About

Welcome to the Musée de la Plaisance, a platform dedicated to exploring the history of leisure boating in France, from the 1950s to the present day.

Our Mission

The Musée de la Plaisance is a philanthropic project initiated by the Beneteau Foundation. Our mission is to preserve and share the rich and diverse heritage of leisure boating in France, highlighting the key moments, technological, economic, social, and cultural advancements that have shaped leisure boating as we know it today.

Virtual Exploration

Dive into the past and explore the evolution of leisure boating in France through our articles. Browse historical photographs, videos, and detailed stories that trace the development of boats, materials, nautical competitions, and French maritime culture.

Highlights

Discover the defining moments in the history of leisure boating in France, from the post-World War II boom in recreational sailing to the emergence of new trends and technologies in recent years. Explore major regattas, design innovations, sailing feats, and the social changes that have influenced how the French interact with the sea.

Participation and Contributions

We are grateful to everyone who has contributed to making this museum possible. From passionate journalists to maritime photographers, each has played a role in creating an informative experience for our visitors. If we have inadvertently missed mentioning any contributors, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Contact Us

Your feedback is essential in helping us improve and enrich our virtual museum. Feel free to contact us to share your ideas and suggestions regarding leisure boating in France.

Thank you for joining us in this exploration of the history of leisure boating in France.

Best regards,
The Musée de la Plaisance Team

1950

The Vaurien, fresh momentum for dinghy sailing

When glue changes wood

Plastic fantastic

“Lonely voyagers” by Jean Merrien

Birth of bateaux magazine

Les Glénans and learning how to sail

Offshore racing, the time of pioneers

Ocean cruising, in Kurun’s wake

From artisans to industry

The history of motorboating

The Bertram revolution

First industrial steps

The evolution of hulls

The Paris 6 Hours

Emergence of watersports

1960

Opening up the offshore world

The story of plywood sailboats

Sport fishing

First boat show at the CNIT

Neptune Nautisme

Race for performance

1964 Transat, Eric Tabarly, single-handed winner.

Dick Carter, the iconoclast

Marinas, a home for everyone!

A new era

Emerging market

The drive to conquer

First industrialization in Europe

Rouen 24 Hours race

1970

Architecture, the new wave

Live-aboard sailboats, in search of comfort and performance

Olympic success for France in sailing

Grand Pavois de La Rochelle

Birth of “Voiles et Voiliers”

The advent of pleasure sailing

Ton Cups, real-time racing

Solitaire du figaro

Marcel Bich and the conquest of America

Bernard Moitessier’s “The long way”

Tour des côtes de France

Sailing like a hurricane

The golden years of motorboating

Inshore competition

Offshore competition

1980

Tabarly takes on the Atlantic challenge

Racing and cruising

Welcoming designers on board

Cruising multihulls, a French revolution

Focus on marine electronics

Technological innovations

Boats growing in size

Epic voyages

Racing multihulls, trimaran’s unstoppable rise

The age of regatta one-designs

Battle of the Bosses

Vendée globe, The ultimate challenge

French Kiss

Growing and maturing

Competition and recreational boating moving forward in tandem

Daring decade for motorboating

Niamey-Bamako Rally

1990

BOC challenge, in the wake of Isabelle Autissier

Route du Rhum 1990 with Florence Arthaud

Development of high-end custom models

History of foils, 1861-2000

Media coverage of recreational boating

Jules Verne finally beaten!

Transquadra

Transat Jacques Vabre

Jules Verne Trophy 1997

Crisis and consequences

The challenge for yards faced with the market

2000

Infusion starts to spread

Motorboating turns 100!