Alongside the modernization project of our production site, we are sharing with you some milestones from our shipyard’s history.
CHAPTER 5 – The Epic Journey of the Meltem and the Birth of the Maramu
In the 1970s, Chantiers AMEL entered a period of transformation and innovation under the visionary leadership of Henri Amel. The Meltem, launched as the shipyard’s first major offshore cruising yacht, became the precursor to significant advances in sailboat design. Measuring 16 meters in length and 4.25 meters in width, this center-cockpit ketch offered extensive equipment, including central heating with radiators. A true adventurer of the seas! Its dimensions were impressive for the time, and the approximately 50 units produced made it a shorter series compared to the Kirk and Euros 41 models, which were produced in more than 250 units each.
The Meltem, however, allowed Mr. Amel and his shipyard to embark on a remarkable adventure. During what he called “the Coconut Route,” Henri Amel boarded the Meltem “Capitoune II” to cross the Atlantic to the Caribbean, then through the Panama Canal, to reach Polynesia, promising to personally deliver the sailboat to a friend in Tahiti.
The journey began on October 25, 1975, in La Rochelle. The Captain, then 62 years old and still visually impaired, set off with three crew members to sail to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe, where they arrived on December 6, 1975. After a month of sailing in the Caribbean, they set course for Tahiti, reaching their destination on June 21, 1976.
During this journey, Mr. Amel, inspired by his experiences and observations at sea, designed a new boat in collaboration with Jacques Carteau from afar. It was during this transoceanic crossing that the Maramu began to take shape, the result of the close cooperation between Henri Amel and his closest collaborator. The two men had regular talks via SSB (Single Side Band), a radio communication method, to discuss the technical specifications and necessary innovations to be integrated into this new model. Aimed at providing even more comfort and safety for long crossings, the Maramu marked the beginning of an era of continuous innovation for Chantiers AMEL.
In 1978, the Ateliers et Chantiers AMEL evolved into Chantiers AMEL S.A., marking a transition to a strengthened corporate structure. It was during this same year that the shipyard began production of the Maramu. The plans for this 13.80-meter cruising sailboat were the first to be co-signed by Henri Amel and Jacques Carteau. The Maramu was a true success, with more than 270 units produced at the Périgny workshops until 1989. This model quickly became essential for sailors seeking reliability on the high seas and remains highly sought after today for long-distance cruising programs.
The year 1979 marks a significant milestone for the AMEL teams. Ten years after rebuilding the shipyard following the devastating fire of 1968, Henri Amel fulfilled the promise he made to his employees, without whom “the shipyards would not exist”: he transferred the vast majority of the company to them, leaving the management to Jacques Carteau. This change in leadership coincided with the start of production of the Sharki and Mango models, expanding the AMEL range with sailboats from 12 to 16 meters, designed for comfortable and safe cruising with a small crew.
At the dawn of the 1980s, these developments prepared Chantiers AMEL for a new decade filled with significant events that would continue to define the brand’s legacy and its impact on the world of sailing.
To be continued…
Meltem in the San Blas Islands, Henri Amel welcomed in Tahiti
