Astondoa Yachts History & Heritage
Astondoa traces its roots back to 1916 when brothers Jesús and José Astondoa Martínez established a small carpenter's workshop in Portugalate, Spain, crafting rowing boats and traditional Cantabrian sea vessels known as traineras.
Over the ensuing decades, their reputation for fine craftsmanship flourished, although the Spanish Civil War disrupted their operations from 1936 to 1939. Following the war, Jesús continued the business alone, focusing on building fishing and recreation boats. In 1944, his son, Jesús Astondoa Santamaría, joined him and eventually took over the shipyard.
The company's renown expanded beyond the north coast of Spain, establishing a presence on the east coast as well, as the third generation of the family joined the business.
In the early 1980s, Astondoa transitioned from traditional wood construction to polyester resin reinforced with fiberglass. By the late 20th century, the shipyard had grown substantially, boasting over 500 employees and a diverse range of yachts.
In 2007, Astondoa launched the 45.8m (150ft) ARRAFIQ, followed by the creation of the Astondoa 100 Century in 2016, a 30m (100ft) raised pilothouse tri-deck, commemorating a century of boatbuilding under the stewardship of four generations of the Astondoa family.
