PARISIAN POWERBOAT PIONEER
A recent restoration has shone a light on rare 1960s Parisian runabouts, from the likes of the almost completely forgotten Despujols boatyard, suggesting that swathes of powerboating history are like terra incognita – white spaces on ancient maps hinting at undiscovered worlds.
These territories have evolved tremendously since the middle of the last century. Some careful exploration is needed to retrace the beginnings and the end of the Despujols boatyard, from which only a handful of boats remain today.
The name has been associated with the Bordeaux region for many generations, often in connection with notable vineyards. The city of Bordeaux, with its large harbour and strategic importance in the trade of exotic boatbuilding timbers, spawned a
