STGI

Founded in 2000 at Marans (near La Rochelle, France), the Aventura Yachts brand was created by Eric Roger and his son Romain following the acquisition of Go Marine, which manufactured small sport catamarans. It was the opportunity to reuse the molds from the Camping Cat that kickstarted the adventure: the Aventura 23 (later renamed the 23.5) was launched. The process continued in 2002 with the Aventura 28, using the Diabolo molds, followed by the Aventura 36 in 2004, which was similar to the Edel 36.
STGI set up shop in Tunisia in 2005 (in Tazarka, southeast of Tunis) and finally launched its first “own” models, starting with the Aventura 20, followed by the 33 and the 43. Ten years later, Samer Lasta took charge of the design of the new models - starting with the 34, that is. It was around the same time that the shipyard moved location and settled near Bizerte, specifically in the Menzel Bourghiba Freezone, southwest of Lake Bizerte - a body of water connected to the sea. It is this site, covering some 16,000 m2 (almost 4 acres) and staffed by the best part of 300 employees, that we were able to explore. Here, within the grounds of the former French Navy arsenal, STGI launched the 44, followed by the 37 and the 45, and is now preparing the 43 and the 47 for its sailing range. As for powercats, they made their debut with the A10 in 2016, followed by the A14, which quickly became the Aventura 50 MY and is now available in a 56-foot version. The weekend cruiser market hasn’t been ignored either, with the launch of the Aventura 38 in 2025. A power version of the 37 sailboat has also just been announced – more on that below.

Four Buildings and Ever-more-modern Equipment

We began our tour with Eric at Site #1, dedicated to the fabrication of large components. The building has a unique feature in that it has very high ceilings, which allows for the removal from molds and the flipping of components. Here, for example, was the deck of an Aventura 45. The preparation (draping process) takes a week, while the actual infusion process takes only two hours. Further on, certain parts are formed using wooden panels. This building, the oldest on the shipyard, houses the entire administrative center – and this offers a breathtaking view across Lake Bizerte. I don’t know if Romain’s chair has been replaced since my visit but given how little foam was left on the actual seat, I can assure you we were in the office of a boss who doesn’t count his hours!
Part of this building now features a mezzanine, where additional offices have been built using recycled wood and insulation.

In Building #2, the focus is on industrial woodworking, managed by a dedicated design office. For just over two years now, Aventura Yachts has been manufacturing in-house all the wood components used in its catamarans, including teak decking and veneers. This mastery of the industrial process, featuring automated cutting, allows the company to offer, to a certain extent, ...