/ 
- Price: 2,000 to 4,500 euros
- Built between 1963 and 1980 by the Lanaverre shipyard, with a total of 800 units produced; 3 units were built in 2002
Vintage sailboats are all the rage! Aren't they a nod to the carefree days of our parents' (or grandparents') generation?with a tiny budget to boot? The 590 embodies the famous saying " "Small boat, small worries" . It's inexpensive, and repairing and maintaining it is a task that any toolbox?and the person behind it?can handle. As for putting it into use, it couldn't be simpler.
A typical floor plan by Christian Maury
That full bow, that snub nose, and that delicate transom are, of course, the work of Christian Maury, the designer of the legendary 420?the lightweight dinghy with round hulls on which many of us have sailed a few tacks... Plenty of volume in the bow, less in the stern?it?s a design that?s a bit dated %E2euros%93 though, as it turns out, it seems to be making a comeback. In any case, the 590 sails like a dream at all speeds.
A small, unpretentious speedster
Despite its simple anti-skid design %E2euros%93 the skid is just a sheet of metal %E2euros%93 it heaves to at 45° to the true wind without skidding and handles choppy seas quite well. Downwind, it enjoys long glides under spinnaker at over 12 knots! It?s a bit like an Open 570? but designed more than half a century ago! Of course, the crew must pull hard on the sheets to keep the boat on course. There?s even a trapeze, but?much to the chagrin of fans of the class?it can?t be used during National Handicap regattas.
Changes During Production
Over the course of its 17-year production run, the 590 evolved. The most notable change was the shift from round cockpits?associated with a sporty style?to square bench seats, more typical of a cruising boat. There?s no difference on the water, but the construction method?which in the early models involved a tongue-and-groove deck joint reinforced with a wooden strip?has given way to simply stapling and gluing the two flanges together in the newer models...
A dynamic organization
Supported since 1965 by a dynamic association, the 590 has long been the focus of a friendly racing scene, concentrated mainly in the Arcachon Basin and the large lakes of Aquitaine. By the late 1990s, the standard of racing had improved. Boats were better prepared, lighter, and better equipped. The first Mylar sails appeared in 1999. By 2000, many boats no longer conformed to the original dimensions, and the first 590 adopted recessed lower shrouds. The logical consequence: a strict?yet adaptable?class rule was enacted in 2001. The AS 590 gained momentum, growing to 180 members and regularly fielding about thirty boats on the water. The 590 was subsequently recognized as an FFV class.
A sailboat optimized for speed
The rigging, now much tighter, can no longer withstand the pressure: the masts fall onto the deck. The spreaders are then extended from 50 to 80 cm, and a strut takes over the load inside the cabin. Otherwise, the deckhouse would collapse... The lower shrouds are therefore pulled in to better trim the genoa?now on a furler?and ensure a better course.
The hardware, which is freely chosen, is on par with the best modern cruisers, featuring a %E2euros%93 spinnaker furler as standard, a simple cut-out bucket-style automatic spinnaker pole, a clew with a turret, a 3D-adjustable genoa clew, and, of course, a rail. However, the sail dimensions adhere to the original design, and the most expensive fabrics remain off-limits.
Old-School Navigation
There?s no need for crutches when the water recedes from the mooring area. The boat heels slightly and rests effortlessly against the hull. Those who want to sleep more or less flat (there aren?t many of them?comfort here is very basic) simply slide floating devices on either side of the salmon...
The 590 is a school of resourcefulness; you sail the old-fashioned way, without an engine, keeping one eye on the tide table and the other on the weather forecast, just to make sure the wind doesn?t die down while you?re far from your sailing club. It?s a pretty enjoyable way to do without port facilities and modern comforts...
Bateaux.com's Analysis
The 590?s range of activities is quite broad, from day cruises to HN regattas. If you want to try your hand at one-design racing, the Gironde is the place to be. It?s the perfect, hassle-free sailboat. You can leave it on its trailer over the winter, the sails are inexpensive, and all maintenance can be done without going to a boat yard. And to top it all off, it?s a thrill to sail!
The Benefits
- Amazing performance in all conditions
- Huge cockpit
- Prices and a reduced operating budget
The Disadvantages
- Salmon fishing is prohibited when the boat is beached %E2euros%93 unless it is secured with floating gear...
- Sporty when there's a nice breeze
- Optimization is essential for a strong showing in a regatta
But what is he missing?
Flat bottoms so they can run aground... flat, making transport even easier. And perhaps more refined appendages. Although the 590 handles very well with its centerboard and sheet-metal rudder...
What would be the equivalent today?
The 590 falls somewhere between small modern sleds like the Django SF 18 and the ever-popular Corsaire. But like the latter, it remains very affordable.
