Henry Jeanneau : a visionary
The history of the jeanneau shipyard began in the 1950s, when Henry Jeanneau started building a small sportsboat to race in a motorboat race called the 6 Hours of Paris.
Propelled by a 30 horsepower outboard, Henry took the top spots on the circuit. His thirst for entrepreneurship, combined with a pronounced taste for water sports, led him to create his own shipyard, the Western Nautical Hall based in Les Herbiers.
Initially offering a short range of products made of mahogany, Henry Jeanneau turned to polyester, and in 1957 brought out his first model made of this innovative material.
A new factory was inaugurated in 1961, and the shipyard was renamed Jeanneau. In 1963, the shipyard launched its first mass production in polyester with the Seabird a cabin-cruiser of 4.90 m, offering a small cabin with two berths and powered by a 40 hp outboard.
With this multipurpose boat, Jeanneau has made its mark against its direct competitor, Bénéteau.
Henry Jeanneau, assisted by his wife Nelly and Robert Rigaudeau, set up a network of dealers to represent his brand throughout the country. In 1964, the French discovered sailing following Eric Tabarly's victory in the Transat. Henry Jeanneau took advantage of this craze and launched his first sailing boat, the Alizé a dinghy of 5.50 m.
It was followed in 1969 by the Sangria a 7.62 m keelboat designed by Philippe Harlé, then by the Love Love measuring 6 m. These two models will be produced in a total of nearly 3000 units, and will give Jeanneau legitimacy on the market of liveaboard yachts.
Innovations and commercial successes
In the early 1970s, the Jeanneau shipyard became the property of an American group, Bangor Punta. Henry Jeanneau remained at the head of the shipyard, while being involved in the management of Gibert Marine, and the development of new structures, always in the nautical field.
In 1972, after extensive research and the production of dozens of prototypes, Jeanneau developed an innovative manufacturing process that allowed it to mold entire hulls in a single piece. The rotational molding process, due to its exemplary solidity, was a great success with fishermen and marine professionals, with brands such as Rigiflex or Fun Yak.
In 1976, Jeanneau launched the Melody 10,50 m a sloop designed by André Mauric. One of the first models of the series is famous by taking the start of the Transat 76, won by Tabarly on Pen Duick VI . Led by Yves Olivaux, it will be ranked at 25 e place in an edition marked by very strong lows.
The same year, under the leadership of Robert Rigaudeau, Jeanneau launches the Flirt this 6-meter multipurpose coastal cruiser will be available as a keelboat or a dinghy. It will be produced in 1700 copies during a decade. In the continuity of this success, the site designs the Brio of 6,90 m the first Jeanneau to be equipped with a saildrive engine, and will be produced in more than 1000 units.
A nautical icon: the Leader
In 1980, Jeanneau returned to its first love by developing an inshore Formula 1 racing team, which was to be famous for 4 seasons on the international circuit. The same year, Jeanneau launched a nautical icon: the Leader .
First of the rope, the Leader 575 is considered as the boat that launched the Leader spirit because of its excellent nautical qualities and its great versatility.
Indeed, the Leader 575 is known for being very stable and easy to maneuver, making it perfect for sea outings with family or friends. Its modern and sporty design, as well as its large storage capacity, also make it a popular choice for water sports enthusiasts such as diving, fishing and water skiing.
In order to ensure the viability of its newborn, Jeanneau has entered the Nyamey-Bamako Rally, a 2,000 km African endurance event. Specially designed in Kevlar, the Leader Niger 510 is the winner of this African adventure with Gérard D'Aboville at the helm. That same year, Club Méditerranée entrusts Jeanneau with the renewal of its fleet of water ski boats.
