Yvan Bougnon's circumnavigation in a beach cat project

Yvan has posted an update on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/yvan.bourgnon

I've edited the bing translate slightly to make it more legible.

Yvan news, 24 February, at 12 h 05: "I just collided with 2 tree trunks (fortunately I was at 6 knots)."
But I broke the Log (which allows to calculate the number of miles travelled and to esteem with the sextant), suddenly I'll be less accurate in my position.
I hope not to miss the Galapagos... I'll have to do more points to overlap and have my position.
The wind increased to 30 knots tonight, but has since calmed.
I'm fine, I'm in shape! "Yvan

 

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Here's some excerpts from an article/interview yesterday on a Swiss news site:

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Bourgnon's Facebook contains a verbiose letter about his project (in the form of a photo) today, but it contained nothing newsworthy. Except I note that the letter does not anywhere stipulate that this is a solo project, which is a little odd if indeed he wishes to continue solo...

Maybe he's still interested in finding a crew?

 

Swiss news site

Great stuff Blackburn,
Thanks for bringing this to our attention. Yes, hitting something at speed is one of the greatest fears of ocean crossing these days .... with so many low floating containers being thrown off in storms. Scary indeed.
Safe landings Yvan.

 

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Yvan got to Galapagos a couple of days ago, and should be starting the longer leg to Marquesas pretty soon.

 

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Here's the tracker of Yvan's route from Panama to Galapagos, displaying his recent 6+ day trip, one of which was becalmed.


And here's the tracker for his upcoming voyage to the Marquesas, which can show you the wind forecast 72hrs ahead.


He expects to take 23-30 days completing this leg.


He has written a little about it, I'll translate tomorrow but the gist was that seasonal winds haven't kicked in yet, so he's going to have to detour south a bit.

 

Pacific

To add perspective to this crossing, the Marquesas (at 3000 miles from the Galapagos Isles) are only 1/2 way across the Pacific and even though the ocean is scattered with islands for the 2nd half, these are still typically 300-500 miles apart, so there's still a lot of adventure to come. This next long stage will certainly be an extreme challenge of physical endurance while facing the elements - particularly the effects of exposure and fatigue. Gods speed Yvan.

 

Video

Have to say, been long interested in the video snips taken on board.
While some are from a fixed camera (with no relative movement between camera and boat parts), others are clearly taken hand-held and either Yvan is using a camera on a boom or there's someone temporarily very close or on board for this purpose - typically in pretty calm conditions. I notice that a Paul Cotta is often given credit for the images and presentation. Doesn't change the risks of the adventure but what's the consensus here?

 

probably a wide angle gopro on a boom. Paul might be editing or shooting from the support vessel when in range?

 

^^^

There have been a couple of times that they've filmed from up close recently, but I don't recall seeing anything looking like a cameraman on the boat.

Bourgnon wrote (yesterday) that his departure on the next leg was to be at 10pm Paris time today - which is an hour and a half ago. Maybe he's already out of sight of Galapagos, see the tracker 4 posts above.



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Nope, his departure is delayed until tomorrow:

 

re the video

Yes doubtless a GoPro but I am still intrigued. I know from my own filming on board small boats that by hand holding, one can compensate for boat motion, creating a more natural, fluid image aimed at the subject or horizon, compared to when the camera is fixed. Some shots on board certainly look to me like someone is compensating for the pitching and heeling. Doing this on a long pole would seem hard without the camera end resting somewhere - and then, the camera would be steady relative to the boat and not have the movement that is presently apparent. As someone who enjoys camera work, I'm just intrigued.
Yes, the big crossing must now be underway ... have to say, this certainly ups the tension and excitement.

 

^^^

The big crossing starts tomorrow they say.

Have you seen the recent little Sony videocams with stabilization via 'Balanced Optical Steadyshot', where the lens moves independently inside the housing ?

It's fantastic compared to anything earlier.

 

video

New to me! Pricey perhaps. I was planning on getting one of the Drift sports cameras, as it has a screen and remote control included. Sorry - off subject, I know

 

Im also a camera fan. Cant wait to get my blog up and running when my strike is finished. there is a serious lack of content out there about small boat adventures, especially in small multihulls. I plan to fill this gap or attempt to.

Yea Im thinking some nice image stabilization or even a camera on gimbals on the end of the pole.I have seen similar mounts on monoslows filming club racing.

 

Small boat adventures

Perhaps you'll enjoy this little cruise report then - being as the Strike is in the same size range as a W17. Hardly trans-ocean ! ... but at least well out in the China Sea ;-) There's more on the website. Enjoy, and good luck with your video work.
http://www.smalltridesign.com/W17/greybox/cruise-8day.html

 

I hate to keep steering it off topic but its "generally" related, small boat and big adventures

Ive read that account about 3 times. Ive read everything on your site at least 2 times and I check 2 or 3 times a week for content update. Im a rabid dog for information about small trimarans. You and I have also exchanged emails (my name is David) about building a W17, which is my rough plan when my strike is done.

Somewhere in the back of my mind I have this idea for a total gulf coast run starting at the border of Mexico and heading north following the coast, ending in Key West on a small open tri.

I plan on building a nice content style site/blog for my camping and cruising adventures in small tris with good amounts of pictures and video and data.

Yvan is a huge inspiration to me. I enjoy seeing people, however reckless, push the limits. Afterall, that is the ultimate freedom, to pursue whatever you want, despite the possible negative outcomes. But I also think Im possibly on the fringe with my beliefs as I also think NASA and other agencies should stop "playing it safe" and just start building on the moon and throwing people on rockets for Mars... someone will eventually make it

Yvan has calculated all the possible ways this can go wrong and he is as prepared as one can be on such a small boat and I think he is even "prepared" for the ultimate possible ending of such an adventure. This is a very important personal challenge to him and I think that no one should stand in his way to stop him or ridicule him as being "crazy" or a "lunatic".