From cabinetmaker to boatbuilder
Jean Morin was born in 1927 in the Bordeaux region. After studying to be a cabinetmaker, he set up on his own as a shutter manufacturer. In 1959, he was approached to build the Mousse, a 3.90 m plywood dinghy designed by Eugène Cornu in 1952. Incidentally, his workshop was so cramped that he had to cut through the wall he shared with his neighbor to build the boat's mast... He then moved to Pessac to set up a workshop on a plot of land given to him by his father.
He was then entrusted with the construction of several boats, including the Corsaire (Herbulot design, 5.50 m), of which he built 1,550, and which was a real success.
A decisive encounter
But it was his meeting with André Cornu at the 1962 Salon Nautique that changed his life. The architect entrusted him with the plans for a 4.70 m double dinghy he had just designed, to be positioned between the 420 and the 505. What a godsend for a man who dreamed âeuros, like his competitor Lucien Lanaverre who had been building the 420 âeuros since 1960, of building his own dinghyâeuros!
The first quat' sept was launched the following spring in the Arcachon basin. In the summer of 1963, the boat was presented to various sailing clubs, and the success was immediate! The boat was soon built in seriesâeuros; in the first year, 100 units were builtâeuros; in 1970, 10 per dayâeuros!
Racing to promote the 470
To promote his boat, Jean Morin takes part in numerous regattas with Jean-Claude Cornu, André Cornu's son and a keen racer. In fact, he is a 505 world champion. In 1964, the duo took part in the "Un par Série" event, in which different dinghies were compared. That same year, the French Sailing Federation (not yet called that at the time) made it a national class. The two men distinguished themselves by their sporting achievements, both nationally and internationally, winning three French championship titles and finishing 3rd in the first European Championship in 1966.
An international success
Architect André Cornu decides to upgrade his boat and Jean Morin to remake a new mold. The export market grows, and by 1966 other European shipyards are authorized to build the 470.
Nevertheless, Jean Morin continues to produce numerous examples of his boat âeuros up to 1,500 boats a year âeuros at an affordable price that attracts the greatest French regatta sailors. Many of them have sailed the 470: Michel Briand, the Pajot brothers, the Follenfant brothers, the Peponnetâeuros brothers!
Jean Morin also built other boats, including the Mini Morin, designed to replace the Optimist, the 4-meter and the 430, but which were not as successful as expected.
The end of a career as a real estate developer
In 1976 âeuros the year in which the 470 became an Olympic series âeuros Jean Morin gave up. He sold his shipyard to Yachting France (which at the same time bought out the Lanaverre shipyard) and became a property developer. He retired in his 90s, at the age of almost 70. He died on Tuesday March 9, 2021 at the age of 93.
