New 2009 Beneteau Sailboats

Brief History of Beneteau

1986 Beneteau Crosses The Atlantic

In response to its North American success, Beneteau Sailboats opens a state-of-the-art production facility in Marion, South Carolina. Within four years, Beneteau is one of the top three sailboat manufacturers in America.


1987 First 35s5

Jean Berret and Philippe Starck combine daring and experience to produce this year's Cruising World Boat of the Year.


1988

The Copeland family leaves Vancouver on a 6-year circumnavigation of the world on their Beneteau 38.


1990Beneteau Celebrates 1000th Boat in the Marion, SC facility

One of the most advanced production plants in the world, Beneteau's facility in South Carolina builds hundreds of yachts each year. Already, the tradition of boatbuilding is being passed down from one generation to the next- much like it has for over 100 years at Beneteau's European sites.


1992

Official partners in the Louis Vuitton Cup, the America's Cup, and the Match Racing World Championships among other.
First 45f5: A new standard is set by Bruce Farr and Pinafarina. This aerodynamic beauty wins the title CHS Yacht of the Year.


1994

The Beneteau built Mumm 36 Corum Watches wins The Kenwood Cup.


1995

Oceanis 281
Chosen as Cruising World / Sailing World Boat of the Year, the Oceanis 281 features the most spacious and comfortable cabin in a sailboat her size.


Beneteau Sailboats named exclusive European builder of The Admiral's Cup one-design.


1996

Bob Wilke sails his Beneteau 321 more than 4,500 miles from the U.S. to Chile she collides with a floating ship container in the dead of night just a few scratches!
First 42s7 Diana wins Key West Race Week


1997

Oceanis 461
As Beneteau Sailboats celebrates her 20th year in the USA, it collects another prestigious Boat of the Year award for the Oceanis 461.


1998

Beneteau 411 wins Boat of the Year as Best Value, Full-Size Cruiser.


1999

First 40.7 Wins Boat of the Year best Racer/Cruiser.
Beneteau USA breaks an all time Beneteau record -- 86 sales orders taken at the Annapolis Boat Show.


2000

At Beneteau USA, big advancements mark the company's entry into its third century. At the factory, crews are working hard on a physical plant expansion that will increase the size of the Beneteau Sailboats factory by nearly 100%. Inside we are implementing new state-of-the-art company-wide software that will successfully sail us through the millennium and beyond.


2001

First 36.7 wins Sailing World Boat of The Year Best Value and wins SAIL Magazine's Top 10 Award.
Beneteau 473 wins Cruising World Magazine's Boat of The Year for Best Production Cruiser over $200K.


2002

First 40.7 Dame Blanche wins Key West PHRF Boat of the Week.
First 36.7 Team Revolution wins IMS World Championship.


2003

Beneteau 423 wins Cruising World Boat of The Year for Best Mid-Size Cruiser under 250K and wins SAIL Magazine's Top 10 Award.


2004

Beneteau USA Introduces the new Swift Trawler 42
Beneteau 373 Wins Cruising Boat of the Year "Best Value"


2005

Beneteau 44.7 Wins Boat of the Year "Best Racer/Cruiser"
For the first time, Beneteau has beaten rival manufacturers to be the predominant manufacturer, with a total of 26 Beneteaus entered in the 2005 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) .


2006

Beneteau Sailboats Celebrates 20 years of building boats in Marion, SC
Beneteau 523 Wins Boat of the Year "Best Full Size Cruiser"