Category: News

In parallel with the project to streamline our production site, we share with you some steps of the history of our shipyard.

Chapter 4: Living and sharing the passion for the sea.

In our November newsletter, we mentioned the creation in 1973 of the Salon du Grand Pavois boat show of La Rochelle by Henri Amel, Fernand Hervé, Michel Dufour and Roger Mallard. This initiative has greatly contributed to promoting the nautical sector and remains a not to be missed event for all sailing and sea enthusiasts.

Henri Amel lived entirely for his shipyard and for sailing, he loved sharing his enthusiasm. That same year of 73, he allowed two young women, Aline Marchand, and Dominique Berthier, to board a Kirk, the Capitoune, to start a La Rochelle to Barbados transatlantic crossing. Back after 8 months of sailing, they arrived in great shape and allowed Mr. Amel to declare “there is no need to be scruffy and dirty to look like a real sailor!”, thus highlighting the comfort offered on board an AMEL. The Kirk, an 11-metre racer-cruiser, was produced to more than 250 units from 1971 to 1978: a great success. Henri Amel himself owned one, which he had equipped with all the possible technology and “luxury” of the time.

It was also in 1973 that, to thank his team for having succeeded in reviving the site from its ashes (following the 1968 fire), Henri Amel celebrated with it his sixtieth birthday. During his speech, he said he wanted to “ease the sheets” and let his team manage the rest of the AMEL adventure. But the debt linked to the construction of the Périgny workshops in 1968 forced him to remain active and present besides his employees for a few more years, always accomplishing with the same dedication and desire to communicate his passion.

 During the 70s, the models built by the yard were the Kirk, the Euro 41, and the Meltem. The latter being the brand’s first large bluewater sailing yacht, it will also allow Henri Amel to live an extraordinary experience.

 To be continued.

AMEL Yard are on a roll, continuing the transformation of their production site and starting the year with great momentum!

Since last July, AMEL has been undertaking a significant makeover at their La Rochelle production site. Named the P.H.A.R.E project (Preserving AMEL’s Heritage by Reinventing it Together), this transformation marks a strategic shift, blending history with innovation. Recently, a major milestone was achieved with the relocation of hull molds to a new extension, ensuring seamless production during the renovations. The reception building has undergone some revamps, both aesthetic and functional, aimed at enhancing visitor experiences and operational efficiency.

Due to these significant renovations, the AMEL team has decided to skip the BOOT Düsseldorf boat show this year, focusing instead on this modernization. However, AMEL 50 and 60 yachts are up for viewing and sea trials in La Rochelle and Hyères, offering a year-round “boat show” for sailing enthusiasts. Interaction with the AMEL community will also continue through yacht gatherings and several highlight events.

Meanwhile, the Mediterranean office is relocating to a new spot in the heart of Hyères’ nautical zone. Now, the AMEL Mediterranean customer and sales services are fully operational at 14 avenue du Dr Robin, Hyères.

Best Wishes! The year 2024 has just begun, and we hope it will be filled with wonderful moments to share with you.

Sixty years ago, Henri Amel bought some polyester workshops in La Rochelle to build the sailboats he envisioned. Five years later, after a devastating fire, he established his new shipyard in Périgny. Over these past six decades, despite sometimes facing obstacles, the AMEL spirit has been passed down from generation to generation, with enthusiasm and passion for imagining and producing sailboats capable of traveling across all the seas of the world.

Today, we are proud of this legacy and happy to continue to keep it alive by reinventing and adapting it to the desires and demands of our clients. After all, they have always represented a community of sea lovers, and their dreams and travel plans have also evolved over time.

With renewed enthusiasm, we look towards the future, ready to continue innovating, in order to create exceptional boats for the decades to come.

We want to thank you for your unwavering trust and support over the years. Your sea voyages are our main source of inspiration, and we are eager to accompany you on new adventures “Together”.

May the winds be in your favor and lead you to the most beautiful destinations! 

We wish you an excellent year 2024! 

The AMEL Team”

In February 1968, the ARPIN workshops were completely destroyed by a fire. Refusing to succumb to adversity, Henri AMEL decided to turn this tragic event into a significant rebirth. Using his own resources and garnering support from external teams, he found temporary premises to continue producing boats on order, as well as land to build future workshops.

In less than a year, the new AMEL Workshops and Shipyards site was constructed in an emerging industrial area on the outskirts of La Rochelle. Inaugurated in January 1969, it became the birthplace of all AMEL sailboats, including some iconic leisure models.

In 1971, production of the Garbi sailboat began, a 6-meter fishing-cruiser, followed in the same year by the Kirk, an 11-meter racing-cruising sloop.

1972 marked an exotic turn for AMEL, expanding its operations to the Caribbean. It was in Pointe-à-Pitre that the AMEL yacht rental company emerged, named “Guadeloupe Yachting”. Three models were initially offered: two Euros 41 (whose production also began that year), two Kirk, and two Garbi. Gradually, these were joined by sailboats owned by individuals who had crossed the Atlantic, and soon, the rental activity gave way to a full-fledged customer service base.

Henri AMEL’s ambition wasn’t limited to boat production. In 1973, as the world grappled with an oil crisis, Henri AMEL and three other La Rochelle builders created the Grand Pavois association, a brotherhood dedicated to coordinating and promoting the interests of the nautical sector. One of their goals was to bring to life a floating boat show, where enthusiasts could meet shipyard managers, discover boats on the water, and most importantly, step aboard!

The story of AMEL Yards is one of resilience, boldness, and passion. It’s a legacy passed down through generations.

To be continued…