A pioneer in the democratization of light sailing
At the beginning, Poopy Marçon managed a shipyard specialized in the construction of micro boats. Based in the town of Carro in the Bouches du Rhône, he benefited from the boom in yachting and regattas in the 1960s and 1970s. Then in 1973, Poopy discovered a small, simple but very fun single-handed dinghy: the laser. He quickly became an importer and the beach boat became a best-seller, appreciated by all light sailing enthusiasts.
The success of the Laser allows Marçon Yachting to develop a distribution and service activity for both individuals and sailing schools. Anticipating the boom in windsurfing, Poopy Marçon became a distributor of the Windglider and Bic brands. In 1980, Marçon Yachting became a distributor of the Hobie Cat range, which is still the leading manufacturer of sport catamarans today.
Poopy has now handed over the management of the family business to his daughter Sandra, but continues to race in Sunfish and ILCA throughout Europe. Like the other members of the team: "In order to maintain a close link with our customers, we are on the water every weekend and on the regattas to keep in touch and to follow the complaints of our customers as well as possible" adds Xavier Leclair, the sales manager of Marçon Yachting.
A complete range
Today, Marçon Yachting has remained faithful to the shipyards on which it has based its reputation. The company continues to distribute the Hobie Cat range, the Tahe Sport range (formerly Bic), the ILCA single-handed Olympic dinghy, the Fusion and the Maverick. It is also a distributor of AVA Ribs, specialized in support boats for coaches. A card that will be important in anticipation of the 2024 Olympic Games, whose sailing events will take place in Marseille, but also in Martigues.
The Martigues Sailing Center, close to the Marçon Yachting offices, has been designated an Olympic water area. If the regattas cannot take place in the harbor of Marseille, the teams will have to fall back on the pond of Berre.
"The Martigues lake will also serve as a training base for many nations. We must be ready to welcome them and meet their expectations in the best conditions", underlines Sandra Marçon.
In order to complete its offer, Marçon Yachting also proposes in its store a whole range of equipment of the person: wetsuits, harnesses, booties...
A change of habit in the practices of the light
For a few years now, we have observed a change in the habits and practice of light sailing. In a sector where occasional rental was a common practice for 20 years, more and more individuals are becoming owners of their own dinghy. Amplified by the health crisis, the return to a local practice of sailing has led sailors to get closer to the light dinghy. A sort of return to the roots for a playful and fun approach to sailing.
