20 years that Franck Roy has been running his shipyard! The opportunity to discover the manufacturer's largest sailing boat, the Solemn 42 . A unit that owes a lot to the loyalty Franck's customers have for him. Jacques, new owner of this first unit of the series, took delivery of his fourth sailboat stamped Franck Roy :
"Jacques is my second client", explains Franck "Almost 20 years ago, he ordered a Joli Morgann from me, then a Solenn 23 before a Solenn 32... When we delivered his third boat, he told us that in six years time we'd make him a bigger one... So I presented him the first sketches of the 42. Jacques asked me to give him a quote, and I validated the estimate. The construction took two years."
A strip planking construction
In order to avoid investing in a mould, which is difficult to amortize in a very limited series, Franck opted for a strip planking construction. A realization much more demanding in working hours than polyester, but which requires a minimum of tools. The Solenn 42 is therefore a wooden sailboat! But without the worry of maintenance thanks to the impregnation and protection by an epoxy resin.
The construction starts the hull upside down, from an oak veneered marine plywood frame. The bottoms - the keel anchorage area - and the top of the planks - the chainplate connections - are reinforced with carbon/epoxy fabric. The wooden slats (red cedar) are then pointed on the couples. The gaps are filled in and then the whole hull is protected with epoxy impregnated glass cloth. The hull is then turned upside down; the hull is given an interior lamination before the fittings are fitted and the engine is installed. Then comes the time for the epoxy laminated marine plywood deck before the inevitable teak lathing. The Solenn 42 is then keeled, transported to La Rochelle and finally masted.
Very healthy behaviour under sail
On the water, Solenn 42 is very faithful to the neo-classical lines of its little brothers. Straight bow with very fine water inlets, load-bearing stern shapes and a relatively wide flotation, that's the contemporary characteristics... The traditional atmosphere is not to be outdone with this famous long arch of more than two meters of slenderness, marked deck shearling and a rounded transom of the most beautiful effect. The materials are noble: on deck, a profusion of varnished mahogany, teak and stainless steel.
Lightweight and served by a generous sail area, the Solenn 42 has a good disposition in light airs. Thanks to the genoa furling system integrated below deck, manoeuvres are made easier and the headsail area is optimised. In good breezes - from 15/16 knots of true wind - the speed exceeds 10 knots downwind under gennaker. The small chop is easily cut by the hull and the boat pitches little thanks to a well studied weight centering. Thanks to a ballast ratio of 36%, the heel is contained and sail reductions only occur above 4 Beaufort. The two rudders provide excellent control of the boat at heel and the helm remains very smooth.
Lazing around on deck is a priority
The deck plan gives pride of place to teak and movement is easy towards the foredeck, which is well clear. For mooring, Franck Roy has provided six beautifully crafted folding cleats. At the bow, an integrated delphiniere supports the davit and its anchor, as well as the gennaker tack. Manoeuvres return to the cockpit. They are carried out on a pair of winches at the rear of the deckhouse and a second lower down, forward of the coamings. The cockpit seats, with their 2.80 metres in length, easily gather a complete crew.
At anchor, the shipyard has provided a small removable table. At the very back, there is room to relax with a back deck of nearly 3 meters long. This is where a huge hold is hidden, big enough to house an inflated dinghy. A clever removable hoist allows to launch it.
Tailor-made furniture
There's something to be surprised about inside: this 13-metre-hull sailing yacht has only one cabin! It's a tailor-made move for Jacques' programme: essentially day sailing. Franck Roy insists on this possibility for the owner to customize his boat as he wishes.
The standard layout proposed by the architects Mortain/Mavrikios provides more classically for three cabins, a galley, a toilet and a chart table. At the foot of the companionway, there is a height of 1.86 m. The openings at the stern of the deckhouse provide welcome light, even with the door closed.
The square is large enough to accommodate six, even eight guests. Forward circulation is somewhat hampered by the low height of the structural porches (1.37 m), but the width of the walkway makes it possible to accommodate them quickly. The Franck Roy touch? The finish, very meticulous, and the generous use of solid wood.
