True icons of France’s maritime heritage, the Pen Duick yachts are inseparable from Éric Tabarly, the visionary sailor who transformed offshore racing and inspired generations of sailors around the world.

For Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026, it is a great honour to welcome four Pen Duick yachts thanks to the support of the Eric Tabarly Association. This extraordinary gathering of legendary yachts promises to be one of the highlights of this year’s show.

Located at the end of Pontoon 7, within the Heritage & Craftsmanship Area, the four yachts will be on display throughout the show, from 22 to 27 September 2026.

The Pen Duick yachts: legends that shaped the history of sailing

It is impossible to talk about Éric Tabarly without mentioning the Pen Duick yachts.

These remarkable boats have become symbols of French maritime heritage and tell the story of a visionary sailor who revolutionised offshore racing.

From the original Pen Duick, built in 1898, to the groundbreaking Pen Duick V, each yacht represents a major milestone in the evolution of modern sailing.

At Grand Pavois La Rochelle 2026, four of these legendary yachts will be exceptionally reunited.

Pen Duick: the yacht that started the legend

The first of the famous series, Pen Duick is the yacht that remained closest to Éric Tabarly’s heart throughout his life.

Built in 1898 by the renowned Scottish shipyard William Fife under the name Yum, this classic gaff cutter was purchased by Tabarly’s father in 1938. It was aboard this yacht that the young Éric discovered the sea and developed his lifelong passion for sailing.

Following the Second World War, the yacht had fallen into severe disrepair. During the 1950s, Éric Tabarly carried out a remarkable restoration by replacing the original wooden hull with a moulded polyester hull—an unprecedented innovation for a classic yacht of this size. Thanks to this bold decision, Pen Duick returned to the sea and became the symbol of the entire Tabarly adventure.

Today, Pen Duick is still sailing thanks to the Eric Tabarly Association.

Pen Duick II: the ketch that changed French sailing forever

Built in 1964 specifically for the Single-Handed Trans-Atlantic Race, Pen Duick II is a 13.6-metre aluminium ketch, designed to be light, fast and highly innovative.

Aboard this yacht, Éric Tabarly won the legendary Plymouth–Newport Transatlantic Race after 27 days at sea.

This historic victory marked the first time a French sailor had won the event, previously dominated by British and American competitors.

Tabarly’s triumph transformed him into a national hero and played a key role in popularising offshore racing throughout France.

Pen Duick III: « The Cathedral of Sails »

Launched in 1967 in Lorient, Pen Duick III is an aluminium yacht designed by Éric Tabarly himself.

With its elegant black schooner silhouette and exceptional performance, it quickly became one of the most successful racing yachts of its era.

During its very first season, it dominated the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) championship, winning prestigious races including the Fastnet Race. That same year, it also claimed victory in the legendary Sydney–Hobart Yacht Race, becoming the first French yacht to win this iconic offshore event.

Its remarkable sail plan earned it the famous British nickname: « The Cathedral of Sails. »

After Tabarly’s successes, Pen Duick III continued sailing under renowned French sailors including Philippe Poupon and Éric Loizeau before joining the fleet of the Eric Tabarly Association.

Pen Duick V: the pioneer of modern racing monohulls

Built in Lorient in 1968, Pen Duick V is an aluminium monohull designed for the Transpacific Race between San Francisco and Tokyo.

Its design was revolutionary for its time. The wide hull incorporated some of the very first water ballast tanks, an innovation created to improve stability and performance while sailing downwind.

Today, water ballast systems are standard on many offshore racing yachts, making Pen Duick V a true pioneer.

In 1969, Éric Tabarly won the Transpacific Race by more than ten days, confirming his extraordinary talent and establishing Pen Duick V as one of the most influential yachts in modern offshore racing history.