Category: News

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…

Since July 2023, our production site has been in the process of being completely restructured through the PHARE project
(Preserving the AMEL Heritage by Reinventing it Together)…
but let’s look back at the origins of AMEL’s Yard!

Chapter 1 : Once upon a time, Henri Amel, a visionary.

The AMEL Yard was named after its founder and creator, Henri Amel, whose real name was Henri Tonnet. Henri Tonnet was born in 1913 and developed a passion for boats from an early age. He was conscripted during the war, seriously wounded in one eye, and lost his vision for several years. This disability gave him strength of character and inspired him to build robust, safe and easy-to-handle sailboats. He named his brand “AMEL”, in reference to his resistance’s nickname.

In 1964, Henri Amel took over the company ARPIN (Ateliers Rochelais de Polyester Industriel et Naval), located in the Ville en Bois neighborhood on the edge of the port of La Rochelle.

Back then, he had already more than forty employees, including designer Jacques Carteau, who was to be his right-hand man for his entire career, especially in his functions as a technical director and then CEO of AMEL’s Yard.

AMEL boats were built using their own glass fabric, assembling the interior walls to the deck and to the hull by layering, forming a single piece and an extremely resistant structure. Models such as the Copain, Pampero, Super Mistral Sport and Euros 39 were built in these first workshops in La Rochelle.

But an unexpected event took place several years later, forcing Henri Amel and his team to face a major challenge.

To be continued …
 

The second edition of the AMEL Cup Med, organized by AMEL shipyards, will be held from June 15 to 18, 2023 in Porquerolles, following the success of the first edition.

https://amel.fr/amel-cup

This event will bring together owners of AMEL yachts who will have the opportunity to participate in regattas, enjoy the splendors of the Mediterranean and share moments of conviviality.

The AMEL team will be present to supervise the event, guide the participants and ensure the smooth running of these three days.

Whether with family or friends, each crew will be able to explore or rediscover the many facets of Porquerolles, an island of varied charms.

Do not hesitate to follow the #event live on our social networks and live this unique experience!

The young iQ-FOIL champion, Manon Pianazza, has just finished her participation in the Princess Sofia Trophy in Majorca, the first World Cup of the season, with a positive note despite results below her expectations. Thanks to top 5 finishes at the beginning of the week, she was able to climb into the top 10 from the start of the competition. Although the end was more difficult, with a dense fleet that left no room for error, she managed to finish in 27th place.

The athlete is pleased with everything she learned in this competition, especially with regard to new starting techniques that she was able to implement. She also emphasises that she was able to show her ability to compete with the best, which makes her all the more motivated to excel in future competitions.

All in all, Manon has had a positive experience at the Princess Sofia Trophy and is delighted with the progress she has made. She is more motivated than ever to continue working hard to reach her goals in the next competitions!