A look back in time: Eleven at the helm!

Strange coincidences do exist. It was in 1973, during the oil crisis, that eleven companies which were part of the Syndicat Rochelais de Navigation et de Plaisance (La Rochelle Syndicate of Sailing and Water Sports) expressed the idea and wish to create an event to promote the local water sports sector. The idea? To present the vessels produced both in-water and on land. The date? Every year in September. The holidays are still in people’s minds and it’s a good time to take orders. A Constitutive General Meeting was organised on 15 March 1973 at Quai Valin in La Rochelle. The eleven founding members met with Roger Mallard as the chair of this first meeting. Around the table were the Société des Ateliers et Chantiers Amel, the Jean-Pierre Brémaud shipyard, the sailmaker Cheret, the Comptoir Maritime Rochelais, the Michel Dufour SA shipyard, the naval architect Philippe Harlé, the Fernand Hervé shipyard, the Mallard SA shipyards, Naviga-Sports, Quéré-Paillard and the marine equipment firm Soferac.

Henri Tonet, known as Amel, at the head of the shipyards of the same name – Amel being his name when he was a Resistance fighter – was the first President of the association and the President of Commission 1 in charge of general administrative, legal and financial matters. Henri Amel even provided the bank with his own guarantee so that the first edition could take place. Guy Phelippon from Naviga-Sports presided over Commission 2 in charge of practical organisation and paid to produce the first catalogue from his own pocket. Michel Dufour was the President of Commission 3 responsible for promotion and advertising. He was the one who came up with the idea of calling the show the « Grand Pavois ».

On 6 April 1973, the Grand Pavois de La Rochelle association appeared in the columns of the Journal Officiel No.82 of the French Republic. It was now official: the association was recognised by the State.

On 27 March 1973, the association’s by-laws were drafted. Its « purpose is to present to the public, in-water and on land, all types of pleasure crafts and their equipment and fittings, as well as all the activities directly related to the profession ».

The first edition was held, as expected, from 20 to 23 September 1973. 34 exhibitors were present and 64 boats were exhibited in-water on the first two pontoons at the foot of the Forum des Pertuis, in the port of Les Minimes developed following the wish of the city’s Mayor, Michel Crépeau. 3 709 visitors crowded the pontoons and, on Sunday, access had to be limited for safety reasons. It was a great success, the Grand Pavois was born!

 A Board of Directors at the service of and open to the profession!

Henri Amel (Société des Ateliers et Chantiers Amel), Michel Dufour (Société Michel Dufour SA), Fernand Hervé (Chantier Navel Hervé), Roger Mallard (Société des Chantiers Mallard SA), Philippe Harlé (naval architect), Bernard Ancel (SARL Voilerie Cheret), Jean-Pierre Bremaud (SARL J.P. Bremaud), Yves Berbain (Comptoir Maritime Rochelais), Marc Caillon (Soferac Accastillage), Guy Phelippon (Société Naviga-Sports), Lionel Paillard (Société Quéré-Paillard) were the eleven members of this first constitutive meeting chaired by Roger Mallard on 15 March 1973. A Board of Directors which has changed over the years but which remains consistent in its functions and its attributions: i.e. deciding the fate of the La Rochelle boat show as well as the life of the Grand Pavois Organisation association through its other events. It should be recalled that this Board of Directors, which represents the association’s members (editor’s note: remember that all water sport professionals are entitled to join the association), meets every month to deal with current affairs and, once a year for its General Meeting.

Chaired by Alain Pochon since 1995 (editor’s note: Director since 1992, Vice-President in 1994), nowadays, the Grand Pavois Organisation’s Board of Directors is composed of Jean-Jacques Lemonnier, Vice-President (Amel Yachts), Yannick Hemet, Treasurer (Four Winns & Wellcraft), Boris Compagnon, Secretary (Chantier Catana) and the Directors, Olivier Caris (Neel Trimarans), Hélène de Fontainieu (Dufour Yachts), Merry de La Poëze (Jeanneau), Olivier Grassi (Grassi Bateaux), Erwann de Vuillefroy (Fountaine Pajot), Didier Le Moal (J Composites), Paolo Serio (Dream Yacht Charter), Christophe Soares (Navicom) and Benoit Treguilly (Tahé Outdoor). Professionals, as ever open to and at the service of other professionals and enthusiasts!

A 50th anniversary edition…

If 1973 marked the first edition, 2022 will celebrate the 50th edition of the La Rochelle international in-water boat show. And although the show has undergone changes over the years to adapt to and anticipate future trends, the show has preserved and upheld certain values which have made, continue to make and create its differences, but conviviality continues to be its watchword. The Grand Pavois La Rochelle remains, as in 1973, a highlight for presenting the new products of the coming year and continues to be perfectly representative of the water sports sector. An essential event for many shipbuilders as well as for equipment manufacturers and service companies which come together at Port des Minimes, the birthplace of sailing in France and La Rochelle since it will also be celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. 50th edition for the Grand Pavois La Rochelle, 50 years for the La Rochelle marina… A wonderful year in view which enthusiasts at the service of enthusiasts will celebrate!