Centennial Family and Astondoa: A Century of Luxury Yacht Craft in Alicante

Centennial Companies Club opens its IV premiere on November 15, shedding light on a six century old Alicante business family. The event celebrates toughness, perseverance and vision that built enduring enterprises and wove resilience into the region’s economic history. The initiative is organized by the Alicante Chamber of Commerce and AEFA, with support from the Provincial Council of Alicante and Cajamar. It is presented in collaboration with Alicante City Council, KPMG, Padima, Trade Museum and INFORMACIÓN newspaper to show how these firms adapt to shifting economies while staying committed to quality and excellence.

Astondoa Shipyards stands among this year’s Centennial Business Club participants. The company traces its roots to a small carpentry shop in 1916, when Portuguese brothers Jesús and José Astondoa Martínez began building rowboats and trawlers. A landmark early achievement was the 1925 construction of the trawler Virgen de la Guía, which helped win the Bilbao Regatta for Portugalete FC. By 1930 the brothers had expanded into wooden lifeboats, meeting growing demand as transatlantic liners and large cargo ships required new gear and expertise.

Over time, Jesús and José Astondoa Martínez established their own family business. After the Spanish Civil War the founders pursued separate paths. Jesús moved to a new site near the old Portugalete pier, close to the railway station, focusing in the 1940s on professional fishing boats and pleasure craft. In 1944 their son, Jesús Astondoa Santamaría, joined as an apprentice and learned the shipyard trade that would shape his life. In 1949 urban reform forced another relocation, this time to Santurce, where demand for cruise ships began to rise as the craft grew more specialized and refined.

In the Santurce and Santa Pola regions, the Astondoa family consolidated its shipbuilding legacy. The 1959 venture included three fishing boats produced in Santa Pola, with Jesús Santamaría taking on leadership duties after his father retired. The shipyard later moved again to the new port at Santurce, where the firm gained a reputation for high quality boats in the sixties, including luxury yachts and custom motor sailers. The tradition continued with a factory shift toward more modern production while preserving handcraft precision that defined Astondoa’s identity.

In the mid sixties the firm expanded into larger, more ambitious builds, creating a fleet of premium wooden and later composite vessels. A notable milestone was a 25 meter craft that illustrated the transition from traditional wood to modern materials. The enterprise persisted through industry changes, gradually adopting new methods and expanding its portfolio to meet evolving tastes in leisure craft.

Santurce to Santa Pola

Jesús Astondoa Santamaría eventually oversaw the cruising yacht line at a new shipyard in Santa Pola, a decision driven by the Levantine coast’s growing potential. The first Santa Pola project, a 14.5 meter wooden vessel named Carmen IV, was completed in five months. The shipyard then unveiled further models, including the 1980s pair of 24-foot open leisure boats, marking a foundational shift toward modern private luxury yachts. That decade also saw the introduction of polyester resin construction, a leap that opened new production possibilities and enhanced performance in sports boats.

During the eighties and nineties the company accelerated its growth. The firm widened its product range and solidified the Astondoa name as a global brand in luxury pleasure yachts. The port in Santa Pola became a hub for advanced production, while the design and engineering teams pushed for higher performance and distinctive style.

An unstoppable race

From the mid eighties, sales surged and the company broadened its footprint. As orders multiplied, the team expanded and diversified into distinct product lines. The brand coalesced under the name Astilleros Astondoa, signaling a unified, international presence in the yacht industry. The shipyard emerged as a leading builder of premium pleasure vessels and began to attract a global client base.

By the nineties the firm started expanding its facilities and capabilities. Leadership aligned design and production to keep pace with demand, cementing a reputation for quality across multiple ranges. The staff grew, and the shipyard advanced its production philosophy to deliver consistent, high end craft that matched evolving customer expectations.

In the nineties there was a strategic shift to larger vessels. The company began planning a production center near Almansa to craft boats up to 15 meters, while continuing work at Poniente Pier in Santa Pola. The first 37-meter model in this period showcased the firm’s ability to blend traditional craftsmanship with modern engineering and materials to create boats of substantial presence.

Another turning point came with the passing of Jesús Santamaría. The firm continued to grow, reaching new production heights in the mid two thousands, maintaining a steady rise in orders and workforce. The period marked a phase of stability and disciplined growth through challenging market conditions, with a sustained focus on innovation and quality that kept the Astondoa name prominent in the industry.

2016 centennial

By 2016 the company had built more than 3,000 boats and began a renewal program across yacht series. The brand pursued bolder, more modern lines and cutting edge technology, while preserving the signature Astondoa quality and attention to detail. Throughout the years, technology and design have remained central to the company’s identity, driving ongoing innovation in materials, structures and finishes.

Astondoa maintains a varied portfolio that now includes five primary boat families. The sportiest line emphasizes aggressive styling, agile performance and contemporary aesthetics. The cruise families offer comfortable, manageable options for longer trips. The fly bridge models blend classic lines with modern comforts, while the Century line pays homage to the firm’s century of craftsmanship through grand, luxurious yachts. An innovation, the Ax8 model, was shown at a Genoa fair, signaling ongoing experimentation in design and performance.

Shipyard headquarters and production center

The Santa Pola shipyard spans more than 30,000 square meters, dedicated entirely to yacht construction up to 122 feet. All production occurs on site, with customer needs guiding every build. Prototypes are crafted using the latest processes and materials, including full polyester resin construction and injection and vacuum infusion techniques for components. The business maintains a robust international distribution network across Europe, the Middle East, Asia and North America, ensuring global reach and local support for buyers around the world.

Today the firm continues to market its premium vessels through distributors in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the Americas, including the United States and Canada, ensuring a worldwide presence in the luxury yacht segment. This ongoing international footprint reflects a long standing tradition of excellence and adaptation in a dynamic maritime market. Citations: Astondoa archival records and company history.