In the spring of 2025, Woodspars had the privilege of manufacturing the new foremast for La Granvillaise, Granville’s emblematic bisquine and a major figure in the maritime heritage of Mont-Saint-Michel Bay. This collaboration with the Association des Vieux Gréements Granvillais is at the heart of our expertise: designing and manufacturing long wooden spars for traditional sailing yachts.
La Granvillaise, heir to the bay's great bisquines
Bisquines were born for work, notably oyster dredging in Mont-Saint-Michel Bay, and enjoyed their golden age between the end of the XVIIIᵉ and the beginning of the XXᵉ century, particularly between 1890 and 1930. Powerful and fast, they also became regatta boats, with well-attended races off Saint-Malo, Cancale and Granville.
In the 1980s, renewed interest in this heritage, driven in particular by Bernard Cadoret and the magazine Chasse-Marée, led to several rebuilding projects. In Granville, it was Daniel Denis who, in 1989, launched the reconstruction of a bisquine based on the original plans of the Rose-Marie (1897), within the Association des Vieux Gréements Granvillais.
Built at the Anfray shipyard, La Granvillaise stands out for the quality of its construction and finish, and adopts a spectacular one-third rigging, with a large mast sloping steeply backwards (taillevent mast).
A few figures to put the boat in context
- Hull length: 18.28 m
- Overall length: 32.30 m
- Width: 4.76 m, draught: 2.75 m
- Displacement: 55 tonnes
- Fishing sail area: 293 m².
- Regatta sail area: 340 m², spread over eight sails and three levels (jib, foresail, windvane, topsail, rikiki, tape-cul…).
- Engine: 135 hp
An extensively restored boat marked by Ciaran
Since its launch, La Granvillaise has already undergone two major restoration campaigns.
- 2008-2009: 15 months of work after an attack of merula, with the boat back in the water on May 9, 2009.
- 2024: 4 months of construction after storm Ciaran, with a launch on April 22, 2024.
This work is carried out by the Du Boscq shipyard (formerly the Anfray yard), with the constant support of volunteers from the Association des Vieux Gréements Granvillais. This strong bond between professionals and volunteers is at the heart of the boat’s longevity.
Why replace the foremast, and why Woodspars?
During the 2024 winter season, the association decided to replace the foremast, which was showing signs of weakness after decades of service. With the Étoile Marine shipyard, which had built the original masts, having ceased operations, the AVGG set out to find a manufacturer capable of producing a long wooden mast, both faithful to the traditional aesthetic and adapted to the constraints of a listed heritage vessel.
It was against this backdrop that the association met Samuel Zambaldi and the Woodspars team, specialists in the manufacture of large-scale glulam spars. Woodspars was chosen to build the new foremast, using its dedicated workshop and mast lathe to produce a custom piece for La Granvillaise.
Today, the association stresses that it is "very satisfied with the construction of the foremast and the collaboration established with the Woodspars yard".
A collective project, on land and afloat
Replacing the mast is not just a matter of manufacturing: it also involves precise logistics between the port and the workshops, followed by coordinated intervention when the ship is refitted.
- La Granvillaise was transported between the port and the dedicated construction site free of charge by Granvillaise-based Blochon Martin, specialists in handling and exceptional transport.
- During the 2025 winter season, the fore and aft masts were removed for a complete inspection and touch-up, carried out by the association’s volunteers.
In this type of project, Woodspars acts as a technical partner for the spars, working directly with the shipowner and the shipyard teams, while respecting the boat’s refit schedule for the navigation season.
Woodspars, an ally for traditional sailboats
By joining the La Granvillaise adventure, Woodspars confirms its vocation: to support restoration and construction projects for traditionally-inspired sailboats in France and Europe. Our workshop, based in Locmariaquer (Morbihan), is dedicated to the design and custom manufacture of wooden masts, booms and spars, particularly in glulam, for rigs of all types and sizes, some of them very complex.
Through this new foremast, we are proud to contribute to the life of an emblematic old rig, which introduces thousands of people every year to bisquine maneuvering off Granville, Cancale and Saint-Malo.
The Woodspars Promise: Experience, Quality and International Delivery
Choosing Woodspars means opting for peace of mind. It’s the guarantee of work carried out to the highest standards, by enthusiasts who understand your requirements.
- Recognized experience: More than 15 years at the service of sailors and yachting professionals.
- Made-to-measure quality: unique parts designed for your boat, combining robustness and elegance.
- Impeccable finish: Because details make all the difference, we take extreme care in the finish of every piece leaving our workshop.
- Global expertise: From mast to fittings, varnish and ropes, we offer you a complete solution.
- International delivery: Whether your boat is in a French port or on the other side of the world, we organize the delivery of your parts with the utmost rigor.
Your renovation or restoration project deserves the best. Don’t let faulty or unsuitable fittings compromise your safety and sailing pleasure.
Contact the Woodspars team today. Let’s discuss your project, your problems and your desires. We’ll be delighted to put our expertise at your service, to offer you a personalized quote and tailor-made solutions that will make your yacht a benchmark of elegance and reliability.
Need more information? Looking for a quote? Let’s discuss your projects!
The various players in this project :
- Association des Vieux Gréements Granvillais – La Granvillaise
- Woodspars – Mainsail manufacture
- Chantier naval Du Boscq – Restoration work
- Transports Blochon Martin – Transport of La Granvillaise between port and yard
Photo credits : Association des Vieux Gréements Granvillais – La Granvillaise
Frequently Asked Questions : Your renovation projects and our customized solutions
Do you have a restoration or renovation project for your sailboat? Do you have questions about the manufacture of custom fittings? Woodspars, a French manufacturer of masts and fittings, answers your most frequently asked questions here.
Why opt for custom hardware when renovating my sailboat?
Opting for custom fittings is often a necessity, not a luxury, when renovating a sailboat. Standard parts rarely correspond to the dimensions and constraints of older boats or specific constructions. Custom-made fittings guarantee a perfect fit, maximum safety by replacing a tired part with a new, optimized one, and preserve theaesthetic harmony of your boat. It’s the assurance of a part designed to last, perfectly integrated into your rig.
I can't find the original parts for my old boat. What do you suggest?
This is a classic problem we encounter on a daily basis. Our workshop specializes in the identical reproduction orimprovement of existing parts. Even if your hardware is worn or broken, we can recreate it from the original model. If you have drawings or diagrams, we can also work from these to produce a new part that meets the specifications of your sailboat.
What type of stainless steel do you use and why is it suitable for the marine environment?
For all our fittings and boiler parts, we use only316L stainless steel, also known as marine stainless steel. Its composition, enriched with molybdenum, gives it far superior resistance to pitting corrosion, particularly that caused by the chlorides present in seawater. Unlike inferior stainless steels, 316L guarantees exceptional longevity and rock-solid reliability for the critical parts of your fittings.
What fittings can you custom-make?
Our production capacity is extensive. We manufacture a complete set of fittings for rigging, including :
- For the mast: mastheads, shroud anchors, halyard leads and sheaves, spreader brackets, mast feet, gooseneck, mast winches…
- For the boom: anchor fittings, reefing lines, clew fittings…
- For running rigging: spinnaker and genoa blocks, halyard leads, hooks…
- Specific parts: backstay outriggers, adjustable horns, jib fittings, spinnaker pole fittings and any other metal parts on request.
Is your workshop based in France and do you deliver internationally?
Yes, our manufacturing workshop and boiler works are located entirely in France, which means we can guarantee rigorous quality control at every stage. We’re very proud of this French know-how. We are used to working with an international clientele, and we guarantee secure delivery worldwide, whether you’re a private customer in the Mediterranean, a shipyard in the Caribbean or an architect in New Zealand.
How can I get a quote for one or more custom fittings?
The process is simple. The best way is to contact us directly by telephone or via the contact form on our website. To enable us to draw up an accurate quotation, please provide us with as much information as possible: photos of the part to be replaced, precise dimensions, plans if you have any, the model of your boat and a description of your requirements. Our engineering department will analyze your request and propose a costed solution as soon as possible.
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