Philippe Escalle, an emblematic figure in French boating for 35 years
To say that Philippe Escalle's career is eclectic is an understatement. After having been a skipper and a conveyor as well as a racer on the most beautiful boats, he acquired a great experience in refit and boat building by creating with two associates the H2O Yachting shipyard.
The Mediterranean representative of the sailmaker North
With a background as diverse as it is enriching, Philippe created his structure in 2002. The North sailmaker, based in Vannes, saw in him a man they could trust to represent the brand on the Mediterranean coast. Philippe and his team have a 300m2 floor in Marseille.
" North Sails is a strong brand that corresponds to our values and the level of quality that we want to transmit to our customers. As for the sails, our choices for ropes and fittings are made by premium manufacturers who bring a real added value for our customers. We have maintained a real relationship of trust with our suppliers for many years, they rely on our feedback to create new product ranges. "
The majority of Escale Technique's clients are located on the Mediterranean coast. But sometimes, Philippe's talents are requested on more distant sites. During the summer of 2020, Philippe spent a month in Brest to finalize the rigging and sails of the classic Sumurun, restored at the Guip shipyard. The entire design and manufacturing phase of the running rigging was carried out in Marseille by the Escale Rigging team.
The summer of 2021 spent in Italy to finalize the delivery and installation of the running rigging and North Sails of the latest Mylius 80 from the shipyard of the same name.
An accompaniment in the purchase of a boat
" We are not boat salesmen. We do not represent any shipyard, as we cannot be judge and jury. Our role is to bring help and advice to customers who are looking to buy a boat that best suits their sailing program in the best conditions. Once the yard is defined, we bring our advice and our knowledge on the modifications to be made according to the program of the future owner. We sometimes completely revise deck plans and equipment specifications already defined by the shipyard's design office. This is a bit of a gnashing of teeth at the yard, but it is in the best interest of the client and the boat. We are not sectorized on racing boats. We adapt to the needs of our clients ."
The list of boats followed by Philippe and his team is rather eclectic: Swan 601, Pogo 12.5, Moody 54 DS, Outremer 51, Outremer 55, Marten 72, Mylius 60 and Mylus 80...
And the first clients, fully satisfied with this collaboration, do not hesitate to come back to Philippe and his team when it is time to change boats: " Some of our clients have been loyal to us for 18 years. Trust with our clients is earned through sound advice and total transparency in all our actions. "
Optimal site monitoring
The last boat launched by the Escale Technique team is a Mylius 80, built in the eponymous yard. After a first successful experience in the purchase of a Swan 601 and a Marten 72, the owner decided to maintain his confidence in the Marseille-based company by entrusting it with the follow-up of the large carbon sloop. Philippe and his team carried out several control visits throughout the construction, before ensuring the launching and delivery of the boat in the port of Marseille. Escale Technique continues to accompany the owner in his navigations and the general maintenance that such a unit requires.
