Business people : Rhéa Shipyard, retirement of Bernard Danglade

Rhea Owners welcomed Bernard Danglade retirement, founder of the famous La Rochelle site; in sea.

A page of the french Sea book has turned, while the 41st Grand Pavois drew the curtain .  Bertrand Danglade , founder and CEO of Rhea Marine Laleu's shipyard . He retires and passes the direction to his former business manager , Alex Pinet , who became CEO .

Bertrand Danglade leaves the company at age 67 , but he did not give up . The tip of his pencil continue to run on the drawing board for the release of new models as a consultant now , he will continue to instill Rhea gene, something a boat upscale and elegant motor whose lines are inspired by the patterns of the old oyster boats tractors Grandpa , all out pretty wooded and chrome finishes .

The party was at sea

Saturday night at the yard , 180 people , employees, friends, suppliers, colleagues and close water sector, have sounded the warm words . To greet the affable leader born in Cognac, heir to a family versed in the eaux-de -vie Amber , who dedicated his career to realize his dreams salty . Most of his time between La Rochelle and Ile de Ré , when not devoted to his other passion : aviation.

Sunday, the show afloat this time the table was given, in an original way . The wink of the afternoon was to get Bertrand Danglade Port des Minimes in command of Trawler 36, the flagship of the range, for a test with customers . In the channel , waiting for a surprise thirty Rhea owners together in tub scum . Two parties behind which is Martine , the wife of Bertrand Danglade that we live very moved, glass in hand , overlooking the flotilla upper deck Trawler .

At the bow , the restless evocation of his seventeen years at the head of the shipyard he created . " A big thrill to see everything at once " my crew " who prepared me this festival ," commented Bertrand Danglade afterwards. And joking : "It is no doubt the boat that customers have tried is half sold ... "

With Baron Bich

Bertrand Danglade began writing his journey boat maker in the 60s or even earlier if you include " The Blob ", the first boat he made with his hands in his father's garage, the age of 13 . Self-taught boat building , he learned the techniques of wood and polyester going every morning near Saint -Xandre in the workshop of a ... Michel Dufour , founder of the eponymous site.

Bertrand Danglade rented a maid's room and moved to Solex . They were then six in the shed , to stratify Sylph Dufour . Some time later, the Solex sailed for the Isle of Wight in southern England. In Southers , there were connoisseurs of woodworking. A bargain. Curious and hands- all, seen at the time of national service board in the crew of Baron Bich, for the preparation of the America's Cup . Then return to the country , and installation in the shipyard D , created by his father.

Which became the subcontractor Dufour for polyester . The company Rhea, he created in 1996 , after having crossed many milestones in his career , including one that restored life to the famous rétais Tofinou . Rhea has become a benchmark in its segment, a company that Bertrand Danglade sold in July 2012 to DLJ group, while preparing a smooth start .

By Philippe Baroux Sudouest.fr