Founded in 2010 by Éric Bruneel, the NEEL Trimarans shipyard, based in La Rochelle, has quickly established itself as a major player in the design and manufacture of innovative cruising trimarans. Combining performance, safety, and comfort, NEEL models stand out for their bold design and high-quality construction.
The Neel Trimarans shipyard was born
In the early 2010s, the recreational boating market was dominated by monohulls and catamarans, leaving little room for cruising trimarans. Drawing on his more than 26 years of experience at Fountaine-Pajot, Éric Bruneel decided to take up the challenge by creating NEEL Trimarans in 2010. The first prototype, the NEEL 50, was designed the same year, thus validating the concept and laying the foundations for the brand.
Key moments in the history of the construction site
- two thousand eleven : Launch of the NEEL 45, the shipyard’s first production model, CE certified as the world’s first offshore cruising trimaran.
- two thousand thirteen The NEEL 45 was voted “Boat of the Year” by Sailing World and received the “Innovation Award” from Cruising World, two prestigious American awards.
- two thousand fifteen The NEEL 45 “La Caravelle” wins the ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers), demonstrating the performance of trimarans against carbon catamarans.
- two thousand eighteen The NEEL 51 has won three awards: “European Yacht of the Year”, “Multihull of the Year” and “USA Best Boat”. This year also marks the acquisition of the TechniYachts shipyard in La Rochelle, increasing production capacity by 5,000 m².
- two thousand twenty : NEEL-TRIMARANS celebrates its 10th anniversary and launches the LEEN range of motor trimarans, thus expanding its offering in the leisure boating market.
The Neel Trimarans shipyard today
Today, NEEL Trimarans is recognized for its innovation and boldness in the cruising multihull sectorThe shipyard offers a diverse range of trimarans, combining performance, safety and comfort, with models such as the NEEL 43, the NEEL 47 and the NEEL 65. The company continues to invest in new facilities, notably with the acquisition in 2022 of a new 12,300 m² factory in Périgny, thus strengthening its production capacity.
The most popular and sought-after models
- NEEL 45 (2011) – Architect: Michel Joubert
- NEEL 51 (2017) – Architect: Marc Lombard
- NEEL 47 (2019) – Architect: Marc Lombard
- NEEL 43 (2021) – Architect: Marc Lombard
- NEEL 65 (2015) – Architect: Marc Lombard
These models illustrate NEEL Trimarans’ commitment to offering innovative, high-performance boats adapted to the requirements of contemporary sailors.