Dufour: 60 years of history, emotions, and iconic boats
A Pioneering Journey in Yachting History
The very first boat designed and built by Dufour was a transportable sailboat of 6.50 meters in length. Christened “Sylphe,” this coastal cruiser was also a formidable weapon in regattas. From twenty boats ordered in 1965 to about sixty the following year, success was immediate. Recreational boating as we know it today was being born. With the “Arpège” launched at the 1967 boat show, the shipyard’s activity literally exploded. This boat rivaled pure racing boats in regattas. Jean-Yves Terlain on his “Blue Arpège” held his own against Tabarly’s “Pen Duick V” during the 1969 Transpacific race… A resounding feat. Especially when you remember that the “Arpège” was a cruising boat, comfortable for six people, with good headroom and a standard inboard engine. 1500 units were built, undeniably one of the greatest commercial successes of the time. In 1971, Michel Dufour took advantage of the creation of the port of Minimes in La Rochelle to launch a boat show, bringing together the main manufacturers in the sector. The Grand Pavois was born!
The Pursuit of Performance
In the early 80s, recreational boating was no longer reserved for a few wealthy enthusiasts. It had become, under the impetus of shipyards like Dufour, a real social phenomenon. This was the period when Marcel Bich took over the helm of Dufour Yachts. The famous “baron” was a sailing and regatta enthusiast – he launched four challenges to try to seize the America’s Cup – and he oriented the Dufour shipyard towards performance above all. The Dufour 1800, 2800, 3800, and 4800 were true racing-cruising boats that chained victories on all circuits. The shipyard did not hesitate to “break the codes” of the time by allowing women to excel aboard its boats, including Claire Fountaine, now president of the Fountaine Pajot/Dufour group. The manufacturer did not forget the base of boaters with its transportable boats (T6 and T7). Even venturing into the world of windsurfing with the famous Dufour Wing, which would be the most widely distributed series in the world in 1980!
Elegance and Manufacturing Quality
Dufour remains a pioneering shipyard: it partnered with Lacoste in an exclusive partnership to create the Dufour 42 Lacoste, a limited series of twelve units, which still shines today with its timeless elegance. Anticipating a demand for more comfortable boats, Dufour Yachts moved upmarket with the “Prestige” model, whose units are luxurious and resolutely modern. In the mid-90s, Dufour innovated again with the Dufour Classic. For the first time in the nautical industry, the boats were entirely designed and equipped to optimize both comfort and functionality. Enough to guarantee cruises as pleasant as they are practical! In 2002, the collaboration with naval architect Umberto Felci gave birth to the Performance range, followed by the Dufour Grand Large range. Constantly renewed series that continue to seduce sailors around the world.
A New Course with Fountaine Pajot
In 2018, Dufour Yachts was largely taken over by Fountaine Pajot. The two shipyards have a common DNA: they are located in La Rochelle, were created by sailing enthusiasts, and continue, to this day, to carry this passion for both sporty and comfortable navigation. Under this new governance, Dufour sailboats benefit from the expertise of Fountaine Pajot. Lighter, faster, they offer real sensations at the helm without sacrificing the quality of the boats, which are still as robust. The design of the new models remains entrusted to Umberto Felci, who excels with the Dufour 530 in 2020, the 470 and 61 in 2021, the 37 and 41 in 2022-2023, and finally the Dufour 44 in 2024. This year, the shipyard announces two new boats with the Dufour 48 and 54. Thanks to an innovative 3D configurator, boaters can customize, directly on the shipyard’s website, in a fun and efficient way, all the elements essential to their navigation project down to the smallest detail and in a floating situation. Two boats that give pride of place to outdoor and indoor living spaces with a very advanced customization possibility – 52 different layouts are offered on the Dufour 54. Enough to meet all needs and especially all desires!
A Few Questions for… Romain Motteau, Deputy Managing Director of Fountaine Pajot and Dufour Yachts
Romain Motteau: “The year 2025 will be important for the Dufour shipyard with two highly anticipated new products: the Dufour 48 and 54. Two boats that really innovate, offering outdoor living spaces previously unknown on monohulls and bright interiors, reminiscent of those of catamarans. Units that remain true Dufours, seaworthy, high-performing under sail, and above all, boats of sensation, which heel and aboard which you live with the elements, nature, and light.”
Question: The Dufour shipyard has always been a pioneer, with Fountaine Pajot, of innovation in yachting. How do you envision boats in ten years?
Romain Motteau: “First of all, we have an essential responsibility: our industry must become as neutral as possible in terms of carbon equivalent emissions. This has been in the DNA of the Fountaine Pajot/Dufour group for a long time. The factories, the construction methods – the choice of the core of the sandwich between balsa, PET or rPET from recycling can divide the carbon footprint by 10. But this implies significant research and development activity. We have the objective of reducing our footprint by 60% in 2030 to achieve a net zero contribution in 2050. To answer your question, the boats in 10 years will be electrically powered for at least half of our production. This will be possible with the hard-tops that we already have on the new generation Dufours, which can be equipped with more than 2000 watts of solar panels for true autonomy… In convergence with what we are doing with Fountaine Pajot, Dufour monohulls will be even more pleasant to live in, with different living spaces, redesigned, optimized outdoor spaces, and a brighter interior, like our catamarans. Thanks to the talent of naval architects, we will manage to offer optimal volume without compromising performance. A Dufour must remain seaworthy and offer real sensations!”
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