Born in 1951 in a Vendée island, he is absored from an early age in the marine environment and particularly in the field of sailing. Sailing instructor during the season, he studies engineering, which will lead him to take the technical direction of a shipyard specialized in the construction of steel and aluminum hulls. His encounter with Gerard Janichon, leading to the birth of Damien IV, will be the beginning of his activity as a naval architect. He will make the plans of a dozen of boats before casting off in 1985 for a trip which will take him to Africa, Brazil, U.S., Polynesia, Alaska ... turning his boat in a design office over the stops. From this trip of more than 150 000 miles will be born a new range of boats : PATAGO and CORDOVA. Because of his knowledge of steel construction and his personal conviction, the boats developped by Jean-Francois ANDRE are mainly made of steel or aluminum.