Amel Meltem Sailboats for Sale

The Amel Meltem represents a defining moment in the history of Chantiers Amel. Built in La Rochelle, France, between 1974 and 1979, this 52foot masthead ketch served as the shipyard's flagship during a decade dominated by the IORinfluenced racercruiser craze. While competing French builders were producing strippedout racing hulls adapted for the charter trade, founder Henri Amel and codesigner Jacques Carteau conceived the Meltem as an unapologetic, purposebuilt bluewater passagemaker. It was designed specifically to allow a couple to cross oceans safely and comfortably without requiring a large crew. Only 51 hulls were ever completed. The vessel was built to such uncompromisingly high standards that its production costs reportedly came close to bankrupting the shipyard, yet it successfully established the legendary layout, engineering philosophy, and distinct aesthetic that would define successive icons like the Maramu, Mango, and eventually the Super Maramu.