Wauquiez Yachts
Henri Wauquiez (pronounced vo key ay) founded his yard in 1965 on a commitment to build fast, high quality, comfortable sailing yachts. Ironically it is often the individual ranges that are better known than the Wauquiez name. Many people are familiar with Gladiateurs - nearly 300 built, Amphitrites - 138 built and most celebrated the Centurion range of which over 800 have been built from 32 to 60 feet.
For ten years, until 2008, Wauquiez was part of the Specialist boats division of Groupe Beneteau. The Beneteau connection brought great benefits in terms of heavy investment in a brand new moulding-shop in Wauquiez's Lille yard and the development of the current Berret Racoupeau designed Pilot Saloons. However, ultimately small volume, customisable, quality yacht building is probably not a natural fit with a volume manufacturer and there was an amicable parting of the ways in 2008. Wauquiez again took charge of its own destiny as an independent yard backed by committed investors.
Over the last 30 years, Wauquiez have led the development of the Pilot Saloon concept. The latest incarnation of which is seen in the, 47PS and 55PS models. These boats are designed to have serious offshore capability while providing great comfort, speed and of course an interior watchkeeping postion and the light and space of a pilot saloon.
Wauquiez 55
The Wauquiez 55, launched in Southampton, represents a further refinement of the Bluewater Pilot Saloon concept which was pioneered by the yard over 25 years ago. It joins the 41 and 47 to define the current range. Filled with light and air the 55PS is a luxury environment but with all the technical needs of long-distance cruising thought through and designed in. A boat for fast comfortable passages and the perfect homebase at any destination.