An appointment is scheduled in Port Grimaud, the Venice of the South, on Friday morning, four days before the opening of the Cannes Yachting Festival. In front of the bow of the first copy of the Pilot Saloon 42 a little over thirty miles to shave the ochre coasts of the Esterel. The weather of the day: light wind, calm sea, with the possibility of a thermal.
There are not only foils in life!
Franck, between two bike training sessions, seems delighted to be on the water. One would have thought that this pro of machines flying at nearly 40 knots perched on foils would quickly get bored aboard a pure cruiser... this is not the case: the sailor is interested in the accommodation and equipment of Pilot Saloon 42. On the menu, the panoramic windows with electric variation of the transparency of the glass, the on-board management system (energy, tanks...) that can be controlled from your smartphone or a tablet and of course the huge rear cabin of this two-cabin version. We are nowhere near the rustic bunk of the VOR 70 Groupama 4, on which he won the Volvo Race. " But how is it going at the lodge? "he worries. No problem, the anti-roll cloths are delivered as standard!
A pro who likes to optimize settings
Our journey begins with a motorboat crossing of the Gulf of Saint-Tropez with a mainsail lined flat: no wind. Franck is already at the helm, on the lookout for offshore breezes. When we notice 8 knots of real wind at the anemometer, the skipper quickly checks that the value is the same on the apparent wind function... verdict, speedo propeller clogged! The wind comes in slowly, but right in front of the road. To unroll the genoa! The PS 42 embarked on a wave, quickly optimized by Franck: "we're going to dig the genoa when we get back in the firing point" . Either a short sheet or simply a little bit of counter-listening. We opt for the second formula. The propeller with swivel blades is quickly stopped, engaging reverse gear puts it in sail position, with minimum drag. When asked whether it is more interesting to block or not a fixed propeller, Franck knows the answer:" it goes faster when the propeller is free, but it's not good for the shuttle It is therefore your left hand that holds the end crossing that constitutes the " on land, the thermal effect should be more perpendicular to the coast, the wind will probably be more to the right". With your right hand, you will grasp the current and pass it under the " I generally prefer high latitudes to tropical regions. It is quieter, the landscapes and lights more varied, the wildlife omnipresent.. It is therefore your left hand that holds the end crossing that constitutes the " and in the same gesture, bring it back into the ".
With more wind, it would be even better!
In view of the Lérins islands, the wind is blowing, allowing us to stay on course for the entrance to the Old Port of Cannes. Franck's hot impressions of this navigation aboard the Pilot Saloon 42:".
Ashore for a wind more perpendicular to the coast
The skipper assessed the water and suggested that we get closer to the land, in other words, push our starboard tack to the tack:"
Promise Franck, we'll order more wind next time!
