Dufour in pomp at VELAFestival to celebrate its 50th anniversary

The Dufour shipyards, among the largest manufacturers of pleasure boats in Europe, were founded in La Rochelle in 1967 by architect Michel Dufour, a great sailing enthusiast. The success was due to the dual insight in using new technologies and new materials, while retaining a pioneering and adventurous spirit that pushed the pleasure of sailing to the extreme. Even today, it is precisely this dual legacy that animates Dufour Yachts. Its range innovates and disrupts sailing conventions; in fact, Dufour Yachts is one of the few shipyards to build exclusively sailboats and is one of the flagships of the nautical industry worldwide. This year the La Rochelle shipyard is celebrating its first 50 years, and to celebrate it decided to “invade” the VELAFestival with pomp and circumstance, bringing six boats to Santa Margherita. You will see a large setup, a real lounge area consisting of four booths in the center of the event and surrounded by the shipyard’s hulls.
On the dock you can see the brand new Dufour 63 Exclusive, progenitor of the shipyard’s new range of luxury yachts in its Italian premiere.
The Grand Large range will also be well represented with the 310, the smallest hull ever built in the range, which surprises with its chameleon-like character and the ability to play with the spaces on board and change the interior layout according to the owner’s needs. This philosophy allows you to decide how to experience the boat: for a day trip, for a cruise, for a trip alone, as a couple, or with friends. 31 feet know no limits to maneuverability, one person with a minimum of experience is sufficient to safely bring the boat

The Dufour 350, another vessel entering the challenge of ten-meter hulls. A very pliable and easy to handle boat; the Dufour 412, one of the first hulls that saw the introduction, aft, of the galley, complete with a grill for excellent cockpit barbecues, and the Dufour 512, which offers apowerful, yet easily maneuverable sail plan and ample cockpit space to enjoy sailing in total comfort.
But it doesn’t end there, because the French shipyard also confirmed the presence of the Drakkar 24 of a 7-meter, shallow draft moving keel boat ideal for learning how to sail. And finally there will be the great tribute to the boat that symbolizes the shipyard’s first 50 years: we are talking about the Arpége. At the VELAFestival we will pay a great tribute to this boat that marked the birth of modern yachting and is 50 years old this year.
Dto May 4 to 7 we will have at the dock in Santa Margherita as a guest among our “cult boats” Sula, an Arpege proper from 1967 that has just been restored by her owners, father and son who have dedicated all their free hours to refitting this jewel. Nn the evening of Friday, May 5 (from about 6:30 p.m.), during the evening of champions with the Sailor of the Year award ceremony, we will do a tribute to 50 years of Arpege.