The 11th Beneteau First SE Challenge - 66 crews, one Adriatic night, everything it takes
by Beneteau Group 23 Apr 11:36 BST
18-19 April 2026
11th Beneteau First SE Challenge © Groupe Beneteau
The 11th edition of the BENETEAU FIRST SE Challenge concluded at Jezera on the island of Murter on Saturday, 19 April 2025, with 66 double-handed crews from across Europe and the United States completing one of the most memorable editions in the event's history.
Three OneDesign fleets — BENETEAU FIRST 27 SE, BENETEAU FIRST 24 SE, and BENETEAU FIRST 18 SE — competed in conditions that tested every crew: gusts up to 30 knots of Bura, extended no-wind transitions through the night, prolonged upwind sailing, wind shifts, tricky light-wind downwinds, and fast reaching legs.
Overall Results:
BENETEAU FIRST 27 SE FLEET
1st: NO TIME TO LOSE (CZE) — Milan Tomek & Milan Kolácek | 18:30:10
2nd: Republika Palma de Coco (SLO 059) — Andraž Mihelin & Dan Mihelin | 18:35:25
3rd: Moana (SUI 24) — Jürg Weber & Vil Zollinger | 18:47:02
BENETEAU FIRST 24 SE FLEET
1st: Gorda (ITA 17921) — Maurizio Bini & Marco Achler | 21:14:00
2nd: Maverick (NOR 15689) — Finn Jakob Enger & Christian Huse | 21:37:00
3rd: Rubin (SUI 246) — Martin Walt & Martin Genderka | 21:44:36
BENETEAU FIRST 18 SE CLASS
1st: Blue Sardina 2 (SLO 080) — Dejan Presen & Dénes Szilágyi | 22:05:00
2nd: RED5 (SRB 644) — Nikola Marjanovic & Aleksandar Marjanovic | 22:06:11
3rd: Kendama (SLO 349) — Jan Kobler & Aleks Kobler | 22:06:14
The Race
The race began in near-perfect conditions, with sunny skies and a moderate Bura wind building into gusts of 25-30 knots during the day. Conditions were demanding but fair, and the dry night air brought some relief. Then, as night fell, the wind faded. For many crews, the breeze disappeared completely, leaving patches of frustrating calm that stretched into the early morning hours. The night became long and highly tactical, demanding constant focus in the search for a "little" wind. By morning, the breeze finally returned — but not before testing patience, strategy, and resilience across the fleet. And during the day, it again developed into quite a strong bura.
Martin Jezeršek, competing in the First 18 SE fleet, described the experience: "The race had everything: 25-30 knots of Bora, long no-wind transitions during the night, extended upwind sailing, wind shifts, tricky light-wind downwinds, and super-fast reaching. Sailing double-handed with Tomaž meant constantly getting out of the comfort zone—but that's exactly where the magic happens. This regatta always reminds me what sailing is truly about—the raw elements, being immersed in nature, and really feeling it around you..."
In the First 27 SE fleet, Milan Tomek and Milan Kolácek on NO TIME TO LOSE — winners of the Rolex Middle Sea Race 2024 in IRC Double-Handed — demonstrated their offshore class to take line honours, with Andraž Mihelin and his son Dan (the youngest competitor of this year's First SE Challenge) crossing just five minutes behind in second. Third place went to Jürg Weber and Vil Zollinger on Moana, 17 minutes off the pace after 18 hours of racing.
In the First 24 SE, Maurizio Bini and Marco Achler on Gorda took another victory — their 3rd win in this event — with the top three separated by 30 minutes across 21 hours of competition.
In the First 18 SE — the largest fleet with 42 boats registered — the finish delivered the most exciting moment of the entire event. After more than 22 hours of racing, second, third, and fourth place were separated by a combined total of just nine seconds. Nine seconds, after nearly a full day and night on the water.
Andraž Mihelin, CEO of Seascape d.o.o. and BENETEAU FIRST Brand Manager: "'Who was the joker that set this course?' was a question I heard often from finishers of this year's First SE Challenge. With 20+ knots of Bura and long stretches of no wind, it pushed both body and mind to the limit. The answer, as for the past 11 editions, was Jure Jerman and me. And the reason is simple — it's called a Challenge for a reason. You need to suffer to become humble, and in that humility, you find joy: in the sunrise and sunset, dolphins weaving past motionless boats, and the deep bonds formed between crew. I was lucky to race this year with my son — an experience few things in life can match. Next year, I'll be back, this time with my daughter."