The expertise of a Calanques native
For some, freedom begins with a driver's license. For
Thomas Martin-Chave,
a Marseille native, it began on the water. Having just graduated from
GEM (Grenoble École de Management),
he bought his first boat (a small zodiac with a 25hp engine) long before owning his first car.
He has explored the Calanques nearly a hundred times on his zodiac, developing an intimate and absolute knowledge of the coastline between Marseille and Cassis.
The Genesis: intimacy vs. mass tourism
It was during his travels as a young man that the realization hit. While observing pirogues, tuk-tuks, or 4x4s offering immersive experiences on the other side of the world, a contrast struck him: why, in Marseille, is visiting the Calanques still restricted to large transport vessels? What if this observation could merge with his passion for the Calanques?
In 2007, he founded Bleu Évasion with Patrick Biaggini, a childhood friend, to develop an intimate exploration model. For 18 years, he has managed a fleet of 8 motorboats and 3 catamarans, with one mission: to offer an authentic alternative where you don't just see the sea, you live it.
A pioneering ecological commitment
A pioneer at heart,
Thomas Martin-Chave does not just follow environmental standards; he anticipates them. As early as 2008, he launched, with Patrick Biaggini, the
Solis, the first boat in the world to use solar energy. Today, he carries an ecological vision for the yachting of tomorrow:
- Technical innovation: development of a revolutionary hull for 2026 that will reduce fuel consumption by 35%.
- Sailing excellence: with the VÉLA catamaran, he guarantees 80% exclusive sailing navigation in the heart of the National Park.
- Rigorous management: from the 'zero plastic' objective on board to the recycling of 95% of waste at the dock, he transforms every trip into an act of preservation.
An Entrepreneurial and Creative Journey
The authority of Thomas Martin-Chave is also based on a leading entrepreneurial track record:
- Success stories: historical partner of tech gems like
Le Pot Commun
(acquired by BPCE) and
Chronotruck (acquired by GEFCO).
- Teaching: former Web Marketing lecturer at
KEDGE Business School
- Writing & Creativity: a former copywriter at Publicis,
he is also the author of novels and the Gagus children's series published by
Larousse. This storytelling ability fuels his discourse as a skipper and a true ambassador of Marseille's heritage.
His contributions to the site
