Based in Bordeaux, France, CNB Yachts (Construction Navale Bordeaux) has been building production sailboats and custom sailing superyachts since the late 1980s. Under the ownership of Groupe Beneteau, itself focused on sailing multihulls as well as power craft, it is changing direction. Starting in September, all CNB Yachts sailing superyachts will see construction in Italy, at a sister yard’s site.
Known for the famous performance yacht Mari-Cha II (now Bristolian), among others, CNB Yachts builds monohulls. So, too, does its sister brand, Monte Carlo Yachts, in Monfalcone, Italy. Even though Monte Carlo Yachts produces powerboats and large motoryachts, the facilities suit the sailing yachts’ production, Groupe Beneteau asserts. In fact, the parent company cites the craftspeople’s abilities to highly customize each project, as well as produce yachts in small series. “Thanks to its dockside location on the Adriatic Sea, the Monfalcone site will also make it possible to bring CNB Yachts’ boats closer to their customers, who sail primarily in the Mediterranean,” a statement reads.
The Bordeaux facility is not going out of business, however. Rather, Groupe Beneteau wishes to have its staff focus exclusively on yet another sister brand. Lagoon catamarans exceeding 50 feet (about 15 meters) have seen production there for 20 years. This will continue, along with production of a new smaller catamaran brand, Excess. Groupe Beneteau says the multihull market is experiencing strong growth, so it wishes to double its own multihull construction capacity through 2020.
The production shift for Lagoon and Excess is not yet final. Group Beneteau is engaging in discussions with its labor unions. In the meantime, Monte Carlo Yachts continues building MCY86 and MCY105 semi-custom megayachts, along with other models.
CNB Yachts en.cnb-yachts.com
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