as the skipper of the First 53: what you need to know

The First 53 is a really large boat! Anyone considering buying this sailing yacht should ideally have some sailing experience or acquire the necessary expertise with annother skipper or through training. While the yacht can be equipped with retractable bow and stern thrusters (which we would generally recommend for tight harbours and marinas), it still requires a skilled hand when manoeuvring and above all for mooring: don’t underestimate the size of the boat!

Furthermore, the large sail area and sheer sailing power of the boat demands a crew that knows what they are doing. The impressive spinnaker in particular generates enormous pulling forces that must be skillfully controlled.

The First 53 is a wonderful sailboat, both for racing and for a dream sailing holiday, and it's by no means chronically under-rigged like most production cruisers. Here, the word 'performance' isn't an empty marketing promise, but rather daily practice. But there's no need to be intimidated because the boat is beautifully balanced when sailing, handles heeling well, and remains very stiff.

A cockpit like a dance floor

The wide, almost empty-looking cockpit is certainly the focal point of attention on board. Those who prefer a sportier feel can purchase the optional mainsheet platform in the centre of the cockpit. Here, the mainsail is sheeted and trimmed using a powerful 50-size Harken winch. Alternatively, it can be omitted, restoring the wide 'dance floor' and allowing the mainsheet to be operated via the German Mainsheet System on the two working winches at the coaming.

All the remaining running rigging lines arrive here on the coaming - halyards, sheets, and reefing lines. They run through a wide set of cleats and then onto the working and genoa winches. These are positioned directly in front of the helm, but because the distance is too great, can no longer be operated manually. However, sheeting in is possible using push-button sailing.

As nice and wide and open as the cockpit is, it also harbours some risks, especially when sailing hard upwind. If the crew is sitting on the high side of the yacht, it is a full 5 metres away from the leeward guardrail and the water racing past — and in the case of a fall, you can plunge 3 metres or more. The risks also apply to the saloon, although here there are plenty of handholds to ensure safety. As sexy and open as the stern of the First 53 is, the old sailor’s rule becomes all the more important here: ""Always have one hand on the boat!"" But there is one advantage to the open cockpit: the helmsman’s view is simply phenomenal! Sitting up here, balancing the yacht’s surprisingly agile and nimble hull on the twin rudders, is a special kind of exhilaration!

The ingenious trick: can a cruising boat also go fast?

The First 53 was so successful that BENETEAU came up with a rather ingenious twist when planning the new, then seventh, generation of Oceanis cruising yachts. Instead of developing a completely new hull (which is very expensive!), the Oceanis Yacht 54as it was later named, was simply given the same hull as the First 53. Above the waterline, only a new deck layout tailored for cruising and holiday sailing along with a slightly shorter standard rig, sets it apart. In essence, the Oceanis Yacht 54 is the cruising twin sister of the First 53. If you like, you can put the First rig on the cruising version and get the same sailing power with a layout that is much more suitable for long-distance sailing. This trick saved the shipyard a lot of time and money and was so successful that the Oceanis Yacht 60 is built the other way round. Here, the extremely powerful hull of the cruising yacht will be used as the basis for the sportier First 60 from 2026.

So if the First 53 is a little 'too sharp' for you or you are simply looking for a sailboat for sale with more cruising practicality, you should take a look at the Oceanis Yacht 54.

BENETEAU First 53 for sale - comfort below deck

The First 53 below deck: a bold revolution in interior design

It sounds pretty good so far, doesn’t it? But it gets even better below deck. The sailing yacht even triggered a small revolution upon its introduction because the designers did many things differently inside than that which had previously been common practice on yachts. Yes, they even changed something that had previously been sacred - the nav table.

On almost all sailboats and yachts – except for the dedicated bluewater brands – the discussion about the pros and cons of the chart table and its size almost always arises. Should it be small and compact? Or adapted to the large, old paper charts? Should it face forward or not, be located directly by the companionway or forward in the saloon? However the manufacturers choose, there's always a lot of debate; some love their navigation system, others shake their heads in disbelief.

And then along comes then First 53 for sale. For the first time on a yacht of this stature, the designers have completely and absolutely dispensed with a chart table. Gone. Not to be found on board. That's bold and unprecedented. But it goes even further: BENETEAU has also radically eliminated the dinner table from the interior. Why offer 12 seats à la Last Supper when the crew and owner usually dine in a harbour restaurant anyway? Instead of the large dining table, the interior designers have come up with something truly fantastic: an XXL sofa with extra-thick cushions, a small coffee table for perhaps a rum and a favourite book. A sofa to stretch out on, to relax. Unseen, unheard of!

And where do you eat on board the First 53? At a small breakfast table, directly in front of the L-shaped pantry. One small table with two benches for two people. It saves an enormous amount of space and is easily enough for you to eat your porridge at in the morning. And if more guests arrive, the bench and table can be extended so that four adults can sit here, perhaps with a fifth guest at the end. But BENETEAU knows who buys the yacht and how many people use it - two owners with rather sporadic guests who mostly use the cockpit.

The interior design is revolutionary because it literally throws the old saloon paradigm overboard. It is so outrageous, so bold and sells so well that this configuration is later included in the price list of the Oceanis Yacht 54.

Classic cabin layout, many options

The rest of the interior of the First 53, at least in terms of its layout, presents itself in a rather classic manner. The standard configuration is a three-cabin layout with a huge owner's cabin in the bow featuring an island bed and a combined shower and toilet room. There is ample storage space, and if desired, the enormous sail locker in the bow can be converted into a skipper's cabin with its own toilet/washbasin which is a common practice on charter boats of this size.

There are two almost symmetrical guest cabins aft, which also offer plenty of headroom and large berths. At 2.04 x 1.40 metres, the aft berths are among the largest in this class of boat, and the owners sleep on very wide 2.00 x 1.60 metre mattresses. Almost symmetrical, because the First 53's day head is installed on the starboard side, which protrudes a little into the aft cabin.

Those who would prefer both guest cabins to have their own bathrooms can also purchase the version with three cabins and three bathrooms. In this configuration, the port aft cabin also has a bathroom, which is even en suite, whereas on the starboard side, one always has to briefly leave one's own cabin and head into the saloon to use the bathroom. In this version, the galley of the First 53 is smaller.

The return of the 'Moule Boulé'

We mentioned the higher production quality of the BENETEAU flagships. Here too, the First 53 paved the way for all subsequent 'Premium Service' models. For the first time since the seventies and eighties, the shipyard once again used the so-called 'Moule Boulé' process on a large scale. These are laminated, mould-glued layers of real wood that produce beautifully shaped and sanded parts that are ideal for use as squared timbers, handles and inlays in furniture construction. These parts, which are even higher quality than solid wood, are used for almost all the furniture on board the First 53.

As BENETEAU is not exactly known for its high-quality furniture construction, this development in particular has ensured recognition and contributed to the sailing yacht's sales success. In the recently launched eighth generation of Oceanis, Oceanis 47 and Oceanis 52, 'Moule Boulé' parts are already being used as a matter of course - thanks to the pioneering role of the First 53!

Owners and guests on board can also look forward to thicker veneers, better fittings and a generally higher-quality interior in terms of built-in appliances and inlays. Here too, the First 53 lives up to the high standards expected in this boat class.

The thing with the toilets…

Of course, there can’t only be praise. We have to address one real drawback of this sailing boat. How important this is in real‑world sailing is really up to you — you might care about it, or you might not. However, we find it very questionable why such experienced designers as Argento and Biscontini, and why the largest boatyard in the world, have make this mistake, which is absolutely avoidable and therefore completely unnecessary!

Both WCs are fitted on the same side as standard: on starboard. So if the yacht sails on starboard bow, everything is fine, but if you're sailing hard on the wind on port and heeling, then there will be problems. This is because the intake openings for flushing water through the toilets will be above the waterline and you can no longer flush! If you have converted your yacht to fresh water flushing, you won’t have a problem with this, but if you flush with sea water, you will. We don’t think this is necessary and are surprised, because the Oceanis 51.1 and other BENETEAU yachts have been designed with this in mind - but not the First 53. You have to decide whether and how important this detail is to you when buying a yacht.

Gentlemen’s Racing' - who buys the First 53?

A good question! Perhaps you do? The First 53 was developed - literally - as a 'gentleman racer. At the shipyard’s sales training sessions, dealers reported that the target group was the 'internet millionaire who occasionally sails Giraglia and the Middle Sea Race', but who otherwise also uses the yacht as a showpiece in the chic harbours of the Cote d’Azur. Sure, these people do exist, but thank goodness there are still enough 'normal' people and, above all, real sailors who buy this sailing yacht alongside the millionaires.

The First 53 is ideal as a large holiday yacht with both fun factor and ragatta potential. Her natural habitat may be the Mediterranean, but she’s equally prepared for long Atlantic passages and round‑the‑world adventures. If you want to buy a real cruising yacht, we think you are better off with the twin sister, the Oceanis Yacht 54. If you’re after the thrill of a true racer, the performance version of the First 53 is an extremely attractive boat, offering remarkable potential — and, compared with luxury competitor brands, surprisingly attractive purchase prices.

The First 53 for sale on the used boat market

Used First 53s are regularly offered for sale. Most come from the charter sector, but with such offers, in addition to the VAT issue, you should pay particular attention to disproportionate wear and tear on the usual charter-related problem areas - engine hours, gearbox, hull and keel as well as furniture wear and tear. However, as most First 53s are luxury charters, this should be kept within limits. There are currently no plans for a successor to this yacht at BENETEAU, so both new boats and used sailing yachts should retain their value. However, this could change with the launch of the brand new First 60 at the beginning of 2026, when satisfied 53 owners may well trade in their boats for the new, larger First 60. There may be some 'fresh' First 53s coming onto the market, so it’s worth keeping your eyes open.

BENETEAU First 53 for sale - what we particularly like:

• Great exterior, superb design: timeless, very elegant, exciting stern to the boat
• Almost revolutionary interior design for the saloon
• Top sailing performance

BENETEAU First 53 for sale - you should take a close look:

• Both WCs are on the same side which can cause problems when the boat is heeling
• Impressively powerful sail area: not a boat for beginners
• Used First 53s often come from charter businesses

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