From repair to manufacture of boat sails
Delta Voiles opened in the Côtes d'Armor in 2005. François Le Guern, its manager, who originally set up the business in Pordic, has been accelerating its development over the past few years, moving from a maintenance-only sailmaker to a mixed business integrating the production of new sails and a rigging offer. "I worked alone from 2005 to 2017, then I was joined by Hugo Mahieu on the floor on a professionalization contract, who is now on a permanent contract. Then came Stéphane Le Tertre who takes care of the rigging part. We are now 5 with Mathilde Le Madec who manages the business and communication, and Christel for the low-tech and circular economy aspect. Since 2021, we now make the sails here, assembling the panels received from Delta Voiles" explains François Le Guern.
Investments to develop the sailmaking business
The development also involves infrastructure. The sailmaker will double the surface of its floor. It should increase from 160 m² to 320 m² in winter 2022. The investments also concern the equipment, with the acquisition of a new industrial sewing machine with the support of the PASS device of the Pays de Saint-Brieuc. "We will also recruit a person on a professionalization contract in September. The long-term objective is to produce a hundred sails a year. Today our market for cruising sails is mainly in North Brittany and for regattas, we also sell in South Brittany. Our customers are 15% professionals and 85% private boaters. Thanks to the Delta Voiles network, we benefit from a design office that is impossible for a small business to have and from R&D thinking with highly qualified people. We also have the strength of a global offer for sailmaking and rigging" underlines the manager of Delta Voiles Côtes d'Armor.
Attention to the environmental impact of sails
Through the employment of a dedicated person, the sailmaker is committed to limiting its impact on the environment. "There is really work to be done on recycling. In our products, there are a lot of petrochemical products and we want to reduce our impact. We work with the Seconde Nature recycling center in Binic. We also give our scraps to individuals. Otherwise, it goes to the general public" regrets François Le Guern. Let's bet that with the announced growth of the sailmaker, the subject will be all the more burning and will be able to give rise to ideas for other sailmakers.
