Yvan Bougnon's circumnavigation in a beach cat project

[Corley]

Thanks Blackburn I updated the video link to the particular video rather than the index link. The little cat has a decent turn of speed under spinnaker.

 

[Blackburn]

^^^

Finally the media boat actually had a presence there in the beginning.

The gennaker, he was saying somewhere that it was a good new sail on this leg, a bit smaller than what he had earlier perhaps?

The heavier weather as he was off Columbia, that's the segment starting at 2min 20sec where he says he's been in a storm (tempete) since the night before, and you see the main reefed down to the max.

 

[Corley]

The French word "glissade" seems to come up regularly it translates as "slide" by the translator. Is there a better translation? I've looked in the Francais to English nautical dictionary and it's not listed. I've checked elsewhere online and it seems to refer to gliding down a slope or ski run.

 

[W17 designer]

'glissade'

Would depend on the context and actual sentence, but I suggest we might use 'surfing' or even 'planing' (incorrectly) if we were to translate this liberally.

 

[Blackburn]

Would depend on the context and actual sentence, but I suggest we might use 'surfing' or even 'planing' (incorrectly) if we were to translate this liberally.

I looked for another use of "glissades interminables" in connection with sailing (but there were far more instances of it being used to describe skiiing and tobogganing).

Here's something poetic in an article about the 2011 Jacques Vabre:

... Au nord, la voie courte des durs au mal, contraints de serrer les dents et le vent à 12 ou 13 nœuds, avec le bateau penché qui tape dans la lame comme un jet ski géant. Au sud, la piste longue des hédonistes qui se grisent de glissades interminables, de surfs à 25 nœuds et de l’euphorie des charges de cavalerie. ...

... In the north, the short path to pain, forced to grit their teeth in a wind of 12 or 13 knots, with the boat heeled and slamming in the waves like a giant Jetski. In the south, the long track (downwind) of hedonists intoxicated by glissades interminables, of surfs at 25 knots and the euphoria of cavalry charges..."

I especially like that bit about cavalry charges.

My guess is that it refers to fast downwind sailing.

 

[W17 designer]

"glissades interminables"

glissades interminables could certainly apply to a surfer who stays on a wave for a long time. I am quite surprised to read that this pretty heavily loaded boat with rounded sections can in fact do this ... but if so, he must be carried by the moving white surface water. This requires much attention and pretty deep rudder blades to maintain directional control. Sounds like he had 'quite a ride'

 

[Corley]

It appears from Yvan's latest post that the intention is to dismount the cat and transport it through the Panama Canal on the support boat.

 

[W17 designer]

Panama

If so, certainly be safer and less expensive ... and perhaps help tighten the bond with the support staff ;-)

 

[Corley]

Some photos of the cat demounted and on the coach roof of the support boat while transiting the locks.

https://www.facebook.com/yvan.bourgnon.9/posts/10151993443799353

 

[Blackburn]

^^^

It seems that the canal has rules which would prevent taking a boat like this through. I read that in addition to your skipper you're obliged to have 4 people/line handlers aboard recreational vessels, which are also not allowed to travel at night, and the law stipulates you have to provide room and board to these 4 line handlers.

Would have made an interesting video, seeing Bourgnon and his 4 line handlers (and no doubt a mandatory outboard engine) transit the canal?

Perhaps this list below gives an idea what the costs are... the 'buffer' fee is apparently a damage deposit which is usually returned (but requiring towing may cost you that).

Buenas Noches:

Muchas Gracias por su contacto. Paso a cotizarle el cruce por el Canal de Panamá:

A). Panamá Canal Toll. 800.00 USD.
B). In Transit Vessel Inspection Fee. 54.00 USD.
C). In Transit Vessel Security Charge. 130.00 USD.
D). Panamá Canal Buffer. 850.00 USD
---------------------
TOTAL 1834.00 USD.
D). Agent´s Fees. 500.00 USD.
E). Lines Rental. 100.00 USD.
-------------------------
TOTAL 2434.00 USD.

Hay otros cargos por llegada a Panamá como Migración, Capitanía de Puertos, Aduanas, etc pero dependerá de la estadía del yate en aguas panameñas.

Para cruzar el Canal se requiere de 5 personas. Aceptamos efectivo y tarjetas de crédito como pago ( VISA y MASTERCARD ).

Muchas Gracias por su contacto y quedo a la disposición por si requiere de nuestros servicios.

Link

 

[Blackburn]

...

Looks like Bougnon is pretty much following recommended timing re. his upcoming crossing to Galapagos and the Marquesas:

... Those who plan to sail all the way across to Australia in one season need to reach the Marquesas (French Polynesia) not later than May, although an April arrival is better as it allows more time to sail the remaining distance. In French Polynesia the cyclone season lasts, at least on paper, from late November until the end of March, but as the Marquesas are very rarely affected by tropical storms one can take a calculated risk and arrive there early in the season. This normally means transiting the Panama Canal early in the year (February) so as to have enough time for a stop in the Galapagos. From there, the 3,000 mile passage to the Marquesas can start early in March so that the Marquesas are reached in late March or early April.
LINK

3,000 miles alone on the boat, however...

 

[Blackburn]

...



Can Yvan Bourgnon do the sensible thing,
and cajole, bribe, lure this other famous guy to join him across the Pacific?

I wonder if Bourgnon has had a visit from him
because a couple of the photos on his Facebook recently
were taken by a female associate of said famous guy;
who has recently completed the Cape Town to Rio race.

It would get this project back on track?

Just speculation...

 

[gypsy28]

Can Yvan Bourgnon do the sensible thing,
and cajole, bribe, lure this other famous guy to join him across the Pacific

May I enquire as to who the other famous guy actually is?

 

[Blackburn]

May I enquire as to who the other famous guy actually is?

I've rumormongered too much already, Gypsy.

Saying the name right now would be very bad luck, it would certainly put a jinx on the deal, however remote the possibility of it is.

So shhhh for the moment. Bourgnon's having to sail alone across the Pacific is such a miserable alternative, we mustn't jinx any chance he has to avoid it.

 

[Corley]

From Yvan Bourgnon's FB page:

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

the rough translate:

Departure of Yvan today at 1100 time local (16 H UT) of Panama for the Islands Perlas, located 30 miles from Panama.
A few hours of navigation in order to check that everything is in order with the category (catamaran?), before leaving tomorrow morning for Galapagos!