The Beneteau group was founded by Benjamin Bénéteau 1884, at Croix-de-Vie, France. With the aim to build fishing boats. Later in 1910 Beneteau launched the first engine-powered boat. However, the real change came with Annette Bénéteau Roux, her brother André and her husband Louis-Claude Rou, when they introduced fibreglass in the boat building . And by so they diversified the the group's activity, and a new era started in the Beneteau group history. In 1976 the company introduced its sail boats "First 30" and "First 42" in 1981. A year later, Beneteau became the world's leading builder of sail boats thanks to the "First" series. Today the group is celebrating 130 years of excellence and leadership.
