Engineer and naval architect Michel Dufour drew up the plans for the Arpège in 1966, with the aim of building a big brother to his first boat, the Dufour Sylphe.

Arpège is a monohull sailboat built by Dufour Yachts in La Rochelle. The Arpège is a sailboat with a fixed keel, rigged as a sloop. The Arpège is one of Dufour's best sellers, enabling the yard to really take off and become a mass production shipyard. 

The story of the Arpège actually began with the creation of the Dufour Sylphe: with the Sylphe, designed in 1964, Michel Dufour had a 6.52 m sailboat that was a real hit. Almost 410 units were sold until it was withdrawn from production in 1974. 

The manufacturer immediately realised that the success of the Dufour Sylphe needed to be consolidated by the development of a larger model, an essential addition to its product range. So it decided to tackle a larger model, the Arpège.

Right from the drawing board, the Arpège was an innovative and ambitious sailboat.

Innovative and ambitious, but also high-performance!

Michel Dufour conceived the Arpège as a racing cruiser, a fast unit with a beautiful hull and a meticulous construction.

To achieve this, he innovated by designing the hull-deck assembly in polyester laminate with full counter-moulding - a sort of ancestor of injection moulding - and by equipping the Arpège with high-quality rigging and deck fittings.

For the interior layout, Michel Dufour opted for a welcoming interior, with an impeccable finish for cruising, but also cleverly designed for racing, with a sail locker and toilets at the bow, a saloon offering four berths that could be used for sleeping, and a navigation area at the companionway with a large chart table, galley and two watch berths under the cockpit benches.

The Arpège became a true benchmark, with 1493 units produced, and established itself as one of the legendary boats in the history of French yachting.

Specifications of the Dufour Arpège :

Naval architect: Michel Dufour - Construction: polyester - Tonnage: 7.46 tx - Year launched: 1967 - Withdrawn from the market: 1977 - Hull length: 9.25 m - Length at waterline: 6.70 m - Beam: 3. 00 m - Air draught: 11.50 m - Standard draught: 1.35 m - Maximum draught: 1.50 m - Light displacement: 3 300 kg - Ballast: 1 500 kg - Cabins: 2 - Berths: 6 max - Water: 90l - Engine: 18hp - Upwind sail area : 48.50 m2 - Mainsail: 17.00 m2 - Headsail: 31.50 m2.