The Nantes-based IMOCA yard of Manuard and neo-retro day-boats
Black Pepper Yachts was founded in 2007 by Michel Douville de Franssu in Nantes. The yard moved in July 2019 to larger premises in Bas-Chantenay, on the banks of the Loire, to build units up to 24 meters. On November 25, 2025, Thomas Brette (former CEO of the BIC group) took over the yard; Michel Douville de Franssu remains a shareholder.
Two parallel activities
Black Pepper operates two divisions:
Its own range of limited-series neo-retro sailboats (Codes) — modern hull derived from racing, classic lines above deck, carbon-epoxy infusion construction.
A one-off prototype bureau, mainly IMOCA builds for Vendée Globe skippers.
The Code range
Code # and Code 0.1 — day-boats. The original Code 0 was designed by Romaric Neyhousser and built by Larros in Gujan-Mestras (launched in 2010). The Code 0.1 (2019) was designed by Marc Lombard; hull and deck in vacuum-bagged carbon/epoxy sandwich are subcontracted to Pauger Composites in Hungary, finishing in Nantes.
Code 1 — 40-foot all-carbon, inspired by the Class 40.
Code 2 / Code 3 — semi-custom, up to 72 feet, offshore cruiser-racer program.
Code C.69 — Black Pepper’s first catamaran, 21.00 m × 9.60 m, designed by François Pérus & Romain Scolari. Hull #1 composite platform built by Multiplast in Vannes, then towed to Nantes for final assembly. Hull #2 under construction with hybrid propulsion (2 × 110 hp).
Code C.100 — larger catamaran project.
Tender 17 / Tender 24 — motorized tenders styled to the same aesthetic codes.
Management and ownership
Thomas Brette (51) took over in November 2025 with backing from Mer Invest, Pays de la Loire Participations and Bpifrance. Announced strategy: streamline operations, expand into catamarans and one-offs, deliver ongoing builds, attract new naval architects.
