Kirie (FRA)

Feeling goes all the way back to 1912 when the Kirié shipyard, founded by the Kirié family, set up shop in a small garage on Rue de la Forêt in the Sables d'Olonne. The shipyard originally built small sailing boats. In the 1950s, production turned more towards speed boats. In the ‘60s, the founder’s son participated on countless occasions in the "Six heures de Paris" race – driven by his competitive streak.\r\nIn the late ‘60s, the shipyard expanded and moved to the Château d'Olonne near the Sables d'Olonne. It was one of the first to work with polyester, and very early on launched speed fishing boats, the "Anges de mer", and sailing fishing boats, the "Fifty".\r\nIn the early ‘80s, Kirié launched a range of habitable power cruise ships called "Feeling". In 1986, the 13.5 m Feeling won the Route du Rhum in the standard boat category and the 10.9 m Feeling was voted "Boat of the year" in 1987.\r\nThe Feelings were already available in lift keel or fin keel version. In 2000, Alliaura Marine took over the Kirié shipyard. Alliaura continued to build Feeling Yachts, composed of 7 models from 32’ to 55’, until 2012. \r\nIn 2012 Alliaura changed its name to Privilege and was led by Gilles Wagner.\r\nSee Also: <A HREF="https://sailboatdata.com/builder/privilege-catamarans">Privilege Catamarans</A> for more information.