Voilerie Sellerie Hippocampe

Hippocampe is a sailmaking and upholstery workshop based at Cala Rosa, in Porto-Vecchio. The company was founded in 2000 by Laurent Renon, an upholsterer and trimmer since 1986, holder of a French vocational certificate in decorative upholstery and general trimming. After twenty years in upholstery he trained in marine sailmaking to meet the demand of Corsican boat owners. The workshop travels across southern Corsica, with deliveries and on-site measuring in the harbours of Bastia, Taverna, Solenzara, Porto-Vecchio, Bonifacio and Propriano.

Sailmaking covers sail repair, tears, UV strip replacement, eyelet pressing and marine stitching, as well as cloth treatment and servicing, with emergency repairs advertised within 48 hours. New sails are made as cruising sails for coastal sailing, voyage sails engineered for offshore conditions and racing sails. Each sail is studied case by case, balancing performance, weight and durability against the budget. The workshop is an official Technique Voile partner.

The rigging side includes inspection and installation of standing rigging, forestays, shrouds and backstays, its modification, mast tuning, running rigging servicing, the sale of lines, halyards and sheets, plus deck hardware and mechanical and hydraulic furlers.

In marine upholstery the workshop makes custom cabin and berth cushions, settees, helm seats, sun pads and cabin linings, along with winter and sun covers, biminis, sprayhoods, cockpit enclosures, console and wheel covers, mainsail covers and lazy bags. The materials used, acrylic canvas, PVC coated fabric, marine expanded textiles and high resilience foam, carry a five year warranty, and measurements are taken on board. Past work covers Beneteau, Jeanneau, Dufour Yachts, Bavaria, Quicksilver and Zodiac Nautic models. The business also extends to outdoor fittings, shade sails, pool covers and garden furniture, to general upholstery, club armchairs, cushions and fabric and leather restoration, and to car and motorcycle trimming.