Elite 30 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview

The Elite 30 represents a pivotal era for the Kirié shipyard, emerging in the early 1980s as a sophisticated cruiser-racer that prioritized both structural rigidity and hydrodynamic efficiency. Designed by the acclaimed naval architect Gilles Vaton, the Elite 30 was part of a strategic lineup that preceded the shipyard's transition toward the world-famous "Feeling" brand. While many contemporary French designs of the period focused heavily on internal volume, Vaton’s design for the Elite 30 maintained a narrower, more performance-oriented profile that appealed to sailors who valued tactical handling over maximum beam. The vessel was constructed using traditional hand-laid fiberglass, with a balsa-cored deck to reduce top-heavy weight, a hallmark of Kirié’s commitment to building boats that could perform in the light airs of the Mediterranean while remaining sturdy enough for the Atlantic coast of France.