Belle Aventure, a 1929 William Fife III ketch: an exceptional classic sailboat to charter privately in Marseille
- Up to 25 guests for a day
- 8 guests on a cruise
- Full day €4,800
Belle Aventure is not a boat you hire, it is a boat you join. This ketch by William Fife III, launched in 1929 at the Fife yard in Fairlie, Scotland, is one of the great classic yachts still sailing. Her teak hull on oak frames, her 330 m² of sail and her period interiors tell a century of maritime history.
With LOCVOILIER, you charter Belle Aventure privately with her crew of three sailors, departing from Marseille: a day out to the Frioul and the calanques, a week-long cruise to Corsica or the Balearics, a regatta on the classic yacht circuit, or a seminar your guests will talk about for a long time.
The history of Belle Aventure, from Scotland to the Mediterranean
The story of Belle Aventure begins in 1929 under another name, Eileen. The Fulton family commissioned this ketch from William Fife III, the most admired designer of his time, who was also responsible for Cambria and Belle, under construction at the same time in Fairlie. The boat was launched just before the great crash of 1929 and carries all the refinement of the Roaring Twenties.
1929 · Eileen
Launched at the William Fife & Son yard in Fairlie for the Fulton family, who returned to Fife a few years later to commission Eilean, a slightly smaller ketch that has become famous since her restoration.
1937 · Bermudan rig
Built with two-inch teak planking on oak frames and a gaff mainsail, Eileen received her Bermudan ketch rig in 1937.
Names and voyages
The yacht sailed under the names My Lady of Aros, Alison and then Keyf. An Egyptian prince left a pair of traditional lamps on board, which are still there.
1960s · Belle Aventure
Based in the south of France, she took the name she still bears today: Belle Aventure.
1979 and 1987 · Major restorations
Bought by an English gentleman, the yacht was restored in 1979 on the Clyde under Lloyd’s supervision, then refitted in 1987 at the Southampton Yacht Services yard.
Twenty years of Atlantic crossings
From the 1980s, she crossed the Atlantic almost every season, between the Nioulargue, now Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, and Antigua. Belle Aventure is said to be the Fife that has sailed the most miles.
2000 · Sydney and Polynesia
To celebrate the new millennium, Belle Aventure set course for Sydney and Polynesia, before long cruises in the waters of Maine with an American family.
2022 · Back in the Mediterranean
With a rebuilt hull and new sails, Belle Aventure returned to the Mediterranean and to classic yacht regattas, including the Corsica Classic.
Few pleasure boats have lived so many lives. Boarding Belle Aventure means sailing on a yacht that has known Fairlie, Antigua, Sydney and Maine, and that continues to write her story in the Mediterranean. Now it is your turn to live your own Belle Aventure.
Belle Aventure on video
The deck, the sails, the cabins and the crew of Belle Aventure, as if you were on board.
Belle Aventure, a Fife design in teak and oak
Two masts, a Marconi rig and a teak hull on oak frames: Belle Aventure has the sleek silhouette of the great Fifes. Under sail, she is fast and safe; at anchor and alongside, she offers space and comfort that are rare on a yacht of her age.
- Marconi ketch by William Fife III, launched in 1929
- 330 m² of sail, teak hull on oak frames
- 3 guest cabins: two doubles and one triple
- Air-conditioned, self-sufficient in fresh water and 220 V power
- 60 hp tender, water-skiing, wakeboard, paddleboard, snorkelling
- Professional crew of three sailors
Belle Aventure ketch specifications
William Fife III designed yachts to last and to go fast. Belle Aventure is proof of that: almost a century after her launch, she still races among the best classic yachts. The original layout plan, drawn for Eileen, has been preserved.
| Feature | Belle Aventure |
|---|---|
| Designer | William Fife III |
| Yard | William Fife & Son, Fairlie (Scotland) |
| Year launched | 1929 (under the name Eileen) |
| Rig | Marconi (Bermudan) ketch |
| Construction | Teak hull on oak frames |
| Length overall | 28 m |
| Hull length | 25,7 m |
| Waterline length | 18,18 m |
| Beam | 5,39 m |
| Draught | 3,9 m |
| Sail area | 330 m² |
| Weight | 94 tonnes |
| Cabins | 3 guest cabins: two doubles and one triple |
| Day guests | Up to 25 people |
| Guests on a cruise | 8 people |
| Crew | 3 professional sailors |
| Comfort | Air conditioning, self-sufficient in fresh water and 220 V electricity, wifi |
On board Belle Aventure: a 1920s yacht interior
Going down the companionway of Belle Aventure is like stepping into a yacht from the Roaring Twenties. Varnished wood, brass, a period barometer and lamps brought by an Egyptian prince: the interior has kept the soul of the boat, with the comfort you expect today.
Three guest cabins
Two double cabins and one triple cabin, including a VIP cabin, accommodate up to eight guests on a cruise. Each has its own shower room finished in varnished wood.
A deck for living outdoors
The large deck hosts meals, sunbathing and drinks at anchor. The saloon and the galley allow you to dine under cover on cool, windy evenings.
Today’s comfort
The boat is air-conditioned, self-sufficient in fresh water and 220 V electricity, and equipped with wifi: you can live on board for a week without sacrificing anything.
Water toys
A tender with a 60 hp outboard, water-skiing, wakeboarding, a towed ring, surfing, paddleboarding, windsurfing and snorkelling, to make the most of every anchorage.
The crew of Belle Aventure
A great classic yacht is only as good as those who sail her. On board Belle Aventure, three professional sailors take care of sailing, safety, service and cooking. They know every manoeuvre of the boat and every anchorage on the coast.
The captain, Joël, has been sailing classic yachts with passion and good humour for more than twenty years. He has skippered Irina VII, Moonbeam and Hygie, the other classic sailboat in our fleet. He is as good at trimming a sail as at fixing an engine, and cooks fish like nobody else.
You can simply relax, or take part in the manoeuvres: the crew teaches you to hoist the sails, steer and trim the boat, at your own pace.
Belle Aventure private charter prices
The boat is private for your group, with her crew of three sailors.
Day at sea
Sailing, swimming and lunch at anchor, from the Frioul to the calanques.
€4,800Week-long cruise
Eight guests in cabins, heading for Corsica or the Balearics.
€30,000 + APAWeekend at sea
Two days and one night at anchor, on board a 1929 yacht.
On quotationRegatta and seminar
Classic yacht regatta, incentive or corporate reception.
On quotationBook online
Real-time availability, price calculated instantly, secure card payment. 50 % deposit when you book, the balance later.
Vérifier les disponibilités
Indiquez vos dates et votre groupe : nous vous confirmons la disponibilité de Belle Aventure et le tarif exact, sans engagement.
Belle Aventure: how much per person?
The price of Belle Aventure is for the whole boat, crew included. With 25 guests, the day comes to €192 per person. Shared between guests, it makes an experience usually reserved for owners of large yachts accessible.
| Option | Guests | Price per person |
|---|---|---|
| Day at sea | 10 people | €480 |
| Day at sea | 15 people | €320 |
| Day at sea | 20 people | €240 |
| Day at sea | 25 people | €192 |
| Week-long cruise | 8 people | €3,750 + APA |
How does the APA work?
On week-long cruises, it is customary on large yachts to pay an APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) before departure. This provision covers expenses linked to your itinerary: fuel, food and drinks chosen with you, berths and paid moorings. The captain keeps an account of every expense, hands it to you at the end of the cruise, and the balance is returned to you.
For a tighter budget, the 1930 ketch Hygie or the IA Orana catamaran are excellent alternatives. The whole fleet is on the boat charter in Marseille page.
A day at sea on board Belle Aventure
Every trip is different: the crew adapts the programme to the wind, the sea and your wishes. Here is how a day on board Belle Aventure departing from Marseille usually goes.
Welcome on board
The captain and his sailors welcome you on the quay, show you round the boat and go through the safety instructions over a coffee.
Setting sail
Once out of port, the sailors hoist the mainsail, the mizzen and the headsails. The engine falls silent: Belle Aventure picks up speed.
Sailing to the Frioul or the calanques
Those who wish take the helm or help with the trim. The others enjoy the deck, at the bow in the sun or in the shade near the cockpit.
Anchoring and swimming
A stop in a sheltered cove for swimming, paddleboarding or snorkelling. The tender also allows water-skiing and wakeboarding.
Lunch on deck
The table is set on deck, facing the cliffs. The meal is prepared on board or by a partner caterer, depending on the option chosen.
Return under sail
In the late afternoon, the return is made under sail whenever possible, with golden light over the bay of Marseille. A moment your guests will never forget.
For a special occasion, a birthday, a marriage proposal or a reception, the crew prepares the deck and the programme with you. The boat can also stay at anchor for sunset drinks before returning to port.
Racing on board Belle Aventure
Belle Aventure is not a museum piece: she is a classic sailboat that performs well in regattas, seen flying under spinnaker at the 2022 Corsica Classic and racing in the Ajaccio – Propriano regatta. Since her return to the Mediterranean in 2022, with a rebuilt hull and new sails, she has been racing on the traditional yacht circuit, alongside legendary boats such as the schooner Shenandoah of Sark.
You can come on board as crew for a regatta, on your own, with friends, family or your company. The crew involves you in the manoeuvres: hoisting the spinnaker, tacking, trimming. Racing a 1929 Fife among the most beautiful classic yachts is an experience few sailors have had.
Dates follow the traditional regatta calendars, from the Corsica Classic to Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez. Tell us which interest you: we will offer you a place on board.
Seminars and private charters on a 1929 yacht
For a company, chartering Belle Aventure turns a meeting into a shared memory. The boat lends itself to the most varied formats: a management committee on board, an incentive for a team, a client reception at anchor, or a company regatta where everyone takes part in the manoeuvres.
We organise the programme, catering, transfers and logistics on land with you. For a larger group, Belle Aventure can sail with other boats from our fleet. Discover our team building at sea in Marseille offers.
Belle Aventure’s destinations
Marseille and the calanques
For a day, head for the Frioul islands, the calanques and Cassis, for a swim in turquoise water and lunch at anchor.
Corsica
Gulfs, bays and crystal-clear water: a week-long cruise to discover the island of a thousand faces from the sea.
The Balearic Islands
The magic of the Balearics, their spectacular seabed and their way of life, on board a yacht that has crossed the Atlantic so many times.
Tailor-made
The Côte d’Azur, Sardinia or an itinerary of your own: the crew builds the cruise with you depending on the season and the weather.
Chartering Belle Aventure: your questions
How much does it cost to charter Belle Aventure?
A day at sea on board Belle Aventure is offered at €4,800, crew of three sailors included. The week-long cruise is €30,000, plus the APA, the provision that covers fuel, provisions and port fees for your itinerary. Regattas, seminars and weekends are priced on quotation.
What is the APA on a week-long cruise?
The APA (Advance Provisioning Allowance) is a provision paid before departure for the cruise expenses: fuel, food and drinks chosen with you, berths and paid moorings. The captain keeps an account of the expenses, hands it to you at the end of the cruise and the balance is returned to you.
How many people can come on board?
For a day, Belle Aventure welcomes up to 25 guests. On a cruise, the boat accommodates up to 8 guests in three cabins (two doubles and one triple), with her three sailors.
Who is the crew of Belle Aventure?
Three professional sailors are on board, led by Joël, a passionate captain who has been sailing classic yachts for more than twenty years, from Irina VII to Moonbeam. They take care of sailing, safety, service and cooking on board.
Where does Belle Aventure leave from?
Day trips leave from Marseille, sailing to the Frioul islands, the calanques and Cassis. On a cruise, Belle Aventure sets course for Corsica or the Balearic Islands, depending on the duration and the weather.
Can we take part in the manoeuvres?
Yes, if you wish. Hoisting a sail on a 1929 ketch is a rare experience: the crew guides you, at your own pace. Those who prefer to relax simply enjoy the deck.
Can we race on board Belle Aventure?
Yes. Belle Aventure races on the classic yacht circuit in the Mediterranean. You can come on board as crew for a regatta, on your own, with friends or with your company. Dates follow the traditional regatta calendars.
Is the boat comfortable for several days?
Yes. Belle Aventure is air-conditioned and self-sufficient in fresh water and 220 V electricity. The cabins and shower rooms are finished in varnished wood, and the crew takes care of everything on board.
Which activities are offered at anchor?
A tender with a 60 hp outboard allows water-skiing, wakeboarding and the towed ring. Paddleboards, surfboards, windsurfing and snorkelling gear are also on board, as well as wifi.
Can we organise a seminar or a reception on board?
Yes. Belle Aventure can be chartered privately for a seminar, an incentive, a client reception or a company regatta. We organise the programme, catering and logistics on land with you.
Book Belle Aventure
Date, option, number of guests: we get back to you with a personalised quote within 24 hours.
Set the right course from the start!
