Beneteau Sailboats - is renowned worldwide for its construction of sailing boats and yachts, with a long history of wins and awards. In 1884, Benjamin Beneteau, a qualified ship building worker, decides to build fishing trawlers and opens Beneteau Boatyards in the town of Croix-de-Vie in France. Today, the locations where Beneteau boatbuilding occurs are five factories in the Vendee area of France, and one factory in Marion, South Carolina. The Beneteau group includes other yachting companies of CNB, and Wauquiez. Beneteau yachts lead the yacht building industry in offshore miles. Beneteau builds several lines of sailing boats/yachts, including the First line of 21 to 48 foot cruiser/racers, the Oceanis Clipper cruising line from 32 feet to 46 feet, and a custom series of 50 and 57 foot-long yachts.