Classic Boat

PARISIAN POWERBOAT PIONEER

A recent restoration has shone a light on rare 1960s Parisian runabouts, from the likes of the almost completely forgotten Despujols boatyard, suggesting that swathes of powerboating history are like terra incognita – white spaces on ancient maps hinting at undiscovered worlds.

These territories have evolved tremendously since the middle of the last century. Some careful exploration is needed to retrace the beginnings and the end of the Despujols boatyard, from which only a handful of boats remain today.

The name has been associated with the Bordeaux region for many generations, often in connection with notable vineyards. The city of Bordeaux, with its large harbour and strategic importance in the trade of exotic boatbuilding timbers, spawned a

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from Classic Boat

Classic Boat4 min read
Trysail Dreams
Do you ever wonder about where your subconscious gets its ideas from? I know I do. Last night my dreams centred on trysails. It wasn’t just one brief flash, it went on until morning finally banished the images. I woke at first light as usual and opte
Classic Boat7 min read
Timber For Boatbuilding
On the face of it, it might seem as if it has been all doom and gloom in the world of boatbuilding timbers in recent years. The headline news is that since the military coup in Myanmar (formerly Burma) in February 2021, it is has been illegal to impo
Classic Boat3 min read
How To Win The America’s Cup Of Maldon
Yacht racers, as Classic Boat readers well know, are apt to wear silly clothes and talk nonsense and say things like: “To finish first, first you have to finish.” Well, duh. This is when they’re not all shouting “water” at a nearby boat that is obvio

Related