This year we celebrate our thirty years of passion for boats. Our story is classic. Our first sailboat was a 28-foot trimaran . The joy of being on the sea and travelling immediately seduced us, but just as quickly was born the desire to have a more spacious boat.
Jean-Pierre and Chantal and their dog Puck who gave his name to the new boat
A catamaran for volume
The realisation of this dream came with the purchase of a 37-foot English catamaran (a Prout 37 ). This boat was very good, but the huge weak point was in its engine. A single 20 hp engine and a Silette propulsion system (a kind of Z-drive for sailboats). Four years later, we ordered the new model from the same English shipyard: the Prout 39 feet with two beautiful engines of 35 HP and a modern comfort almost complete.
The Prout 37 first habitable catamaran bought by the couple
With this sailboat, we travelled quite a bit and all our holidays were spent on the water and more particularly in the English Channel and the Atlantic. These waters are not the easiest and most comfortable to sail, but we were happy and fulfilled by this gypsy life.
An Amel Super Maramu to test the monohull
Already attracted by a Privilege
With age and the approach of retirement, our taste for a boat as comfortable as a house has not been denied. We are in 2001 and we meet Privilège at the Paris show. Our interest was in the 465. The famous rostrum had just seen the light of day and for the coup, the habitability, the comfort and the technique were there. At the same Paris boat show, we were also seduced by a 51-foot Amel monohull rigged in ketch, cut for travel in comfort, and manoeuvrable safely with a reduced crew: the Super Maramu.
We visited the shipyards Privilège and Amel and we tried these two boats. The purchase prices were in the same category and within our budget.
Finally, it was the attraction of a new experience that won the day. We were leaving the multihull world to feel the monohull. In 2003, the step was taken: we bought a Super Maramu .
An Amel 54 to replace the Super Maramu
A Amel 54 with the Mediterranean as a new playground
This boat worked well, the quality was perfect and the equipment brought us total comfort. Unfortunately for life on board, we lacked the view of the outside and the bad tongues said that they went down into the mine when they spoke of the square.
In 2005 the shipyard innovated with the Amel 54 . With a length of 54 feet, he proposed a boat more in the spirit of a deck saloon. Freed from our professional occupations and ready to travel further, we placed an order. In 2007, this new toy was delivered to us.
The desire to be in the Mediterranean came to us quite quickly. We left La Rochelle to head for Barcelona. In the spring, we left for three years which took us to Italy, Croatia, Greece and finally Turkey. After two seasons in Turkey, it was back to Spain
More engine than sail..
From this 3 years experience, we have learned that sailing in the Mediterranean with a sailboat is often like abandoning the sails in favour of the engine. The idea was in my head, why not offer yourself a new and perhaps last experience: a motor boat.
Initially our research was directed towards a trawler. The market is quite rich in various models. But we didn't persevere in this way, because at anchor this kind of boat is not spared by the swell. What could be more pleasant than sleeping at anchor without having to tie yourself to your bed! The idea of returning to the multihull was beginning to germinate.
First drawings of Euphoria 5
Back to the roots
Determined to find out more on the subject, we visited the Grande-Motte 2015 multihull show to see what the power-cat market had to offer. There we could see some models of very different geographical origins: South Africa, Hong Kong, Spain, Poland and two French. But that day, our route crossed once again the Privilège shipyard.
The sales representative had not forgotten us and after giving her the purpose of our visit, she announced that she would have something to offer us in a few weeks.
After our visit to this show, we were not really seduced by any motor catamaran. They were too big, too small, too plastic or with IKEA finishes. He remained Privilege and his project. In August 2015, we were a little more documented on the Euphoria 5 project. Things were moving forward and one thing leading to another, an appointment with the Privilege team and the architect Marc Lombard was taken at the Düsseldorf 2016 exhibition.
Site visit around the Privilège Euphorie 5 under construction
Then the pace accelerated and by the end of February 2016. We had all the elements to seriously consider the purchase of this n°1. The Euphoria 5 Privilege was a perfect match for the boat we had imagined!
Launch of Puck, the Privilege Euphoria 5 number 1
Euphoria 5, the boat of our dreams
With Euphoria 5, we found a unity to the ideal measure for our couple. The design, the interior decoration, the quality of the finishes and the equipment, everything was there. The price to pay to realize this dream has obviously been taken into consideration, but when quality is present, we forget a little the reservations that reason would like to impose on us.
March 2016, we are in Sables-d'Olonne and we take of speed all the team by announcing our decision. We adhere 100% to the project, we sign our order and construction can begin.
Thank you drink for the whole team Privilege at the delivery of the boat
The hazards of planning a first copy
As always, a n°1 is not made without facing the reality of such an undertaking. Yes, there was a delay, but it was worth it. The boat is sumptuous and it works very well. The tests are concluded on the best dimension and the boat can return to the workshop for the finishing touches.
On May 28, 2018, it is definitely in the water and it awaits us. On June 6, we take delivery in Les Sables-d'Olonne.
First tests at the start of Les Sables d'Olonne
Privilege in listening to its customers
The month of June which followed was reserved for the last works. It was a remarkable human experience. During these four weeks and from morning to night, a team dedicated to our boat invaded us to finalize our dream. Day after day, we were able to appreciate them. Finally, when they had reached the end of their pain, we had to say goodbye with a little sadness inside ourselves, thanking them for their kindness and the quality of their work.
We have had to deal with a human-sized site, with extremely positive relations and staffed by people who are viscerally attached to the quality of its production and its site. It was a great pleasure to share these moments with everyone. It is rare and very pleasant to live for the customers that we are, and undoubtedly for the futures who will grant their confidence to Privilège.
On the way to the Mediterranean
On the way for beautiful sailing
Saturday 14 July at 10.30 am, we cast off to Spain. Last exchanges with CEO Gilles Wagner, last kisses and sails the catamaran towards new horizons.
