How Was the Amel Shipyard Founded?
In 1964, sailing enthusiast Henri Amel launched his business in his own workshop in Paris, before establishing his shipyards in La Rochelle — the city where all Amel models are still built today. Amel sailboats are renowned for their 100% Made in France build quality and French craftsmanship for more than 50 years.
The first Amel models (1964) ranged from 5 to 10 metres: Super Mistral Sport, Alision and Copain. The shipyard then built the 11-metre Euro 39 and Kirk models. In the 1970s, Amel launched several models from 11 to 16 metres: Meltem, Maramu, Sharki and Mango.
When Did Amel Stand Out in the Boating Market?
Between 1988 and 1997, the Amel shipyard produced two exceptional models: the 16-metre Super Maramu and the 14-metre Amel Santorin. The launch of the Super Maramu 2000 in 1997 marked a true success, crowned with the Best Boat of the Year 2000 award. To this day, the Amel Super Maramu 2000 remains one of the brand’s best-sellers.
The Development of the Amel Shipyard from the 2000s Onward
Amel launched the 17.20-metre Amel 54 (produced from 2005 to 2011), followed by the 19.60-metre Amel 64 (produced from 2010 to 2019), and the sumptuous 17.30-metre Amel 55 (produced from 2011 to 2018).
In 2017, at the Cannes Yachting Festival, Amel surprised everyone by launching the Amel 50 sloop, which won the European Yacht of the Year award in the Luxury Cruiser category in 2018. In 2019, the new 18-metre Amel 60 sloop was presented at the same festival and won the same award in 2020.
Amel Sailboats Today
Today, the Amel range consists of two models: the Amel 50 and the Amel 60. Both are built with the same attention to detail and incorporate the latest technologies to make sailing easier and improve onboard comfort. Amel sailboats are particularly sought after on the pre-owned market for their longevity and reliability at sea.
