BENETEAU America history

At the turn of the century, Bénéteau recognized the potential for adapting internal combustion engine designs, and by 1908 had proposed adding a motor to his trawlers.

1910 First motorized sardine fishing boat launched, the Vainqueur des jaloux initially generated fear among local communities, who accused the “oil boat” of scaring the fish away, before winning over the sector.

1912: Bénéteau introduces the first motor-driven fishing boats.

After the Great War put a stop to production, the family-run shipyard was back in business and a new fishing boat was unveiled in the 1920s.

The boatyard would get underway again in 1928, orphaned of his mother and father, and the time had come for André Bénéteau, only son of Benjamin, then aged 21, to take over.

Symbolizing the speed that he wanted to give his boats, André Bénéteau built the Jeannot, followed by La Poursuivante in 1930.

Father married our mother Georgina, and our brother André was born in 1934.

1955 To take on board the region’s new fishing methods, L’Antigone was the first boat created for tuna fishing with live bait.

Hall Nautique de l’Ouest created by Henri Jeanneau (37 years old) in Les Herbiers (Vendée), changing its name to Jeanneau in 1960.

Our father’s idea was to make dinghies for sardine fishing boats out of polyester, which, together with my brother André, they did in 1963.

1964: André Bénéteau and sister Annette Roux take over as head of the company and enter the fiberglass-based pleasure craft market.

The company also continued making acquisitions, taking over another French sailing yacht maker, Wauquiez, which had been established in 1965.

1967 Pleasure of sport-fishing opened up more widely thanks to the commercial success of two new models, the Forban and Galion, which went on to sell high volumes.

1969 New fishing cruiser concept introduced, with the cabin on Beneteau’s Baroudeur designed for on-board living.

Beneteau ramped up production in 1972 with a new plant and workforce before breaking into the recreational fishing boat market with the innovative Evasion series.

The company also had expanded into new boating categories, debuting the line of luxury combined motor-sail yachts, featuring an interior wheelhouse, called the Evasion 32, in 1973.

1974 Beneteau introduced a revolution with the planing hull on the Antarès, the range that is available today with inboard and outboard motor options.

1975 The last in a long line of pinnaces produced by Beneteau since the end of the 19th century, L’Astrobale was one of the most beautiful boats created by André Bénéteau senior.

The first of these, the André Mauric-designed First 30, won the Paris Boat Show "Boat of the Year" award in 1978.

1980 Known as the 4×4 for the seas, Jeanneau launched the Cap Camarat, now a timeless classic.

In 1981, the company extended the range with the launch of the First Evolution, which went on to win the World Half Ton Championship that year.

1982 Beneteau became the world’s leading sailboat builder thanks to the success of its First models and especially the legendary First 30.

1983 Jeanneau Techniques Avancées (JTA) was created, a high-tech yard that developed around 50 prototypes for offshore racing.

In 1984, the company went public, selling shares on the Paris Stock Exchange's Unlisted Securities Market.

In 1986, the company took a risk and opened its own United States-based shipbuilding yard, a replica of its main French facility, in the town of Marion, in South Carolina.

1987 Performance and design for the First 35.5, created through a blend of two talents, the designer Philippe Starck and the architect Jean Berret.

These events helped boost the company's sales past FFr 670 million (approximately EUR 100 million) by the end of 1988.

By 1991, the company's revenues had dropped by some 30 percent, and Bénéteau was forced to lay off a number of its employees.

In 1992 the company bought a shipyard in nearby Noirmoutier, where it began construction of smaller 20- to 25-meter craft.

1994 Leisure homes: O’Hara’s first homes quickly set the standard for the camping holidays market.

In 1995, Jeanneau was our second area of external growth.

1997: The company acquires Wauquiez, a sailing yacht maker in France.

Baudet, Marie-Beatrice, "Annette Roux, reine de la plaisance," Le Monde, December 7, 2000.

At the end of 2001, the company purchased a 57 percent stake in Poland's Ostrada, a maker of motor-driven cruising boats that had already acted as a subcontractor for Bénéteau in the past.

2002 Group’s new headquarters built in Saint Gilles Croix de Vie, the Bénéteau family’s historical birthplace.

Despite the upheaval in the Persian Gulf at the beginning of 2003, Bénéteau targeted that region for future growth as well.

2004 Beneteau celebrated its 120th anniversary in Saint Gilles Croix de Vie.

2005 Beneteau Foundation created.

2006 CNB launched the Bordeaux 60, marking its transition to a range of semicustom super yachts.

In 2007, Annette joined the board of directors of the cosmetics giant L’Oréal.

2008, group BENETEAU incorporates the Italian company Monte Carlo Yachts and appoints Carla Demaria at its chair.

Custom homes builders Custom home builder Flyer Comfort in hotels Builder Acc championship 2009 André Antares Architects Atlantic Custom homes builders

On 23 July 2010, 18 months after this new boatyard is officially created, the first MCY is shown to the international press for the first time, in Venice.

2011 Beneteau launched its Barracuda sport fishing range.

2012 Presence established in South America: Beneteau inaugurated a plant in Brazil, building models from the Gran Turismo range.

2013 Beneteau brand opened its new headquarters in Givrand (Vendée) in a smart building aligned with BBC energy efficiency standards.

In 2014, as part of the Group’s development strategy in the Motorboat market in North America, Beneteau acquires Rec Boat Holding LLC, holding four prominent brands : Four Winns, Glastron, Wellcraft and Scarab.

2015 The Group launched a positive transformation process, with a new CEO welcomed on board.

Commercial representative and procurement office opened for Asia-Pacific in Shanghai (China). In 2016, it transferred to Hong Kong.

Designed for family cruises, Jeanneau’s Sun Odyssey range is up to its 8th generation in 2017.

2018 Launch of Band of Boats, a new community services platform for everyone with a passion for the sea.

2019 Figaro Beneteau 3, the first production built racing sailboat equipped with foils, enters the offshore racing circuit.