where are jeanneau sailboats made

Jeanneau Boat: 11 Things You Should Know

The history of Jeanneau Company

Henry Jeanneau is the founder of the Jeanneau company. He built his first power boat with a wooden hull in Les Herbies, France in 1957. He won first prize in the 6-hour Paris race in this boat.

Jeanneau company focus on power boats from 1950 ~ to 1963. Jeanneau produced its first sailboat in 1964. Right now Jeanneau is one of the major sailboats, and power boat manufacturers in Europe.

Table of Contents

What is the meaning of Jeanneau? how do pronounce it?

There is no specific meaning to Jeanneau. Jeanneau is the family name of the founder Henry Jeanneau.

You pronounce Jeanneau as ” jeh.now”

Where are Jeanneau boats made?

Jeanneau boats are mainly produced in their Les Herbiers, France shipyard.

Is there a Jeanneau plant in the US?

Jeanneau company has a shipyard in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Jeanneau built their mode NC895 in this shipyard

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How many kinds of boats does Jeanneau produce?

Jeanneau produces mainly 2 kinds of boats: Powerboat and Sailboat

• NC weekender
• Jeanneau Yachts
• Sun Odyssey

2023 Jeanneau new models

• Is an outbound powerboat
• The overall length is around 41 feet, the dry weight is around 18036 lbs
• Plenty of space for family
• The key feature is a ” Comfortable family boat”
• Is a multi-function boa. good at water sports, fishing, and cruising
• The overall length is around 35 feet, the dry weight is around 10102 lbs.
• The key feature is a ” Multifunction boat”
• Is a 55 feet long sailboat
• Good for offshore sailing and long-distance voyage

Popular models and price of Jeanneau boats

Sun Odyssey is one of the most popular models of Jeanneau boats

Is Jeanneau a good boat?

The majority of Jeanneau boat owners like their boats. They all agree that Jeanneau boat sails nicely.

The Jeanneau boat owners love the beam reach on their boats, however downwind is a challenge to handle the boat. Another shortcoming of Jeanneau is the small tankage. It might be a problem if you plan to stay longer on the boat with a family.

Some boat owners also complain that Jeanneau boats do not have bright lighting, and lack of storage space.

Despite the fact that Jeanneau boats are not top end luxury in finishes and details, Jeanneau boat is a good quality boat overall. The best part of Jeanneau boats is it’s lower price compare to other similar boats.

Is Jeanneau a bluewater boat?

According to Jeanneau company that their Jeanneau Yachts of 54, 55, 60 and 65 are all seaworthy, offshore cruising boats.

Jeanneau Yachts’s key features are their numerous options of interior layout and boat configurations to fit your sailing habit.

For example Jeanneau Yachts 60 has 19 possible layouts for you to choose. Owner’s cabin, guest cabin, gallery, living spaces can all adjusted to your needs. Besides layout you also has many options on sail, jib, foresail etc. You basically can design your Yacht the way you need.

Below is a good vide to walk through a Jeanneau 54 Yachts

Is Jeanneau better than Beneteau ?

In terms of boat quality, most boat owners agree that Jeanneau and Beneteau are same.

Since Jeanneau and Beneteau belong to same company GroupBeneteau, so their production, and technology are similar. They are both production boats and both have good reputation in quality.

However, few boat owners pointed out that Jeanneau boats perform better on cruising, and Beneteau boats have more room and storage space.

Is Jeanneau owned by Beneteau?

GroupBeneteau purchased Jeanneau company in 1995. Both Jeanneau and Beneteau brands belong to GroupBeneteau company.

• Monte Carlo Yachts

Final thought

It is not easy to find your dream boat. One aspect fit you perfectly but the other thing can not meet your requirement. I would suggest starting from your budget first then look at boats at your budget range.

The second step is to choose a boat to fit your purpose. If you want to motor around on the lake or river with family, a power boat will fit your need. If you want to spend time learning sailing skills, enjoy the smooth ride without an engine, go for a sailboat.

The third step is going to decide the size of your boat. Are you planning for a day cruise, weekend cruise, or long voyage like a week or so? if you plan a long crossing, you will need a big size boat because you need big tankage for water, more storage space for you and your family.

There is no perfect boat. The one fits your needs is the perfect boat for you. Sometimes you have to sacrifice one thing to get another.

https://www.jeanneauamerica.com/en/jeanneau

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• Sailboat Guide

Founded by hardware store owner, Henri Jeanneau who started by racing and then building small power boats. His first fiberglass model was introduced in 1960 and the first sailboat in 1964. TIME LINE 1956 M. Henri Jeanneau starts boat building in his Fathers workshop following his success in the “Six heures de Paris” power boat race. 1957 Creation of the first “Jeanneau” a simple wooden outboard motor dinghy 1958 The first “Jeanneau” fiberglass hull molded 1960 The “Sea-bird” speed boat, Jeanneau’s first full production fibreglass boat 1970 First of 2800 Sangria sailing yachts produced 1970 - 1990 Corporate ownership change to United States based Bangor Punta. 1981-1985 O’Day - also under Bangor Punta, built (under license in US) about 120 Sun Fizz yachts marketed as the O’DAY 39. In 1986 this was remodeled by Hunt & Associates and produced as the O’DAY 40. Ownership subsequently reverted to France with acquisition by Chatellier SA 1990 Short lived joint venture with Italian Ferretti Craft to build the Yarding Yacht range 1990-1992 The ATLANTIC 44, is built in Athens, Greece on license from Jeanneau, is almost identical to Jeanneau SUN MAGIC 44. Similarly the SUN LEGENDE 41 was produced under license in Greece as the OLYMPIC SEA 42. 1995 Acquired by Groupe Beneteau to create the largest sailboat group worldwide 1995-1997 Polish built yachts include SUN FAST 17 & Sun ODYSSEY 24.1 (The SUN FAST 17 later was available as the BALT FAMILY 17) 2001 Jeanneau acquires Ostroda Yachts of Poland. A separate division, JAT (Jeanneau Advanced Technologies) were the builders of the Lagoon range of catamarans as well as a number of custom projects such as Americas Cup yachts and the Kevin Costner ‘Waterworld’ trimarans. (During the 1990’s TPI in the USA produced some Jeanneau catamarans) A few Sun Fast yachts were produced in Australia under license, during the early 1990’s. Some Polish yards produced a number of Jeanneau Yachts and motorboats during the mid 1990’s. Notably the Jacek Centowski designed SUN ODYSSEY 24.1. Following the 80 or so models produced under the Jeanneau brand during 1995 to 1997. These have continued to be produced in Poland and marketed under a variety of brands including: Sportina 730: Clever 24.5: Sportlake 730: Apolonia 24: Noryacht 770: Fly23S: and Delphia 24. Jeanneau is a division of Groupe Beneteau. Jeamnneau Owners Network

Associations

• Jeanneau Owners Network
• Sangria (Jeanneau)
• One Ton Class
• TOUR DE FRANCE A LA VOILE
• Moorings Yacht Charter
• Sun Fast (Jeanneau)
• Half Ton Class
• Fun Class International
• Micro Class (IMCCA)
• IOR 3/4 ton
• Andre Mauric
• Daniel Andrieu
• Doug Peterson
• E. G. Van de Stadt
• Gilles Vaton
• Guillaume Verdier
• Guy Ribadeau Dumas
• Jacek Centkowski
• Jacques Fauroux
• Jean Marie Finot (Groupe Finot)
• Jeanneau Design
• J&J Design
• Joubert-Nivelt
• Marc Lombard
• Morrelli & Melvin
• Olivier Petit/Jeanneau
• Philippe Briand
• Philippe Harlé
• Philippe H. Harlé
• Ron Holland
• Tony Castro
• Van Peteghem/Lauriot-Prevost

172 sailboats built by Jeanneau

Jeanneau Sangria 25

Jeanneau fantasia 27.

Jeanneau Flirt

Jeanneau Aquila 27

Jeanneau Brin DE Folie

Jeanneau folie douce.

Jeanneau Sun Rise 34

Jeanneau Poker

Jeanneau Arcadia 30

Jeanneau Melody 34

Jeanneau Rush 31

Jeanneau Sun Legende 41

Jeanneau Sun Fast 20

Jeanneau Alize 20

Gin Fizz 37

Jeanneau Symphonie 32

Jeanneau Sun Liberty 34

Jeanneau Selection 37

Jeanneau Attalia 32

Jeanneau One Design 35

Jeanneau Espace 1000

Jeanneau Sun Fast 32

Jeanneau sun odyssey 32.1.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 CC

Jeanneau Espace 620

Jeanneau Sun Fast 42

Jeanneau sun fast 52.

Jeanneau Sun Fast 1/2 Ton

Jeanneau attalia 32 swing keel, moorings 32.

Jeanneau Cap 450

Jeanneau Sun Fast 17

Jeanneau Voyage 12.5

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 29.2

Jeanneau sun odyssey 469.

Jeanneau Sun Kiss 45

Jeanneau Sun Dream 28

Jeanneau arcadia 30 cb.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32

Jeanneau Rush Royale 31

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 24.2

Jeanneau sangria 25 gte, fantasia 27 (jeanneau) cb, jeanneau legende 1 ton, jeanneau jod 35.

Jeanneau Sun Fast 40.3

Jeanneau Espace 1300

Jeanneau Sun Fast 41

Jeanneau sun odyssey 44i perf..

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49 DS

Jeanneau Sun Magic 44

Jeanneau Sun Fast 36

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33I

Jeanneau sun odyssey 479.

Jeanneau Mini Jod

Jeanneau Espace 1100

Jeanneau Storm

Jeanneau Sun Way 28

Jeanneau regatta 39.

Jeanneau Sun Way 28 CB

Jeanneau espace 990.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36I

Jeanneau Cape Breton

Jeanneau Sun 2500

Jeanneau Voyage 11.2

Jeanneau eolia 25.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40.3

Jeanneau 51

Jeanneau sun 2000.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 52.2

Jeanneau Sun Fast 31

Jeanneau sun odyssey 36i perf., jeanneau sun odyssey 44 ds.

Jeanneau 58

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42 DS

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43 DS

Jeanneau sun odyssey 30i perf..

Jeanneau Sun Fast 3300

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 43

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 34.2

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44I

Jeanneau sun odyssey 509.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 31

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.2

Jeanneau Sun Charm 39

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 51

Jeanneau Espace 800

Jeanneau sun odyssey 49i perf..

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 42.2

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 54 DS

Jeanneau Sun Fast 26

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45 DS

Jeanneau sun odyssey 490.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 41 DS

Jeanneau sun odyssey 419.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 37

Jeanneau sun odyssey 35.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49I

Jeanneau Sun Fast 32I

Jeanneau Sun Fast 37

Jeanneau sun odyssey 440.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 449

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 33

Jeanneau Tonic 23

Jeanneau sun odyssey 33i perf..

Jeanneau Sun Fast 39

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 439

Jeanneau Tonic 23 CB

Jeanneau regatta 39 mh.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39I

Jeanneau sun odyssey 39 ds perf..

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409

Jeanneau sun way 27.

Jeanneau Cap 540

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 44

Jeanneau Sun Fast 40

Microsail (Mull)

Jeanneau Metaf

Jeanneau Bahia 22

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 28.1

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 34

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 50 DS

Jeanneau Sun Fast 43

Jeanneau 54

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 36

Jeanneau Sun Dance 36

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32I

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 32.2

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410

International 50 (Moorings)

Jeanneau Sun Fast 3600

Jeanneau Trinidad 48

Jeanneau Arcachonnais

Jeanneau Stardust 342/343

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 379

Jeanneau Sun Fast 3200

Jeanneau fantasia 37, jeanneau one design 24.

Jeanneau Sun Fizz 40

Jeanneau Beniguet

Jeanneau Sun Way 21

Jeanneau 53

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 39 DS

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 47 CC

Jeanneau sun odyssey 36.2.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 349

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 49

Jeanneau Sun Fast 35

Jeanneau 57

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 26

Jeanneau Sun Shine 38

Jeanneau Sun Kiss 47

Jeanneau sun odyssey 42i.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40 DS

Jeanneau Love Love

Jeanneau Brio

Jeanneau Captain

Jeanneau Sun Light 30

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 30I

Jeanneau 64

Jeanneau sun odyssey 519, jeanneau 34.2.

Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 319

Jeanneau Sun Shine 36

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Beneteau & Jeanneau to Close U.S. Factory

Boy, that was a hard headline to write. But it is true. Groupe Beneteau announced that the company was in the process of putting their large boat building facility in Marion, SC into hibernation. The process will begin in September and will run through the end of November.  During that time all current orders for new boats normally built in Marion will be met. After that time and for the near future, new boat orders will be served by Beneteau and Jeanneau factories in France which build boats similar to the boats produced in Marion for the European and Asia-Pacific market. Groupe Beneteau remains the market leader in sailboat sails in the U.S. market and will continue to fill that role in the post Covid-19 era. After sales service for North America will continue to be handled from offices in the U.S.
   The reason for the production reallocation from the U.S. to France is due to two fairly obvious forces affecting the sailboat market in the North America. First, sales of new sailboats in North America have been falling for the last decade. And, second, that trend has been exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. As we get through the pandemic and get our economy back in gear, Groupe Beneteau will continually reevaluate the viability of building their boats in Marion. In the meantime, the company continues to build their range of powerboats in the U.S. and will serve buyers of sailboats as they did 36 years ago prior to opening the Marion facility. The only difference for Beneteau and Jeanneau new boat buyers is their boats will make a transatlantic passage aboard a ship before arriving in the U.S.
    For more information, contact your Beneteau or Jeanneau dealer through the links below. https://www.beneteau.com/us/beneteau-network   
 https://www.jeanneauamerica.com/en/contact/

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• Sailboat Reviews

Jeanneau Arcadia

A sleek, modern european-style cruiser from one of the world's largest boat builders..

A mixture of old and new, of reality and hype, seems to characterize the Jeanneau company and its boats. A bit of old-fashioned attention to detail; a bit of high-tech stamp-em-out production. A bit of old-fashioned engineering; a bit of “to hell with tradition, let’s make this boat different.”

To most Americans, the Jeanneau boats seem to have appeared suddenly, but the company has been around since l956. Aggressive entry into the American market resulted when Lear Siegler bought Jeanneau and the other Bangor Punta boat companies (Cal, O’Day, Ranger) in 1983.

Like most of the Jeanneaus, the Arcadia (pronounced “Are-caw-dee-yah”) is rare in America—only a few were imported—but, also like most of the Jeanneaus, the total production run is incredible—the factory popped out 600 completed boats in the Arcadia’s first two years. The only American company that could even aspire to such numbers in a 30-footer is Catalina, and they produce a miniscule number of models compared to Jeanneau.

A notable thing about Jeanneau is the diversity of designers—almost all “big names,” at least in Europe, and almost all with grand-prix racing credentials: Guy Dumas, Doug Peterson, Philippe Briand, Jacques Fauroux, the Joubert/Nivelt team.

The designer of the Arcadia is Tony Castro, new to Americans but an established designer in Europe. Of Portuguese descent, Castro began his work with Ron Holland in Ireland, then set up his own shop in 1981 and achieved success designing successful IOR racing machines. Now a British citizen, he has two other designs in production at Jeanneau, and a third—an IOR half-tonner—scheduled for production soon.

The design of the Arcadia is not IOR. We would call it “moderate modern,” of relatively light displacement and shallow hull, with a high aspect ratio keel, separated spade rudder, and beamy hull.

Her appearance is, well, “European.” The flat sheer, a doghouse that slopes forward into the foredeck, long black windows (you can’t call them “ports”), and blunt ends make up that “European” look which is decidedly—almost blatantly—nontraditional.

“Thoroughly modern” is a term that appears several times in Jeanneau’s advertising blurbs.

Construction

In contrast to the boat’s image, the construction of the Arcadia is anything but high-tech.

The hull is standard hand laid fiberglass mat and roving; the deck is standard hand laid fiberglass with balsa core in spots. The balsa-core “spots” seemed to be less extensive than normal (we couldn’t examine much of the deck molding because of the interior ceiling liner), but the deck was stiff enough underfoot. The deck hardware we could examine was through-bolted with big washers, but there were no backing plates on anything.

The hull-to-deck joint typifies the construction of the boat. The joint appears to be a standard inward-turning flange on the hull, on which the deck molding rests. Then 1/4″ stainless bolts are set through an aluminum toerail as well as the deck and the hull flange.

Pretty normal so far, but Jeanneau finishes off the joint on the inside by laying a thick layer of fiberglass over everything—from the hull, over the seam, covering the bolts, onto the deck. It looks strong—a good way to build a decent hull-to-deck joint on a fast moving production line. The reservation we have about it is in repairs—if the joint is damaged, it will be tough to examine thoroughly and tough to fix. Similarly, the joint should never leak, but if it does, tracking down the source will be nearly impossible.

Generally, the glasswork and gelcoat look good; the two hulls we examined were smooth and fair.

The boat’s strength and stiffness probably come from Jeanneau’s practice of bonding everything to everything else. Not only are the athwartship bulkheads bonded to the hull and deck with fiberglass tape, but cabinet fronts are bonded to hull and bulkheads, cabinet sides are bonded to fronts and bulkheads, the head door frame is bonded to the engine box frame which is bonded to the hull and to the cockpit, and so on. The whole interior is obviously prefabricated in typical production line fashion, but we’ve never seen another production boat in which the interior parts were so much fiberglassed to each other and to the hull. It seems like a good lowtech method of acquiring stiffness without skeleton framing or coring the hull.

Like many of the Jeanneaus, the Arcadia comes with either a centerboard or an external keel—about 70% having been keel models. The keel is unusual in two respects. First, rather than lead, it’s iron, coated with fiberglass to prevent corrosion. Second, the keelbolts are not vertical and on centerline in the normal fashion. Instead, they are set in pairs, angled from the sides of the keel inward so that, inside the hull, the bolts, were they long enough, would converge and touch. Further, once the keel is bolted on, a heavy layer of fiberglass is laid in the bilge to fully cover the bolts. As with the hull-to-deck joint, this looks strong and leak proof, but again we would be concerned about the difficulty of repairs and finding leaks following a hard grounding. The keel that we examined was fair and well finished. We did not inspect a centerboard model.

The spade rudder is supported by a small skeg; the one we saw was well finished except for a rough trailing edge. Tiller steering is standard on the Arcadia, but both boats we examined had the optional Plastimo wheel steering, with a “European size” wheel, about 24″ diameter. Most Americans like a much bigger wheel; unfortunately a larger one could not be fitted without major modifications to the cockpit seats.

The rig generally looks to be pretty standard issue—masthead rigged sloop, with upper and aftlower shrouds and a “baby stay” forward. The boat we examined had double spreaders, whereas the company literature and photos show a single-spreader mast. The company does advertise an optional tall “lake” rig, but this is designed only for European inland lakes and would be unsuitable for coastal, Great Lakes, or offshore sailing. None were imported into the U.S.

The upper shroud chainplates are anchored on a transverse overhead frame which begins at a settee bulkhead on the hull and then extends up over the cabin and down to the hull on the opposite side, with a compression post in the middle of the cabin under the mast. The frame is bonded to the hull and deck and should provide adequate strength and mast support. The lower shroud chainplates are anchored to a similar frame, bonded only to the hull and side decks.

A final note on the Jeanneau’s construction. We asked the dealer who was showing us one of the Arcadias to pick out one thing that made the Jeanneau different from the three American brands he also handles. “They are dry,” he said. “I don’t know how they do it, but they just don’t leak, either from the top of the deck downward or from the bottom of the hull upward.” From a dealer who has sponged out a lot of bilges before bringing customers on board, those are words of praise.

Handling Under Power

The two Arcadias that we looked at had two-banger diesels—one a Yanmar, the other a Volvo (production line changes, again). Sales literature lists an outboard version—thankfully no such monster is likely to be imported—and a version with either a one or a two cylinder Yanmar. For a 6000+ pound boat, we would consider the one cylinder very marginal and recommend the two cylinder, along with the optional folding prop.

The engine installation is well done (stringers and beds bonded to everything in sight) with soundproofing on the compartment walls, a waterlift muffler, and a seven gallon fuel tank. There is good accessibility to the engine through the aft cabin and through the removable companionway, except that the dipstick on the Yanmar is hard to get at.

Two details impressed us. The engine compartment has a small electric bilge pump as standard equipment in the sump below the prop shaft’s packing gland—one place that is likely to have water. And, in the front of the companionway steps that open onto the engine, there’s a 2″ hole with a plastic cover, the function of which baffled not only us but also the first person who showed us the boat. Finally, the dealer explained its purpose: in the event of an engine room fire, pull the plastic cover, insert the working end of a fire extinguisher, and discharge it. Eminently more practical than pulling off the companionway steps and feeding more oxygen to the flames.

Under power with the folding prop, the boat handled satisfactorily, backing where we wanted to back it, with adequate power in forward and reverse. Visibility from behind the wheel is decent, but there is no comfortable place to sit aft and the wheel is too small to reach from the sidedeck. The engine had no more vibration than you’d expect from a two-cylinder diesel and was a bit quieter than other boats, probably because of the insulation in the engine compartment.

Handling Under Sail

We were able to sail the Arcadia for only about an hour; unfortunately, we have too few reader responses to make many valid judgements about the Arcadia’s performance under a variety of conditions (most of our owner’s responses are based on a single season’s sailing, or less).

In our limited experience, we found that she went to weather, reached, and ran very much like other contemporary racer-cruisers. She pounded a bit in a short chop, as you might expect from her shallow hull design, but we saw no other bad habits. (Her sails are from a small French loft, “Ton,” and are adequate. Racers will want to get better.)

Her PHRF rating of 150 suggests that overall performance under sail is about midway between older racer-cruisers like the Pearson 30 or Tartan 30 and the newer racer-cruisers like the Santana 30/30 or the S2 9.1. We were hoping that—as a Tony Castro design—she might be a rocketship, but she’s not. She will be a fast cruiser, and an owner will be able to race her under PHRF.

Deck Layout

With inboard shrouds, wide sidedecks, and the sloping cabin top, the Arcadia is easy to move around on and to work under sail. We only noted two problems: first, the foredeck becomes very narrow—an impediment to easy foresail and anchor handling that is all too common in modern designs. Second, the cockpit was uncomfortable—the seats a little too narrow, the backs too vertical, and the footwell maybe a little too deep. We also had trouble reaching the small wheel from either the windward or leeward sidedecks where you would normally sit while racing.

Deck fittings are generally good quality and adequately sized, with everything necessary to race the boat except spinnaker gear coming as standard equipment. We did feel that the designer had not quite thought through crew positions for working the boat—what should be done at the mast, what from the cockpit—surprising for a contemporary IOR designer who must attend to those details. Most owners will probably rearrange things after a season’s experience.

The non-skid is average, but there are some nice details on deck such as the twin bow rollers for anchor handling, the sturdy latch on the anchor locker, and the large mooring cleats. There’s a space at the back of the cockpit for life raft stowage and for propane bottles, and a stowage bracket for a horseshoe buoy built into the stern pulpit. The stern pulpit opens up to a folding stainless ladder.

It is “downstairs” that Jeanneau really spits in the eye of tradition—not just in the Arcadia but in most of their models. Most obvious is the layout, with the Arcadia’s head and the owner’s double-berth cabin packed into the rear third of the boat, partly under the cockpit. Both head and owner’s cabin are a little cramped, but for a smallish 30-footer, it’s surprising they are possible at all.

The rest of the cabin is wide open, with a small galley and navigation table opposite each other, then settee berths on either side of a fold-up centerline table, then a crawl-in forward berth.

We noted three drawbacks. First, the forward Vberth is too short for adults. Second, anyone over 5′ 8″ or so cannot sit upright on the settee berths without banging the overhead. Third, the standing headroom at the aft end of the cabin disappears as you walk forward under the sloping deckhouse.

This last item we really find hard to understand, since headroom is something most people are looking for, and the only apparent reason not to have it in a 30-footer is to satisfy the “style” of the sloping deck house. (There is a bit of a weight saving that might be important in a racer but hardly valuable in the Arcadia.) Oddly, the same headroom problem exists even in the 34′ Jeanneau Sunrise that we looked at.

The interior of the Arcadia is all woody and undoubtedly one of the strong selling points at boat shows. Teak-faced plywood is all over the place. We thought the veneer work was good for production line work, especially where the veneer covered the plywood edges—for example in the window cutouts. The wood has a light coating of varnish, even inside lockers and drawers. The overhead has a soft vinyl covering that looks a little better than bare fiberglass. Inside hardware—like hinges and latches—is noticeably better than on the usual American production boat.

A strange detail is the manual bilge pump whose handle sticks out of the side of the chart table into the middle of the cabin.

Oddly, the boats we inspected were not “Americanized.” Most owners would likely want shore power, but this is not a company option—it will have to be installed by the owner or dealer. The galley stove comes with hook-ups for butane which will have to be converted to propane. And many Americans looking at a 30-footer might expect a shower, which will be difficult to install on this boat.

Conclusions

Overall the Jeanneau Arcadia surprised us. We were expecting a boat comparable in quality to mid-line American production boats; we found the Jeanneau to be somewhat better in construction and in many details. Being fond of tradition, we have a problem with the style of most of the Jeanneaus, including the Arcadia, but ultimately style is a tenuous criticism of a boat, unless it is truly ugly.

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Better Sailing

Jeanneau vs Dufour: Which is a Better Sailiboat?

Jeanneau has been around for more than 60 years, from 1967 to date, and has produced over 40 vessel models that comprise different outboard, inboard, sailboat, and yacht vessels.

Jeanneau is of French origin, with a boatyard in Les Herbiers in the Vendee. They are monohulls specialists with the Lagoon brand producing their multihulls catamarans. This Company joined up in partnership with Groupe Beneteau in 1995 and created Jeanneau America in 1996. Under their belt are many accolades celebrating the uniqueness and superiority of their vessels, such as the Sun Fast 3200, which was designed by Daniel Andrieu that went on to win the ‘European Yacht of the Year 2008’. The Sun Odyssey series, especially 440, 490, and 410, have all won international awards all over the world.

Dufour Yachts is a French-based accolade-winning boatyard that makes yacht cruisers and has been in the business for 50 years. Over many years of boat production with so many wins accounted for, the Dufour company went on ahead to make the Dufour 405 Grand Large which was elected ‘European Yacht of the Year’ in 2010. They were then acquired by the Bavaria Yacht Group. Other Dufour boats that went ahead to win accolades include the Dufour 36p, named ‘European Boat of the Year’ and ‘Sailing World Magazine Boat of the Year 2013’, and the Dufour 500, which also made the ‘Cruising World Magazine of the Year’ in 2014 amongst many others. Lately, in 2018 Fountaine Pajot acquired Dufour Yachts and is still their leadership to date.

Jeanneau vs Dufour – The Comparison

To decide which is the better of the two companies, we shall be comparing each one of their flagship cruisers. We have for the Dufour Yachts the Dufour 61 and the Jeanneau 60 representing the Jeanneau. As usual, these vessels are chosen because of their similarities to monohulls and sailboats, and most importantly, they are nearly the same length; each is in the 60-foot to 65-foot range. Also, apart from being flagships, their release dates are both within the current decade.

Built Quality

The Jeanneau 60 is a true beauty, and her new look is a testimony to the innovation and dedication of the Jeanneau to continue revolutionizing cruise sailing. Her elongated silhouette, combined with the utility its interior layout provides, has enabled her to suit whatever cruising style she is put to. While it was Andrew Winch who fiddled with and created a near-perfect balance on the interior of the J 50, Phillipe Briand has seen to it that the architecture is and will remain one to reckon with when uniqueness, elegance, strength, and durability is mentioned. 

Dufour 61 has the combined grace of comfort and performance with an exquisitely new design. One could see that it was crafted according to Dufour traditions and promises luxury, simplicity, and great performance. It was designed by Felci Yacht Design.

Out on the Dufour 61 deck, the cockpit sits free with the option of having a large center sundeck. Generally, there are two different galley layouts available to choose from, and no matter which you choose, space and ample natural light are guaranteed to be sufficient. The layout that puts the galley in the fore interconnects with the cabins, while the one located on the lengthwise portside seems to give off a chef’s office’s aura and also creates a lot of room for a large saloon.

The 61 offers 3 or 4 cabins and the option to have the skipper’s cabin situated at the forepeak at the expense of the sail locker. It has a minimum of three heads, with one built into the master cabin. The master cabin has both storage space and headroom advantages and offers total privacy from the other parts of the boat.

Jeanneau 60 interior sports 3 different layouts for its living space and heads, namely: 3 cabins with 3 heads, 4 cabins with 4 heads, or 5 cabins with 3 heads. The three styles available for trimming the beds and headboards are sand, affogato, and royal blue. The galley’s position has, however, been moved forward to the mast bulkhead in order to create an even roomier saloon in the hull’s widest area. The woodwork of the interiors, galley, saloon and living spaces varies between white oak or the more appreciated teak (due to its color being more preserved), all open-pore and varnished, each with its complementing floorboards. The Foglizzo top-of-the-range leather can be provided in Duke and Lugano range.

Overall Design

The architect of this model is none other than Felci Yacht Design, a pro in the art of monolithic hull construction, a key feature that this model is graced to have. The hull at completion measures 60 feet lengthwise and is 18 feet wide. Its deck has been structured using polyester & fiberglass infusion. The deck layout of the Dufour 61 offers wide passageways for movement. The side decks, upon a quick observation, can easily be classified as wide, and there is a very easy way to exit the cockpit through the use of a small step that lies forward of the helm. All control lines are led aft such that there are no clutters on the deck; therefore, it appears satisfactorily neat. Its keel weighs 6.5 tons and is a fin-and-bulb type of keel.

The 60 Jeanneau is a masterpiece conceived by the masterminds of yacht architecture and design, Phillipe Briand of Phillipe Briand Yacht design, and the Winch Design boss, Andrew Winch. This baby was made to have a variation on the keel; therefore, you can either have the deep keel draft version or the shoal keel. 

Much can be said about the decks; an extra inch added to its sides would make it sufficient for a singles sprint, but as it is, it sure does allow easy movement from the foredeck to the cockpit. Cushions and canvasses that grace the very spacious cockpit are of grey and graphite ambiances, alongside its multi-purpose tables and seats that will easily seat many. Her standard keel draught is 8 feet and 4 inches, while when it is shallow, it is 6 feet and 8 inches.

>>Also Read: Beneteau Vs Jeanneau: Which Sailboat is Better?

Sailworthiness

A seaworthy vessel is one that has been made to meet the expectations of any daring seafarer, and this new exotic Dufour is not found wanting in any aspect, strength, comfort, durability, and performance. Its hull and supporting architecture are of monolithic infused fabrication; the bulwark is directly integrated into the boat’s hull, resulting in a very stiff hull, strong enough to withstand high-pressure elements in the deep waters. 

On the side of comfort, a feature that must not be put aside while talking about a vessel’s seaworthiness, a smaller coach roof was implemented, thus making way for a larger foredeck, and consequently, natural light can enter in abundance into the below decks through the many windows.

Neither does the J 60 model fail to meet every expectation required of it by her builders and owners; with innovation and a sophisticated aesthetic, this model ushers in beauty from a new era and more sophistication to meet every seaworthy checklist.

Performance

Talking about the general specifications that determine the efficiency and performance of the 61 models, we look at the engine power that powers the beauty, a 180 horsepower engine and an efficient fuel capacity of 206 gallons. The water capacity is measured at 232 gallons. Its sail area is at 1,706 square feet, mainsail 1,119.4 square feet, and the genoa is at 710.4 square feet, while the draft is 9.19 feet. 

Jeanneau 60 also contends for the chief among the two in terms of performance with its monohull and total displacement at 44,467 pounds and a draft with a depth of 8 feet and 4 inches. Bearing in mind that this seafarer’s overall length is just 60 feet and its hull 17 foot and an inch wide in imperial calculations. The standard option of this beautiful cruiser is egged on by a Yanmar /110CV engine that produces a maximum of 108.6 horsepower or 80-kilowatt power to keep the boat on the go and is juiced by the fuel stored in an 84-gallon volume fuel tank. The water capacity is just slightly above that at 1 x 100 gallons.

>>Also Read: Jeanneau 64 Review

Jeanneau vs Dufour – Summary

I just love how the Jeanneau cuts into the water, and it is not news that the Jeanneau 60s dominate this line of commercial vessels. The Dufour 61, in all its style and vintage design, sure has its work cut out for it. We can see for a fact that the Dufour will definitely sail longer before needing a refill of any kind, be it water or fuel, and to us, this is an added advantage for people that intend to go farther into the water without having to worry so much about such mundanities.

Peter is the editor of Better Sailing. He has sailed for countless hours and has maintained his own boats and sailboats for years. After years of trial and error, he decided to start this website to share the knowledge.

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Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 Sailboat Review

• By Tim Murphy
• Updated: January 15, 2011

Last fall in a gentle southeasterly, I and two other Cruising World Boat of the Year judges sailed hull number four of the new Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 model on Chesapeake Bay. Considering that she replaces the 39i, of which well over 1,000 were built, I felt that we were witnessing the beginning of something big.

The 409 puts a host of innovative details on a relatively conventional platform—with just one exception. While the hull’s basic dimensions are consistent with a typical modern cruising boat, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 has a hard chine running from about amidships aft. Having gone many years without seeing a single crease in the hull of a new composite boat, we were surprised in this year’s new-boat fleet to find three, all from Groupe Beneteau. Compared with that of the Beneteau First 30 and the Beneteau Sense 50, the hard chine of the 409 occurs higher in the topsides, where it will confer more interior volume in the aft cabin and extra form stability under sail.

Immediately noticeable under sail is the refined thinking that Philippe Briand and the Jeanneau Sailboats Design Team have invested in the deck layout. It wasn’t very long ago that BOTY judges were lamenting the way that work stations were scattered all across the cockpits of new boats, from the coamings to the cabintops, making it difficult to sail shorthanded. No more. On the 409, as well as on many other of this year’s fleet, we were happy to see sailhandling lines and winches laid out within easy reach of the helm.

“The exciting thing here is the winches,” said BOTY judge Beth Leonard. Indeed, the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 409 was said to be the first boat in the U.S. market to sport Harken’s new Rewind Radial Electric Winches. In one setting, you can use the two buttons in a high-speed/low-power mode or a slow-speed/high power mode—so far, just like any other electric winch. But by flipping a switch on the winch drum, you can do what no production-boat electric winch has let you do before: ease a line under load, safely and easily, without stripping it from the self-tailer. Harken’s new radial drum design promises to prevent overrides as well.

This boat had a single winch installed at each of the two helm stations, port and starboard. We would’ve liked to have had a third winch dedicated solely to the mainsheet. The boat we sailed was laid out with a double-ended mainsheet, each end of which runs aft through a stopper to the winch near the helm station. Because it shares the winch with the genoa sheet, which is always made fast to leeward, we were compelled on every tack or jibe to move the mainsheet to the windward winch. Especially when you’re jibing, you don’t want to rely on a closed sheet stopper while you clear the leeward winch for the genoa sheet. It’s a small quibble in an otherwise lovely working layout.

Overall, the large cockpit will happily accommodate half a dozen sailors under sail, and the cockpit won’t be engulfed in sailhandling spaghetti. “You could see a lot of people hanging around in the cockpit, playing back and forth, and having a good time,” said Beth. A removable helm seat opens the transom to the swim platform at anchor, with wet stowage below the cockpit sole for a life raft or diving gear, depending on how you use the boat.

“I was pleased with the performance of the boat,” said BOTY judge Ed Sherman, having sailed at 6.1 knots into 10 knots of true wind. A 40-horse Yanmar provided plenty of power to push the 409 along at 7.5 knots. In terms of noise under power, the boat was smack-dab in the middle of the fleet: 88 decibels at 2,600 rpm; 91 decibels at 3,000 rpm.

An optional performance package adds upgraded standing and running rigging, as well as tracks and cars on the side decks to accommodate a 140-percent triradial genoa made of laminated Mylar. Another option is a self-tacking jib, with a curved lateral track set forward of the mast.

Like other Jeanneaus, the interior of the 409 is a model of flexibility. The boat we sailed featured two cabins and one head, but a three-cabin layout is also available. That flexibility should appeal to private owners with or without kids, or to charterers.

Hull construction on this Jeanneau is no different from its elder siblings: solid hand-laid fiberglass. The cored decks are resin-injected—a process that involves two molds and produces two finished sides, inside and out. It’s more capital-intensive than hand layup, but it saves dozens of labor hours. The cast-iron keel comes in a 6-foot-10-inch standard version or a 5-foot-1-inch shoal version.

Until recently, all Jeanneaus were built in France. Although the particular 409 we sailed was French-built, this and other models are slated to be produced at the company’s production facility in Marion, South Carolina.

In a creditable nod to the times we’re living in, the 409 is the first Jeanneau that offers solar panels—two panels of 45 watts each—as a factory-installed option. That, plus efficient LED lighting throughout the entire boat and a low-draw Frigoboat refrigeration system with a three-stage compressor, demonstrates Jeanneau’s commitment to renewable energy systems.

“I give them credit,” said Ed. “They’re thinking about power consumption.”

After a thorough inspection, it was clear to all of us that they were thinking about a lot of things.

Tim Murphy, a Cruising World_ editor at large and 2011 Boat of the Year judge, is based in Portsmouth, Rhode Island._

LOA 40′ 5″ (12.32 m.) LWL 36′ 1″ (11.00 m.) Beam 13′ 1″ (3.99 m.) Draft (shoal/deep) 5′ 1″/6′ 10″ (1.55/2.08 m.) Sail Area 849 sq. ft. (78.9 sq. m.) Ballast (shoal/deep) 5,445 lb. (2,470 kg)/ 4,982 lb. (2,260 kg.) Displacement 16,424 lb. (7,450 kg.) Ballast/D .33 D/L 156 SA/D 20.98 Water 140 gal. (530 l.) Fuel 53 gal. (200 l.) Holding 21 gal. (79 l.) Mast Height 59′ 0″ (17.98 m.) Engine 40-hp. Yanmar diesel w/ saildrive Designer Philippe Briand Yacht Design/ Jeanneau Design Team Price $250,000 Jeanneau America (410) 280-9400 www.jeanneau.com

• More: 2001 - 2010 , 41 - 50 ft , Bluewater Cruising , Coastal Cruising , fiberglass , jeanneau , keelboat , monohull , Sailboat Reviews , Sailboats
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Jeanneau, new sailboats for 2024

Since its creation in 1957, Jeanneau has consistently placed innovation at the heart of its ambition to accompany all who love the sea in their pursuit of happiness and sensations on the water.

Sailboats of character imbued with timeless lines and undeniable success (such as the Sangria, Fantasia, JOD 35, Pierre 1er, Sun Odyssey 54DS…), have served as markers in the evolution of the brand.

Jeanneau continues to pursue its mission, offering superior functions and ergonomic design solutions to enable all to experience the pure, simple pleasures of the sea aboard Jeanneau sailboats.

Since her world premiere at the Dusseldorf Boat Show in January of 2023, and with her unique concept, the new Jeanneau Yachts 55 has been a resounding success. A full two thirds of the interior space is dedicated to her owners, as a true private apartment. Her dual cockpit facilitates handling and manoeuvres, all while affording maximum comfort at sea. The impressive aft sundeck is an invitation to relax and enjoy moments of pure serenity.

At the end of July 2023, the new Sun Fast 30 One Design will be presented in a world premiere in Cherbourg for the occasion of the Rolex Fastnet Race. This new One Design, supported by three major players in offshore racing (RORC, UNCL, and STC), is constructed by Jeanneau at its shipyard in Cheviré, France, in collaboration with Multiplast. This 30-foot sailboat, featuring exceptional performance, marks a major advance toward environmentally responsible cruising: this is the first production-model boat entirely created from recycled and recyclable resin!

Sun Fast 30 One Design: pure performance

The design project for a 30-foot One Design, conceived by the Union Nationale pour la Course au Large (UNCL), the governing body for offshore racing associated with the Yacht Club de France, the Royal Ocean Racing Club (UK), and the Storm Trysail Club (US), had the principal objectives of encouraging offshore racing, making sailing more accessible, and initiating a new generation.

The partnership of VPLP Design/Multiplast won the highly competitive international call for projects. United by common values, Jeanneau and Multiplast naturally partnered to combine their respective savoir-faires.

The ecosystem of the three big international sailing clubs will allow the Sun Fast 30 One Design to enter a programme of races between the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, as well as transatlantic races with mixed double-handed crews and crews of four people.

At a reasonable price (strict One Design, with limitations on materials and number of sails, electronics and autopilot), the Sun Fast 30 One Design features ease of use (simple deck plan) and transport (under 3 metres in width). Everything you need to begin offshore racing.

In the tradition of Jeanneau race boats that have made sailing history in France, notably on the Tour de France à la Voile (Rush, Sélection, JOD 35) and in the greatest sailboat races (Pierre 1er, Fleury Michon), the Sun Fast 30 One Design marks the beginning of a new era.

Elium® resin: recycled and recyclable

The hull (solid laminate) and deck (sandwich) of the Sun Fast 30 One Design are constructed according to the vacuum infusion moulding method with Elium® thermoplastic resin, developed by Arkema. This resin demonstrates superior mechanical performance to that of thermosetting polyester resin, with the unique and revolutionary additional property of being recyclable. Constructed with 20% recycled resin itself, Elium® resin enables the construction of fully recyclable boats.

With the Sun Fast 30 One Design, Jeanneau takes its furthest step ever into environmentally responsible development and the circular economy, launching the first recyclable production model boat. A sizable innovation.

Deck plan and rigging: double-handed or fully crewed, simplicity for sensations of speed

Clearly defined hull chines marked by a rounded bow (semi-scow), a cast-iron keel fin with a lead bulb and a 2-metre draught, twin rudders, planing surfaces, rigidity and stability are all strong points of the Sun Fast 30 One Design.

Boasting a carbon mast and reasonable sail plan, this new One Design is responsive and easy to handle, delivering pure performance. Equipped with a square-top mainsail, a reefable J2 and J3, it can carry a downwind gennaker and two asymmetric spinnakers (A2 and A4) on a retractable bowsprit to adapt to a wide spectrum of sailing conditions.

The deck plan of the Sun Fast 30 One Design, with its long, open cockpit and perfectly adapted deck hardware, facilitates handling and manoeuvres for a double-handed or full crew.

Above all else, this 30-foot One Design is built for the pleasure of sailing and for thrills at every angle, according to the strictest rules of One Design.

With a limited number of sails and materials, One Design electronics, corresponding centre of gravity, weighing of finished boats, rigorous construction, the One-Design culture is part of Jeanneau’s heritage. The Cheviré production facility (formerly JTA, Jeanneau Techniques Avancées), a true R&D laboratory for the shipyard, continues the pursuit of perfection in the tradition of the Rush, Sélection, JOD 35…

Two versions in one hull

The desire to initiate and encourage vocations in offshore racing has resulted in two versions of the Sun Fast 30: One Design and Club. There are four major differences between the two:

• A carbon or aluminium mast, a mainsheet track or Y-bridle, a galley module, chart table, and saloon are present in the One Design version, as well as the onboard electronics pack.
• The Club version, which is more streamlined and more financially accessible, allows amateurs access to offshore racing without the need for the high-end equipment of the One Design version.

In the two versions, as standard features, the Sun Fast 30 is equipped with a head and holding tank, two fold-down bunks, and a 10 HP Nanni diesel engine.

With this new Sun Fast 30 One Design, Jeanneau and Multiplast enable sailing enthusiasts, amateurs, and experienced competitors alike to feel the thrill of pure performance.

Where to discover the Sun Fast 30 One Design:

Village de la Fastnet at Cherbourg – 23rd to 29th july 2023

Southampton International Boat Show – 15th to 24th september 2023

Principal preliminary characteristics

Overall Length 10.40m – 34’1” Hull length 8.99m – 29’5” Waterline length 8.40m – 27’6’’ Beam 2.99m – 9’9” Displacement 2,700 kg – 5,952 lbs Keel  draft 2.00m  – 6’6” Keel weight 1,000 kg – 2,205 lbs Fuel Capacity 25 l-7 US Gal CE  Category A4/B5/C6 Berths 2+2 (optional) Engine 10 hp – 7,4 kW Sail area upwind 59 m² – 635 Sq Ft Sail area downwind (symmetrical spin.) 137 m² – 1 474 Sq Ft Architect VPLP Design

(Jeanneau, new sailboats for 2024 – barchemagazine.com – July 2023)

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French Sailboat Brands (Complete List)

Last Updated by

Daniel Wade

August 30, 2022

France is home to many sailing organizations and individuals that want to experience life on the water. There are many excellent French sailboat brands too.

Whether it is a monohull or multi-hull, there are plenty of great choices to consider if you are looking for one. So what French sailboat brands come to mind?

You are likely familiar with popular French sailboat brands such as Beneteau, Jeanneau, and Fountaine Pajot. However, other French brands like Amel, Dufour, and Pogo definitely stand out. In addition, you cannot forget about RM, Bali, Excess, Garcia, Lagoon, Nautitech, Outremer, and Windelo.

Each brand has something a little bit different to offer to help create the best sailing experience. While no brand is absolutely perfect, some are making a strong case.

According to experts in the sailing realm, there are some French sailboat brands that happen to have the best sailboats in the world. While this is heavily debated and different for each individual, there are a few that rise above the rest.

Table of contents

‍ French Sailboat Brands to Check Out

Many French sailboat brands strive to be the best, so it will take some time to pick and choose the top of the line for your situation. Taking a look through all the brands is the only way to do it.

Many will pick one French sailboat brand over another due to a variety of factors. These include price, the reason for that particular sailboat, and comfort.

Beneteau and Excess

Beneteau is a one-of-a-kind sailboat brand that has found a way to combine racing and cruising without compromising comfort. They are one of the most popular sailboat brands in the world, offering many variations to fit sailors' needs.

For example, the Beneteau First 36 is an excellent full-scale sailboat that provides sailors an opportunity to get on the water safely and in style. Their stable hulls and light weight make them fast and reliable.

The brand has put together timeless classics for around 136 years now. From the living spaces, to the craftsmanship, you cannot go wrong with a Beneteau.

An elegant take on catamarans has been brought to customers by the Excess brand . They have one of the most intricate details with increased sailing area to provide sailors with the best possible experience.

Beneteau owns Excess, but both seem like independent versions of sailboats. Either way, both are excellent in their own categories.

Back in 1973, Alubat began production with their aluminum sailboats. They are the leading aluminum blue water sailboat brand and have served France proudly.

Since it is 100 percent aluminum, the hull is light and welded together. This creates a unique advantage compared to other fiberglass hulls that try to challenge weight.

In addition, Alubat uses lifting keels that allow you to take your adventure onto the beach. They have one of the best craftsmanship and put together a unique design.

Privilège/Kirie

The Kirie sailboat brand has been around since 1912 when they began building sailboats in Rue de la Forêt. While starting out on smaller sailboats, they eventually turned their production to racing boats.

Their most popular models include Feeling, which has a handful of variations based on size capabilities. In 1987, this boat received boat of the year honors.

You will likely have a hard time finding one of these boats now, especially since the brand was bought out by Privilège. This brand also makes top-of-the-line sailboats, but they are typically custom ordered and not mass produced.

Privilège has a few in their lineup that they make for the public. These are their Signature Series catamarans. You can expect quality builds and some of the best catamarans here.

Wauquiez is determined to help sailors get out on the water. Over the last 20 years, they have established excellent sailboats with modern interiors and elegant hulls.

They offer three popular models known as Pilot Saloon, Centurion, and Optio. Each one has plenty of room due to the design of the deck layout.

They are all catered to fit the needs of sailors that want to experience blue water sailing at different levels. Whether you want an easier sailing boat as a beginner or want a larger boat to race, Wauquiez offers them all.

One of the more prestigious families in French sailboats, Jeanneau offers one-of-a-kind sailboats to anyone. Their most popular sailboat is the classic Sun Odyssey 380.

Starting in the 1960s, Henry Jeanneau was looking to go fast on the water. He was able to develop a powerboat to compete in the 6-hour Paris race and won.

This particular design has everything down to the last detail to offer customers the best experience on the water. Just like many of their designs, you can count on efficiency, ease of use while sailing, and excellent sail area.

Fountaine Pajot

Fountaine Pajot is all about helping you create memories while in luxury. They are known for their beautiful catamarans, most notably the Astrea 42.

Their inverted bows are easy to spot, making them appealing to look at while you glide across the water. They even made sure the interior was as comfortable as possible, with some models having large windows below the deck.

Dating back to 1976, they have become a standard for French sailboat brands. Whether you want an entry-level catamaran or a luxury one, they have options to get you going.

Amel is one of those brands that has stood the test of time. They have put together one of the most comfortable, yet easy-to-sail boats that everyone can enjoy.

Over the last five decades, Amel has been able to set itself apart from other competitors. They have made themselves the standard when it comes to French sailboats. One of their best models to check out is the Amel 50, which is a powerful and comfortable ride.

They pride themselves on safety, having reliable hulls, and offering fun on the water. You can count on Amel to create a quality boat and honor the French.

Dufour has been in the business for over 60 years and provided sailors with some of the best sailing yachts. These boats have an assertiveness like no other and you can quickly tell them apart from the rest.

The newer Dufour 32 offers a classic spin on style and comfort, all while giving sailors peace of mind when it comes to handling. They even have an aft sunbathing area that can be adjusted in minutes if needed, which means they have thought of everything when it comes to comfort.

Dufour has partnered with Fountaine Pajot to be a part of the ODSeaLab to be more environmentally sound for bodies of water near France like the Atlantic Ocean. By 2030, they hope to have net carbon-neutral cruising sailboats.

Pogo Structures has been around since 1987 building cruising sailboats and racers. It was not until 2017 that they debuted their own line of powerboats using the same name. As for sailboats, they began building them in 2000.

While they are primarily still a shipyard producing close to 60 boats a year for other clients, they have reputable sailboats to look through over the years. These include the Pogo 40, Pogo 10.50, and Pogo 44.

They have served a lot of sailors throughout France, primarily in Combrit where they have their headquarters. You can likely find these sailing on the Atlantic coast.

RM Yachts is another quality shipyard in France that has doubled as the maker of many sailboats for other brands and created their own. They have focused on making their own for the last 20 years, with some custom accommodations along the way. They are known for their easy-to-handle boats that are not only comfortable but of high quality.

Back in 1989, they came up with their first design of the RM900. This was an epoxy-soaked plywood boat that had metal reinforcing the inside. Not too much has changed, other than having fiberglass sandwiched in between.

They continue to provide opportunities for sailors in La Rochelle that want to get on the water, as they produce roughly 50 yachts per year. RM Yachts can have either two keels or a lifting one, giving sailors customized options that best fit their needs.

Bali sailboats offer a little something for those that love catamarans. Not only are these some of the most beautiful catamarans on the market, they are also well built.

They have a partnership with Catana shipyard, located in France at Canet en Roussillon. This is one of the most famous shipyards out there, providing top-of-the-line yachts and catamarans.

This French sailing brand has listened to what customers want for luxury, which includes rigid cockpits, sunbathing areas, sliding windows, and plenty of room on the roof to lounge. It is no wonder this brand has quickly risen to the top since 2014.

Garcia yachts were started back in 1974 by two brothers, Jean-Louis and Jean-Pierre Garcia. Both were metalworkers and they played around with the idea of building steel boats.

They are an excellent shipyard in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, France, where they have also built a line of their sailboats. These include the Exploration series and the Explocat.

Lagoon is another beautiful catamaran brand that thrived along the coast of France. They are easily recognizable for their racing sailboats.

From 1984, they quickly developed a huge following for their offshore catamarans. The Lagoon 55 and 47are two perfect examples of their craft.

They are easy to maneuver, fast, and have the awards to back up their performances in races over the years. They are part of the very popular Beneteau Group, so it is no surprise that they are widely recognized.

Nautitech is aiming to provide sailors the capability of traveling around the world in a catamaran. While you may not want to travel full-time on the water, these sailboats are meant to handle anything.

Previously owned by French sailboat brand Dufour, the company was sold in 2002 to Bruno Voisard. They eventually moved their operations to La Rochelle, France, and dominated the market for catamarans along the coast.

One of their more famous designs is the Nautitech 40 Open. It is an award-winning yacht that has an open concept and is easy to sail.

Outremer is another French sailboat brand that wants to help sailors live out their dreams of living on the water. Dating back to 1984, there are well over 400 of these catamarans sailing across the world.

Sailors love what Outremer has been able to do in their designs, especially the Outremer 55. It is a completely livable catamaran that is easy to operate even if you are short-handed. No matter which model you find yourself in, Outremer is an excellent French sailboat brand.

Windelo is a revolutionary French sailboat brand leading the market in clean sailboat energy. Their catamarans are equipped with electronic motors that are able to swap over to hydrogen generation.

These are definitely ahead of their time, especially when they produced the Windelo 50 Adventure. With all of those clean energy options, it does not comprise luxury or the performance of these catamarans.

These are also easy to handle even if you are short-handed. If you are wanting a catamaran that can handle anything and use clean energy, Windelo makes an excellent option.

History of Sailboats in France

France has a long history of boats due to its geographical location. Generations have developed models and tweaked designs to get it right.

Over time, it has grown into a large economic output with over 20 French sailboat brands or shipyards. These companies are responsible for employing over 20,000 people, so the economy of France depends on sailboats.

The oldest French sailboat brand is Beneteau, which dates back to 1884. At that time, Benjamin Beneteau started his boat building company with a focus to make sailboats and powerboats for French fishing fleets.

Throughout the years, demand for sailboats, racers, and cruisers all popped up with different French brands meeting those demands. Today, the marine industry is quite busy along the French coast.

Chantiers de l'Atlantique is one of the largest and most popular shipyards in the world. It is located in Saint-Nazaire, France, and they handle just about every boat you can think of.

What is it Like to Sail in France?

France is a unique location in the world that has a rich history. Sailing happens to be intertwined within that history, so naturally, you will see sailing as a common occurrence.

There is over 2,000 miles of coast to explore, meaning you have more than enough room to check things out. This alone makes it an interesting travel destination on the boat.

Sailing Options

France has four different bodies of water surrounding the country. These are the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, English Channel, and the Mediterranean Sea.

Since there are many locations to sail, you can have fun no matter where you are. Rivers and canals are perfect for smaller sailboats. The Atlantic side offers many opportunities for larger boats.

Social Clubs

There are also over 400 boat clubs that have different options for sailors. Each one will have different levels of expertise and groups of people to communicate with.

Depending on which one you choose can help you save time and money on select membership perks. Some will let you dock for free or offer other incentives if you a member.

Perfect Weather

The climate in France is nowhere near as consistent as sailing in Florida year-round, but it is another factor that allows sailors to enjoy their time on the water. France typically has cool winters and mild to moderate summers.

While the temperatures do show up around freezing, the summers are not that hot. If you can handle the temperature ranges then sailing in France will be a breeze.

What is the Market Like for French Sailboat Brands?

Since sailboats are a symbol of luxury in France, many are proud to own one that can afford it. The sailboats you will likely see are typically all made in Poland or France.

Depending on the brand and size, the prices can range between $14,000 all the way to $16 million, if not more. For mega yachts, these are well above $40 million.

The average selling price for French boats comes in around $240,000 according to Yacht World for used and new French sailboats. The most common brands that were researched were Beneteau, Jeanneau, and Sunseeker.

It is important to know how much a particular sailboat is worth before committing to buying it. Check the brand you have in mind and find out all price points based on age, condition, and location so that you can determine the best deal possible.

Why are French Sailboat Brands Popular?

The French had a passion to follow their dreams and design something that they loved. While this sounds like a familiar story for most successful brands, it is a little bit different in France.

Since the competition is so tough, you have to be able to make top-quality sailboats in order to survive. If your product is lacking in any way, you will be out of business quickly.

Some French sailboat brands have a generation or two of the family business under their belt, while others are new to the game. Either way, you still have to be able to impress the customer, which many have done so.

In fact, if you were to ask a sailor what their top five favorite sailboat brands are, they will likely choose a French one somewhere on that list. The most popular one so far is still Beneteau, which also happens to be the most common French sailboat out there. The next in line is Amel, which is up for a bit of a debate.

How to Buy a French Sailboat?

If you are interested in buying a French sailboat from one of the brands mentioned, there are some variables in play that you need to be aware of. While many of these brands are popular, they may not be available to you depending on your location.

In addition, some sailboat brands only make so many models per year and it might be difficult to obtain a particular one. If you do your research ahead of time, it could save you a lot of steps in trying to track one of them down.

Depending on where you are currently at, buying a French sailboat is going to be tricky. If you are in the United States, you will either need to find a dealer that can ship one to you there or buy a used one already in a marina.

There are some locations that have a market for French sailboats. It might be beneficial to make phone calls first or check online before just showing up.

Budget Friendly

Just like any major purchase, you need to make sure you have the correct amount of funds available to you. This means getting a loan set up in advance, saving more money, or selling something to help fund this purchase.

French sailboat brands do not typically cost more than other sailboats. However, the brand and size of the boat will make a huge difference.

You have to ask yourself if having 10 or 15 feet more is worth the extra thousands of dollars. If you can go smaller, this would also save you money.

Straight from the Source

If you find a French sailboat brand that you like, you could always try to purchase one online. By visiting their website, you can check out the next steps in the buying process.

They could help you in locating a dealer or find a way to ship it to you. This could save you time and money if they are able to work out a deal.

What to Look for in a French Sailboat?

Looking for a French sailboat is just like looking for another sailboat brand, unless this is your first time. You need to make sure you understand your sailing goal first before buying one too soon.

Sailing goals include your purpose of sailing, how much you want to spend, and how long you plan to do it. If you can confidently answer those questions, then you are on the right path to what a good French sailboat brand is.

If you are aiming for comfort, you need to see if it can accommodate what you have in store. You need to find out if it has room for guests if you can live on it full time or the extra features that separate it from the rest.

The living space and other features make a huge difference for boats that aim for comfort and simplicity. You need to find one that does not compromise comfort for performance.

Monohulls have the capability of righting back up after the motion swings back and forth. Catamarans, or multihulls, have more stability and it will be a smoother ride.

If you plan on using your French sailboat for quite some time, you want to make sure you have the safest option of all. Both sailboat types have their advantages and disadvantages, so it is up to you to decide which to favor.

Ease of Use

Do you want a sailboat that comes equipped with everything you need to sail full time? What about one that is easy to handle by yourself or just two people?

These are basic questions to ask yourself, but you must do the research thoroughly before buying. Staying ahead of the game when looking for French sailboats will help you out in the long run.

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I've personally had thousands of questions about sailing and sailboats over the years. As I learn and experience sailing, and the community, I share the answers that work and make sense to me, here on Life of Sailing.

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Britain’s Sunak vows to deport asylum seekers to Rwanda in 10-12 weeks

Parliament is considering legislation that would allow the flights to depart as sunak tries to uphold a campaign promise to ‘stop the boats’.

LONDON — Seeing the number of asylum seekers crossing the dangerous English Channel on small rubber rafts soar, a succession of British prime ministers have vowed to “stop the boats.”

To deter the arrivals, Britain wants to detain the refugees on the beach and quickly send them to Rwanda — a move intended to break the “business model” of the smuggling gangs. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak vowed Monday that the first flights to Rwanda will be airborne in “1o to 12 weeks.”

He said his government has an airfield on standby, as well as commercial charter flights ready to go. “No ifs, no buts, these flights are going to Rwanda,” Sunak said.

But for the flights to depart, Sunak’s government must still pass its controversial Rwanda bill through the Parliament. The legislation is likely to “ping-pong” back and forth on Monday, between the House of Lords to the House of Commons — with possible passage late in the evening or even later this week.

The British government has searched the world for a willing partner to process asylum seekers “off shore.” The U.K., according to leaked documents published by the Times of London, also unsuccessfully approached Armenia, Ivory Coast, Costa Rica and Botswana. Britain paid Rwanda $300 million to participate in the pilot program for five years. Britain has said that adults who arrive illegally by boat into Britain will not be allowed to remain. Unaccompanied minors are an exception.

Sunak is desperate to claim victory.

He will face skeptical voters sometime this year. His Conservative Party, after 14 years in power, has plummeted in the polls, and the prime minister has made “stopping the boats” one of his top campaign promises. Earlier, he told Britons the first flights would take off in the spring. Now it will be July at the earliest.

Sunak said the Home Office, which would carry out the mission, has “200 trained dedicated case workers ready and waiting,” with extra courtrooms and judges, ready to process asylum seekers and get them onto airplanes.

Britain first proposed to fly migrants to Rwanda when Boris Johnson was prime minister, calling it a new model to discourage illegal migration that would be adopted by other countries.

Johnson’s first flight was blocked at the last minute in 2022 by the European Court of Human Rights.

Later, Britain’s highest court blocked the flights, ruling that Rwanda was not a safe country for migrants, who were at risk of being sent back to their countries of origin.

So Sunak’s government wrote a new law essentially declaring that Rwanda was safe and that international protections would be upheld.

To the prime minister’s great frustration — on display at his news conference Monday at 10 Downing Street — the House of Lords has delayed passage of the bill by adding amendments seeking greater guarantees.

Sunak charged that peers in the House of Lords, especially those in the opposition Labour Party, “have used every trick in the book” to attempt to stop or slow the bill from passing.

He said come July there will be a “regular rhythm” of flights throughout the summer, but he declined to tell reporters how many flights were planned and for how many migrants.

Special Rapporteurs for the United Nations issued a press statement warning commercial airlines away from the project. “Even if the UK-Rwanda agreement and the ‘Safety of Rwanda’ Bill are approved, airlines and aviation regulators could be complicit in violating internationally protected human rights and court orders by facilitating removals to Rwanda,” they said.

Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrat Party in Parliament, said that “no amount of sound bites or spin can change the fact that the Conservatives’ Rwanda scheme is a colossal failure.”

Advocates for the asylum seekers will almost certainly seek to block the flights again with another appeal to the European Court of Human Rights, but Sunak declared, “no foreign court will stop us from getting flights off,” setting up a potential legal brawl.

Britain was one of the original signatories of the 1951 Refugee Convention and a founder of the European Court of Human Rights, which is independent from the European Union.

Small-boat arrivals were down by a third last year but up this year — with 6,265 so far — and on track to match the peak in 2022.

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• JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY PRIVATE DAYS, MAY 15TH – 17TH, 2024

PRIVATE DAYS « SUN ODYSSEY »

May 15th – 17th, 2024.

Participate in JEANNEAU SUN ODYSSEY PRIVATE DAYS – from May 15th through the 17th, 2024 – at our shipyard in Cholet, France.

This is a unique opportunity to discover Sun Odyssey sailboats that are immediately available in a privileged setting , at the heart of our shipyard.

Sun Odyssey 380

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Our crew are present to answer your questions and assist you with your purchase. Exceptional discounts on the sailboats of your dreams will be offered uniquely at this event and on boats currently in stock at our shipyard .   Contact a Jeanneau dealer right away to reserve your private tour , and you could be cruising aboard your sailboat this spring!

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