Our appointment was made for meeting in the middle of the Guy Couach factory... no, let’s rephrase that... in the immense production halls in Gujan-Mestras, on the southern shore of Arcachon Bay. The site is so extensive that Joana Grönewald, Veya Yachts’ Communications Manager, had to send me a Google Maps pin just to make sure I found the visitors’ entrance. Once there, my passport was exchanged for a visitor’s badge. It doesn’t take long to realize that Guy Couach is no ordinary boatyard. Alongside luxury yachts, the company also builds military craft and professional vessels for government agencies, so confidentiality is naturally part of everyday life.
It was June 15th, exactly one month before a major milestone: the launch of the very first Veya 53. In just a few weeks, hull #1 will quietly leave the shipyard for Toulon before making its public debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September.
Our tour begins with Florent Battistella, CEO of Guy Couach and, as such, President of Veya Yachts, accompanied by Joana. The atmosphere is focused, yet there’s an unmistakable sense of excitement. Everywhere around us, electricians, joiners and technicians are working flat out to meet the July deadline.
A Production Line Dedicated Entirely to Veya
The production tooling used to build Fountaine Pajot’s MY range, installed here in 2022, has disappeared. Until last year, Guy Couach assembled Fountaine Pajot’s motor yacht range here. The very last MY6 is still waiting outside for delivery. From now on, the entire production line is devoted to Veya Yachts, perfectly illustrating the strategic evolution between the two partners.
Guy Couach’s involvement with multihulls began several years ago through the agreement to build the complete MY range for Fountaine Pajot. The joint venture that gave birth to Veya now goes one step further. It not only marks the end of the FP-branded powercats - with the exception of the very large 70, 80 and 110-foot models derived from sailing catamarans—but also paves the way for a gradual transfer of activities that should eventually see Guy Couach take full control of Veya Yachts.
I was now discovering an all-new production line dedicated to the Veya 53, with enough capacity to accommodate future models. Four hulls - soon five - are already under construction.
As an experienced industrialist, Florent Battistella immediately spots areas where production can be made smoother, faster and more efficient. Nothing escapes his attention. Throughout the visit, he identifies possible improvements on the assembly line and discusses them straight away with his teams.
Hull #1 has already been decked, fitted with its engines and extensively wired. Even so, it’s still difficult to imagine that this impressive assembly of composite structures, unfinished bulkheads and partially installed furniture will soon become one of the newcomers in the premium powercat market. With ceiling panels still missing and many fittings protected for the final stages of construction, the sheer volume of the future yacht is already striking.
Florent naturally leads me to what will soon become the saloon. The interior layout has been designed around a single-level living concept. “That was one of the key priorities right from the start of the project,” he explains. The open galley extends directly into the cockpit, which itself will flow almost seamlessly down to the sea thanks to full-width steps spanning the entire beam. Moving around the yacht promises to be particularly easy, while the many rounded corners clearly reflect careful consideration for safety underway. It’s the kind of detail that may seem insignificant alongside the dock but quickly proves invaluable once the sea gets lively.
Huge windows promise exceptional panoramic visibility from the interior helm station. I particularly like the reverse-raked forward glazing, which is likely to become one of the brand’s visual signatures. Unlike many competitors, there is no forward owner’s cabin requiring the bridgedeck tunnel to be lower. Instead, the entire port hull is dedicated to the owner’s suite on this three-cabin version. Florent encouraged me to share any comments I may have. I didn’t hesitate for long. The worktop intended for the future owner’s desk seems much too low to be genuinely comfortable.
Within seconds, the design office and the joinery team were already discussing possible changes. Time will tell whether my suggestion survives all the way to Cannes…
Meanwhile, the owner’s bathroom occupies a space rarely found aboard a powercat of this size, while the 6’7” x 6’7” (2 x 2 m) berth leaves no doubt about the level of comfort Veya intends to offer.
The starboard hull accommodates the two guest cabins, while a dedicated wine cellar is planned between them - a detail that perfectly reflects the premium positioning of the brand.
The visit naturally ends on the flybridge. From the northern side of the open shed, you can see Arcachon Bay - the sea is literally just a stone’s throw away.
For both Guy Couach and Veya Yachts, this first launch represents far more than the birth of a new model. It marks the beginning of a new industrial chapter. We’ll see in Cannes whether the promises made inside these workshops are confirmed once the Veya 53 finally takes to the water.
Guy Couach: More Than 130 Years of Boatbuilding History
Founded in 1897 on the shores of Arcachon Bay, Guy Couach first specialized in the manufacture of marine engines before becoming one of France’s leading builders of high-speed patrol boats and luxury yachts.
Based in Gujan-Mestras, the yard progressively developed recognized expertise in composite construction, sandwich structures and high-performance hulls.
Alongside its yachting activity, Guy Couach also designs and builds professional and military craft for navies, coastguards and government agencies around the world. This dual expertise enables the company to maintain exceptionally high standards in terms of quality, reliability and manufacturing processes.
Today, the Gujan-Mestras facilities cover several acres, allowing the simultaneous construction of custom yachts and limited-production projects such as the MODX 70, professional vessels and, following the Fountaine Pajot MY range, the first models of the new Veya Yachts line.
Veya 53: A New Challenger in the Premium Powercat Market
The first model from the young French brand Veya Yachts, the Veya 53 enters the increasingly competitive 50 to 55-foot premium powercat market.
Designed from the outset as a motor catamaran, it features a single-level layout between cockpit and saloon, a full owner’s hull in the three-cabin version, a generous flybridge and particularly spacious outdoor living areas. The emphasis is clearly on comfort and conviviality, with an open galley connected directly to the cockpit, remarkable interior volumes and a resolutely premium level of finish.
Hull #1 will make its World Premiere at the Cannes Yachting Festival.
Builder: Veya Yachts
Architects: Berret-Racoupeau Yacht Design
Length overall: 52’10” (16.1 m)
Waterline length: 51’2” (15.6 m)
Beam: 26’1” (7.96 m)
Draft: 3’7” (1.1 m)
Light displacement: 60,185 lbs (27.3 t)
Powertrain: 2 x 400/550 hp diesel
Fuel: 2 x 264/370 US gal (2 x 1,000/1,400 l)
Water: 185 US gal (700 l)
Cabins: 3/4
Base price: € 1,910,000 ex-tax
www.veya-yachts.com
Veya Yachts’ Communications Manager.
