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The three boatbuilders and their boats

Some 150 years ago the family Beneteau was living through a family drama. They lived in a poor seashore village called Croix de Vie and that afternoon it seemed as if everything went wrong. The young Andre Benjamin Beneteau had just returned from one of the many fishing journeys and decided he had enough courage to say to his mother and father that his decision was made to leave their home. The decision he brought was simply for the reason that hard live of fishing man was unbearable to him like to the majority of young men, a job they had to live with since the age of 8 years.

With a difference from the rest of the young ones who only dreamt of a different life, Andre the Benjamin had the courage to do it. He understood that life in Croix de Vie was not for him; he left went to Toulon and enrolled in the French Navy.

However strange the choice, it was the only logical way, since in those years the navy was the only way out for young poor men who could not afford enough hmoney for their education. Benjamin understood that the navy would give him all he needed to learn about the sea, ships, and shipbuilding his very passion since his early age. He finished his studies with high grades and enrolled at the already well-known Maritime University in La Rochefort.

There again he graduates with excellent grades, and returns home in 1884. With some savings he made, he builds his first fishing boat. The citizens of the small town were impressed with Andres work and they started placing orders for many new ships. It so happened that Andre becomes one of the most required persons in Croix de Vie and nearby surroundings. This is how with his work he also included many persons from the village who were passionate about participating and looking at the building of the boats and it was all a big success.

However, the real reason for that success was something else. Even those that did not know much about boats could understand that boats coming out from the Beneteau shipyard were much different from any other boats. Its were much sharper, the lines has more harmony and bigger maritime capacity. They sail with stronger wind, turn well and when in the harbour because of no wind, all Beneteau ships were gliding on the sea.

Quite soon, the young shipbuilder had so many orders for new ships that he had to move in a new shipyard close to St. Gilles. His wife Valentine opened a small coffee and together they managed to invest in their business, making their live easier. Stories about the famous shipbuilder grew especially though the year 1909, especially when the whole village was on their feet against the new launched ship that had an engine instead of a mast. A new „ Lucifer- s ship“how the inhabitants called it out of fear, came back safely from its journey with a large catch of sardines. The engines noise did not disturb the sea inhabitants.

The choice of life for Benjamin-s son, Andre was not as difficult as his fathers.He grew up in a wealthy family with great love for the ships, and very soon, Andre became an excellent shipbuilder. Thanks to him and his merits, the 12 meters Jeannot was built, the boat that will bring fame to the Beneteau family in the whole world. After the war their life stopped like all other shipyards, they barely survived doing some repairs for few ships.

It is only in 1964 that the young Dede, the third Beneteau generation, took over the company of his family. His most important decision was to abandon the wood for the shipping material and introducing fibber glass. With the help of his sister Annette they once again restarted the family business. They have their first fishing boat called Fletan, presented in 1965 at the Boat Show in Baris. The cost and expenses for the Boat show were very high and all their money was gone, but there again the Beneteau luck was there. They had orders for thirty new Fletan, sold to one businessperson.

Very soon the number of boats came to 100 per year and the future of the Beneteau shipyard was ageing ensured. We could call it the renaissance of the Beneteau shipyard.