What training, what diploma to occupy this position?
Strictly speaking, there is no specific training for this function when you are the creator-founder of the building site. Rather, it starts from a desire and some precise ideas of what should be done to propose a different offer in terms of yachting. Clearly, you have to define a concept of sailing, differentiate yourself from the others by bringing a certain added value, but above all you have to work at other yards to acquire experience and a real technical background. This job therefore requires a good knowledge of business administration, good technical knowledge and a lot of sailing experience.
Denis' career path is largely inspired by these principles. After several years of delivery, boat preparation and happy encounters (from Bruno Voisard, charterer and catamaran builder, to Christian Bouroullec, creator of the Pogo line, and Pierrick de Kervenoael, who brought the Catboat up to date thanks to the Ikones), the idea of making boats and making it his professional life gradually emerges.
The IDBmarine shipyard was created in 2005. The initial idea is simple: to put all one's sailing experience to imagine and build yachts dedicated to the pleasure of being on the water with family or friends and designed for both solo and crewed sailing. From the very beginning, Denis and his team have been innovating by integrating new technologies (infusion and injection) for the manufacture of hulls, decks and boat parts.
What skills are required?
Patience, listening, anticipation, management
Beyond the essential technical skills, which today are acquired in professional fields dedicated to composite, embedded electronics... true discovery and anxiety is the job of a company manager. Managing the company, devoting oneself to strategy, technical development and personnel management requires skill and also time.
But the most important thing is to know how to surround oneself, to know how to aggregate skills and to trust collective intelligence!
What daily newspaper?
The watchword: Be everywhere without scattering!
This means being in the workshop to produce and develop parts, ensuring relations with customers and suppliers, taking care of the administrative part, gathering, training and accompanying a team and icing on the cake, sometimes having the boats tested.
At the same time, it must be possible to devote time to the development of current projects, a new range, a technical or technological improvement. The permanent exchange with the Mini Transat racers around the Maxi 650 is proof of this. These exchanges enable the boat to evolve constantly for ever greater safety and performance. The evolution of the rigging on the Mojito 8.88 also aims to improve sailing comfort. Here again, it is the exchange with the owners that makes the difference.
We are both in an industrial logic and made to measure or even lace ..
What responsibilities?
On an equal footing to guarantee the safety of our employees and the satisfaction of our customers. As "boss", I have the duty to guarantee employment, the continuity of the company and of course its good management.
With regard to our customers, I have to guarantee a finished product, of quality and perfectly meeting the specifications. The boat must conform to what has been sold to the greatest satisfaction of our customers. Quality is the key word, because it has a commercial impact and maintains the reputation of the shipyard.
What are the possible evolutions of this profession?
Above all, don't forget to "feel the wind". Beyond the understatement, the future is written by listening, observing, searching and sailing. We need to stay ahead of the game for our boats with innovative design, performance and, of course, comfort at sea and on stopovers.
Demand is changing. That of our customers as well as that of the company which aims at a different kind of yachting. At the same time more flexible in the use of the boat and even more respectful of the environment and resources. Perhaps we need to build boats that are more reasonable in size, but much more comfortable? A boat must continue to make people dream and we must constantly innovate.
The biocomposite already in place at the construction site with flax fibre must continue to develop. Our boats have to change in their design, their construction and have to fit into a life cycle that is planned from the start.
We sell dreams and happiness! What could be more exciting?
