ULM Accident
Bertrand Danglade was killed on Monday, August 7, 2017 aboard his ULM in St-Estèphe, Gironde. Arrived early in the morning from La Rochelle to help a friend whose aircraft was down, his ultralight crashed shortly after takeoff of the return flight. He was flying with his friend's wife. None of the passengers survived the accident. Bertrand Danglade was an experienced pilot.
Father of Rhea Marine
Bertrand Danglade had always been passionate about boats and had acquired a solid base on the banks of the Clyde in Scotland, a historic site for fine yachting. It was there that he nourished his taste for wood and classic hulls. In the 1970s, he created the"Chantier Naval de l'île de Ré" in which he maintained and restored all types of boats, especially wooden.
Bertrand Danglade founded the Rhéa Marine shipyard in La Rochelle in 1996. Soon, the Rhéa motor boats, easily identifiable by their classic style, had seduced many boaters. The Rhéa 750 Helmsman, the second model of the yard, launched in 1997 was built in almost 300 specimens until 2007. Initially positioned on the fishing-promenade range, Rhéa Marine's offer has evolved over time, also offering motorboats for day trips or coastal cruises, while retaining its recognisable style. As the quotation on Rhéa's website reminds us:"Bertrand, draw us a boat", this look was the work of the founder, Bertrand Danglade.
The company grew steadily and moved into new buildings near La Rochelle airport in 2002. The industrial tool has grown with the company, to follow the demand.
After the acquisition by the DLJ group in 2012, Bertrand Danglade remained at the helm of Rhéa Marine, as Managing Director. In 2014, he retired and was replaced by Alex Pinet, the company's former sales director.
