About

The Musée de la Plaisance is a philanthropic project initiated by the Beneteau Foundation, with the aim of showcasing the history of leisure sailing in France from the 1950s to the present day, and inspiring future generations to explore the vast possibilities offered by the sea. Stakeholders in the boating world are invited to help keep the content evolving by contributing testimonies, photographs, and videos. While the Beneteau Foundation is behind the project, it is through collective participation that the museum will become an even more relevant tool to convey the passion and evolution of sailing.

This shared vision is expressed by Annette Roux, President of the Beneteau Foundation, and Cyril Sancereau, Secretary General and Director of the Musée de la Plaisance : “To make this history accessible to a wide audience, while remaining a point of reference for enthusiasts and insiders.”

A Virtual Museum Experience

500 original photographs, 40 videos from the INA archives, and 70 in-depth articles written by experts in leisure sailing — this is the wealth of history that the Beneteau Foundation is making freely available to all. It reflects six years of work, begun in 2018 when the Beneteau Corporate Foundation launched a heritage preservation policy by digitizing visual archives from the Beneteau and Jeanneau collections. At the same time, it acquired the Guy Lévêque collection (a photographer specializing in the maritime world from the 1930s to the 1980s), which was also digitized. In total, no fewer than 70,000 images and 984 videos have been digitized and indexed.

For Olivier Péretié, one of the site’s authors:
“These documents are invaluable. More eloquent than many speeches, they illuminate the facets of a technological, industrial, and cultural epic — but above all, a profoundly human one.”

Given the quality and breadth of this collection, in 2021 the Beneteau Corporate Foundation — which then became the Beneteau Foundation endowment fund — decided to create this Virtual Museum, making it accessible to as many people as possible and sharing the remarkable history of boating. The collection has since been enriched with additional research in major public resource centers such as the Bibliothèque nationale de France, the Musée national de la Marine, and the Institut national du patrimoine, as well as through specialized journals and periodicals, academic studies, and thematic or historical works.

After two more years of development, the Beneteau Foundation is inaugurating the first Musée Virtuel de la Plaisance. Beyond transmitting history, its purpose is to pass on the culture of sailing itself — so that future generations may make it their own and continue the adventure with the same passion and a deep respect for the environment.

An Immersive Visit

The entrance to the Musée de la Plaisance opens onto the Focus, conceived as a living and evolving space. Structured around four main themes – Boats, Equipment, Experiences, and Portraits – it brings together texts, photographic archives, and audio formats. Closely connected to current events and the nautical calendar, it encourages diversity of formats and paves the way for editorial collaborations.

Complementing this is the interactive timeline (1950–2020), which offers a global and structured overview of the history of yachting. It situates key developments, technical innovations, major regattas, and the opening of new marinas within their historical context, providing a clear and dynamic panorama.

Through this dual approach – vibrant and thematic on the one hand, historical and structured on the other – the museum highlights the transformations of boating, from the first production boats to major competitions such as the Solitaire du Figaro, the Route du Rhum, or the America’s Cup.

The Musée Virtuel de la Plaisance conveys strong values: passion, discovery, responsibility, respect for the sea and the environment, safety, and conviviality. It also aims to be a technological showcase, where interactive developments and creative approaches constantly renew the visitor’s experience.

Opening and Sharing Knowledge

Finally, this virtual museum aims to continue its development with the support of institutions, shipyards, and industry personalities who wish to contribute their knowledge.

Making this museum their own and helping it thrive is the ambition of the Beneteau Foundation for everyone interested in yachting.

Iconographies

Each article is illustrated with photographs by authors who are experts in leisure boating: Guy Lévèque, Gérard Beauvais, Frédéric Allain, Gilles Martin-Raget, Jean-Marie Liot, Daniel Allisy, Philippe Plisson, Roland Fardeau.

Contact Us

Your feedback is essential in helping us improve and enrich our virtual museum. Please feel free to contact us to share your ideas and suggestions about 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

About the Beneteau Foundation

Founded in 2005 and established as an endowed fund in 2020, the Beneteau Foundation is today the only organization in France entirely dedicated to boating. It focuses on the preservation of leisure boating heritage and the promotion of innovation. Through a variety of projects – architectural competitions for students, restoration of iconic boats such as the Fleury Michon – the Foundation actively contributes to the preservation and promotion of boating culture. It also conducts educational initiatives with schools such as ENSAAMA and supports humanitarian efforts alongside the association Marins sans Frontières.

Since its creation, the Foundation has funded 23 major projects in its areas of action, contributing to the visibility and vitality of leisure boating. In 2024, it further innovates with the launch of a virtual Musée de la Plaisance and the creation of a chair dedicated to nautical design, reinforcing its commitment to education and the future of boating.