Christian Picard

Founder

Office: La Roche-sur-Yon

Christian founded AYC International Yachtbrokers in 1994.

Christian was born in Brest in 1959. In his youth, he sailed dinghies in the rade de Brest. Then, at the age of eighteen, he bought a nine metre bare hull which he furnished and fitted out himself in his father's woodworkshop during his free time. It would be his first sailboat.

He then never let grip of his passion: He first acted as a sailing instructor with the UCPA where he met his wife, herself a dinghy instructor. He then joined the family business in cabinetmaking after training as a joiner and later served in Merchant Shipping as a Maître d’hôtel where he took the opportunity to travel and learn astronavigation. He soon found employment at the Jeanneau shipyards in Vendée as a joiner in 1984, whence he rose to develop their sales network, and direct Jeanneau's second-hand sales in 1991. On the whole, he garnered ten years experience, from shipwriting to commerce, along with a profound understanding of the French nautical industry and its major players.

His knowledge and skills naturally drove him to start-up AYC International Yachtbrokers in February 1994: the first second-hand yacht brokerage firm in France. The company is based in La Roche-sur-Yon, Vendée, a region which has grown deep roots in yachting.

An early adopter of telecoms with the French minitel, AYC was also the first French yachtbroker to be present on the World-Wide-Web, and marketed yachts online as early as 1996. Christian also realised that transactions were of utmost importance for clients, so he set up a number of procedures to provide guarantees to customers: AYC soon offered comprehensive appraisal expertise, consulted in finance and insurance, and standardised administrative formalities, all the while advising and protecting its sellers' and buyers' interests, acting wholly independently and impartially.

After his recent tour of the Atlantic Ocean in 2008-2009 with his family aboard a Wauquiez Kronos 45, Christian stands out today as a specialist for catamarans and offshore sailboats.

Régine Fonteneau

Executive secretary

Office: La Roche-sur-Yon

Régine Fonteneau was an Executive Assistant to Jeanneau Sales Management. She later joined AYC International Yachtbrokers from its inception in 1994, acting as the Company Secretary and assistant to Christian Picard.

Isabelle Picard

Web assistant

Office: La Roche-sur-Yon

After a career in midwifery and a family loop of the Atlantic Ocean in 2007-2008 with her family aboard a Wauquiez Kronos 45, Isabelle knows sailing terminology perfectly. She manages mailings and web listings with verve and passion.

Donan Raven

International sales

Office: La Roche-sur-Yon

Donan Raven has studied business at the Institut Nautique de Bretagne whilst conducting an apprenticeship with AYC International Yachtbrokers. He has a background in Computer Science and broad international exposure. He handles international sales.

Grégory Delsaux

Sales agent

French Riviera

After sailing European waters for eight years, Gregory Delsaux followed an American course in naval engineering and architecture. He also holds a Yachtmaster Offshore certificate. In turn, he created his own charter company, so his move towards yacht brokerage was only natural. He joined AYC International Yachtbrokers in 2009 to handle sales on the French Riviera, and is able to provide his advice for English and Italian clients.

Frédéric Duclos

Poweryacht sales agent

French Atlantic coast

Frédéric Duclos has trained in mechanics applied to yachting and has worked in Aeronautics and motoryachts of up to 60 metres in length. His technical expertise makes him a comprehensive asset in poweryacht sales.

David Château

Sales representative

Western Mediterranean

David Château joined the AYC team in the Spring of 2012 to represent sales on the French Mediterranean coast between Marseille and Spain. He is based in Montpellier. In his youth, he nurtured a fondness for sailing and cruising stories and he discovered regattas on a wooden "Maraudeur" dinghy. Later, he worked for a Bénéteau dealership in Southern Brittany for two years, he refitted his own Maraudeur which he took on a cruise of the French Riviera and also raced on a Grand Soleil 40 in the Netherlands. Holding a Masters degree in International Management, he has lived and worked in Brazil, Ireland and the Netherlands. He also travels widely for pleasure, allowing him to sound cultural differences keenly.