A renovation had been undertaken on the famous monohull Friday 13th in Bordeaux. Its owner, Norbert Fradin, had entrusted the project to the association Rêve de Sens, directed by Bertrand Quentin. However, the slowness and quality of the work, together with a financing problem put an end to this collaboration. There was still doubt about the new future of this mythical yacht. Norbert Fradin was kind enough to answer our questions to reassure us about the boat's future.
How did you become the owner of Friday the 13th?
I became the owner of Vendredi 13, bought following a call for tenders. There were other boats in the same lot. It was the remnant of the Conservatoire de la Plaisance. A Bordeaux institution created in the 1990s by Daniel Charles. In this lot was even a sunken boat that we are currently refloating. It was Blondie Hasler's Sumner, a plywood sailing boat with junk rigging that sank in front of the Bordeaux submarine base and is now being refloated, carried by balloons. We are going to get her out of the water in the coming weeks.
Why did you take an interest in these boats?
We are in the process of creating the Musée de la Mer et de la Marine in Bordeaux. A place dedicated to maritime history - not just yachting - and to things of the sea as a whole. Work has begun. In June 2018, we will open more than 10,000 m2 of floor space, which will be an important cultural link with the sea and the navy. We have recovered these "historic wrecks" to supply this museum with marine objects: boats, but also models of all types and sizes. Objects that will serve as a pretext to tell stories and adventures of the sea. The will that I have had from the beginning is to allow visitors to visit "the reserves". I want to show what is usually hidden in other museums.
Why did you entrust the restoration to an association?
In another action, I am involved in the preservation of medieval places in the Aquitaine region. For example, in Charente, I have been following the castle of Villebois-Lavalette, a 12th century fortress, for 15 years now, or in the Gironde, the castle of Vilandrault and a few other sites. In each of the sites, I entrust the management free of charge to local associations which manage the accompaniment of this heritage by bringing it to life, organising visits and events. And for the boats, I said to myself, "why not adopt the same method that has worked on these sites for years?"
What about Friday the 13th?
Bertrand Quentin contacted me following my recovery from the wreck. He wanted to find an arrangement to take care of the boat. That was fine with me, as my idea in the long run was to entrust it to an association to re-ship it. If at all possible! Because at that time, no expertise had been carried out and we didn't know if this boat was capable of re-bailing. Many predicted that it was impossible..
How do you plan to finance this renovation?
Before we reached an agreement, Bertrand Quentin told me that he had sponsors who had to support the renovation and the association Rêve de Sens was in charge of the work. He was just asking for the boat to be entrusted to him for 5 years. But after a few months, no funding came through and I financially supported the start of the refit, to give them time to find other sponsors. I provided the association with funds, paid for the supplies, the boat's move, the rental of a site in the port of Bordeaux... And as this association is of Breton origin, I even had to house them during the work.
Where is the current bad deal coming from?
Gradually, we realized that the work planned in one year was not progressing as fast as expected, but above all that the quality of the work was unprofessional. In order to sail the boat again with visitors on board, we needed an expertise of the work carried out. Thus a progressive misunderstanding was born. To reach a point of total disagreement. All the more so as we paid around 160,000 euros in expenses, including 52,000 euros in sponsorship given to the association
In what state is Friday the 13th?
Today, the work is at a stage where the hull has been partially sanded. With many areas still to be resurfaced before plastering can begin. The engines have been unloaded and the interior has been partially cleaned. But nothing more has been done on the boat. The lamination has not been started for example. The actual reconstruction part has not been started.
How do you see the future of the work?
We had moved the boat to a place that belongs to the port of Bordeaux in the spirit of involving the public in this renaissance. But the last storm punctured the protective canvas. We are now going to move it to a covered place that belongs to us to allow it to be restored properly by entrusting this task to professionals.
What's going to happen on Friday the 13th?
The boat will refloat, it's clear! This beginning of this renovation is a bad experience like life sometimes has to offer. But given the sums already invested, I'm not going to stop there... As for the date of the first sail, I'm not making any prognosis. But contrary to what I've read, the future of the 13th is not at all compromised!
