French shipyard Chantiers Amel is marking the launch of its 100th Amel 50 yacht, a model that continues to be popular among its international clientele.

Introduced in 2017 during a challenging economic period, this 15-metre yacht represented a departure from the shipyard’s traditional designs, featuring a smaller size, different hull design, and new rigging options. Despite these changes, the Amel 50 maintained the brand’s key attributes, including safety, comfort, and ease of handling, while also delivering enhanced sailing performance.

The design, by La Rochelle-based architects Olivier and Isabelle Racoupeau of Berret Racoupeau Yachts Design, successfully retained the shipyard’s core values while introducing new energy into the model.

The Amel 50 has received industry recognition, including the European Yacht of the Year award in 2018 and Sail USA’s Best Boat of the Year in 2020. The yacht has also benefited from ongoing developments by the shipyard’s design office, which aims to improve autonomy, onboard comfort and environmental sustainability.