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Professionals at the forefront of the event industry!

Grand Pavois Organisation (GPO) places its tailored expertise, advice, know-how and experience that is unique in France and overseas at the service of water sports events.

Given its associative status. GPO is devoted to promote the boating and water sports industry and the development of the practice, GPO has a close relationship with the international boating and water sports professional world and a recognised know-how in the world of nautical events. 

GPO can manage all or part of your nautical events by relying on a team of full-time staff –  with professional skills such as communication and media relations, marketing and sales forces, technical and logistics both on land and at sea, partnerships and PR – to :

  • Create and organise boat shows in France and internationally,
  • Create and organise ocean races and transatlantic rallies, to host international races stopovers,
  • Organise and host BtoB and BtoC events and public relations operations (company regattas, launches and naming of exceptional boats, promotional tours, etc.)

Recognised know-how in the world of international water sport events

International boat shows

Events to promote your water sports and sailing projets

Ocean-racing events for all classes

International references

Boat shows

Grand Pavois International in-water boat show since 1973 (top 5 international in-water boat shows), “Les Nauticales” Aix-Marseilles Metropolis boat show in La Ciotat (from 2013 to 2020), Itajai International Boat Show – Santa Catarina (Brazil-2014), Shenzhen International in-water boat show (China -2009, 2010 and 2011), etc.

Ocean-racing events

World40 (the Class40 World Championship) in June 2022, Défi Atlantique Class40 Guadeloupe/Horta/La Rochelle in 2019 and 2023, Transat 6.50 La Charente-Maritime/Bahia (France/Brazil in 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009 and 2011), Défi Atlantique (qualifying race for the Vendée Globe 2004/2005) from Salvador de Bahia to La Rochelle (2003), Stopovers of the Volvo Ocean Race (1998 and 2002) in La Rochelle (France), etc.

Water sport events

Rallye des Iles du Soleil (since 2017), Consulting assignment Qinhuangdao China (2024/2025 – 2019), IFBSO / Icomia Congress (2024), April Marine Paddle Jam (2022), Launching of Yannick Bestaven’s Imoca 60 Maître CoQ V (2022), Launching of François Gabart’s Imoca 60 Macif (2011), Launching of Yannick Bestaven’s Class40 Le Conservateur (2014), Launching of Maud Fontenoy’s L’Oréal Paris (2006), L’Oréal Paris summer tour (2007)…

THE DÉFI ATLANTIQUE CLASS40

THE GRAND PAVOIS LA ROCHELLE

THE RALLYE DES ILES DU SOLEIL

THE SHENZHEN INTERNATIONAL BOAT SHOW

THE TRANSAT 6,50 CHARENTE-MARITIME/BAHIA

VOILES DE NUIT

Our events

The Grand Pavois La Rochelle

Every year in September, it is the essential boatshow for water sport professionals and enthusiasts!

Rallye des Iles du Soleil logo

The Rallye des Iles du Soleil

Transatlantic open to all, the Rallye des Iles du Soleil allows amateurs to live the dream of all sailors, to cross the Atlantic in a fleet in complete safety.

chine logo

Consulting mission Qinhuangdao (China)

Boating industry development and events consultancy in Hebei province, China.

Nice Boating Tomorrow logo

Nice Boating Tomorrow

The first international afloat boat show dedicated to the boating of tomorrow and eco-responsibility in the international marine industry.

A UNIQUE STATUS IN THE WORLD OF WATER SPORT EVENTS

It was in 1973 that four pioneers from La Rochelle’s shipyards had the idea to create an independent professional association to promote the interests of the water sports sector. This led to the creation of the Grand Pavois Organisation association, the mission of which was to create an in-water boat show where it would be possible to meet the heads of shipyards and, above all, make appointments to test boats at sea before buying. Today, the Grand Pavois Organisation is still governed by a Board of Directors made up of water sport professionals.

The Board of Directors

Alain POCHON

President

Boris COMPAGNON

Catana Group, Vice-President

Yannick HEMET

SPBI Beneteau, Treasurer

Jean-Jacques LEMONNIER

Amel Yachts, Secretary

Jean-Philippe BRUN

Jeanneau, Administrator

Hélène DE FONTANIEU

Dufour Yachts, Administrator

Erwann DE VUILLEFROY

Fountaine Pajot, Administrator

Philippe GIREAUD

Hobie Europe, Administrator

Olivier GRASSI

Grassi Bateaux, Administrator

Didier LE MOAL

J Composites, Administrator

Stéphane Olevier

Neel Trimarans, Administrator

Julien POCHON

Pochon SA, Administrator

Christophe SOARES

Navicom, Administrator

Maurice DURANTHON

Mercury Marine, Administrator

Find us

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Avenue du Lazaret, 17000 La Rochelle
05 46 44 46 39

Grand Pavois Organisation (GPO) places its tailored expertise, know-how and unique experience in France and overseas at the service of water sports events.