"Le Cigare Rouge" Formatives Network by Jean-Marie Patier, which runs in the Rum Mono category is an emblematic boat. Built for Jean-Luc Van den Heede for the Vendée Globe 92/93, he then raced 4 other Vendée Globe races, including one at the hands of Catherine Chabaud (96/97) who will be the first woman to complete this legendary race.
Left abandoned in La Rochelle, he was saved by Jean-Marie Patier who restored it with passion and love. He is proud to be able to tell us the story of the boat, punctuated by unpublished anecdotes. Listening to him, we were like children being told a beautiful story
Can you tell us the personal story you have with this boat? And why did you choose to restore it?
There are several reasons. First of all, it's a historic boat. Then, it is a boat that was built by Jean-Luc Van Den Heede. I have a strong friendship with Jean-Luc. The third: it's a pretty, elegant boat. I didn't want to see him die. There are boats like that that don't die. And finally - and this is more personal - it is the boat with which Catherine Chabaud - with whom I share my life - sailed her first round the world race, the 1996/1997 Vendée Globe. It's also the one we met through. But this is a very personal story.
I really wanted to do this Route du Rhum. Already 4 years ago I wanted to buy Adrien[Editor's note: another old Jean-Luc VDH boat that Jean-Marie Patier delivered], but I hadn't managed to buy it. As I am rather perseverant, I looked at the Red Cigar. I was told that he was lost anyway. Lost causes are funny! So I contacted the port of La Rochelle. Indeed the owner had a claim of about 150 00 €, exorbitant amounts. The purchase was not looking good! Finally I bought it at auction for a piece of bread. Cheap, but you have to realize I bought a wreck. There was no more hardware, there was not much left on board and what was left was very damaged because the boat had been inert for more than ten years.
Can you present us what has been redone?
I'll tell you what hasn't been redone... Original, only the hull and masts are left! Plus a few small parts here and there...
All the fittings, electronics, keel, rudder, daggerboard, safety, part of the structure has been changed. The boat had an architectural peculiarity: the keel was through: it went up to the deck. It has the merit of being very solid, but it has disadvantages, especially in terms of centre of gravity. After the purchase, we tried to disengage the keel from the boat, but it was not possible. There was a lot of corrosion and the previous owners had inserted glue or resin... It was inextricable. It was necessary to cut the keel. Well, it was worth it because 200 to 300 litres of water escaped from the keel. With the Lombard firm, we decided that it was better to change the keel. I found a second-hand keel - otherwise the budgets are far too high - at Michel Desjoyeaux. This is Foncia's ex keel, a solid steel keel with a better profile and stronger.
Have you had to refurbish the interior, have you taken the opportunity to modernise, or have you restored it to its original state?
I tried to keep the idea, the concept of the boat. There is a certain purity in this drawing, I didn't want to transform it, I wanted to leave it as it was. Nevertheless, from the moment we removed this keel, we were able to open the boat from the inside. A partition has been removed and as a result, access to the front is easier. It also has an interest in terms of safety: to prepare the sails, we avoid going outside. When we blew up that wall, we had to redesign the chart table and kitchen. That said, the map table is a little different from what we did 30 years ago. I have pictures of the boat and the chart table: it was extraordinary, it was a library, an English cupboard! We made it lighter, as well as the kitchen, which we redesigned a little bit. Externally, however, it is very close to what it was originally.
What will be the objective on this Route du Rhum?
My goal is to get to the other side and stay in shape. Without damaging the boat too much and without damaging me too much either. I don't refrain from fighting with my little comrades. It would be nice to get in the first half. It would be a satisfaction, but I won't be frustrated to arrive in the seventeen. The most important thing is to do a nice race and make me happy. That's what Jean-Luc told me, "Do yourself a favor," so I'm going to do myself a favor. I'm not a professional, I'll do it at my level.
On the way, what will be the difficulties?
The difficulty for me is to be alone. I've never participated in a solo race before. I've done twice as much, but solitaire is a new experience for me. I don't know if it will be a difficulty, at least it will be a discovery. After that, you have to manage your sleep, fatigue, food, and not find yourself in a situation where I will feel overwhelmed by events: anticipate well and be careful.
On a boat like this, you think you have a different route?
I don't know, first of all we should have weather files for the moment it's too far away.
At what speed will the boat be most comfortable?
She is a boat that is comfortable upwind, as she proved in 1998 during the Route du Rhum. There have been 3 or 4 successive depressions on the boats and the Red Cigar is second with a time of 18 days - with VDH at the helm. The boat is comfortable upwind and descends well. But less comfortable than larger boats for reaching or this type of speed.
How would you describe the Route de Rhum in two words?
It's a "popular" race and it makes it "endearing". It is popular because it is old and because there have been very significant and strong stories since the first edition. It mixes professionals and amateurs, which is rare. Often there are amateur races where a few professionals come, there is a professional race where amateurs are invited. That's probably why it's so popular. I think it's very beautiful to keep that connection. In all sports, professionals are light years away from amateurs - which is also true in sailing! In terms of budget, level, expertise - but on the water it binds very well. When you see Peyron in Rum class, I find it endearing and beautiful. And then there's Saint Malo, which is a beautiful and emblematic city.
After the race, what will be the boat's program?
It's an offshore boat, so I can participate in Fastnet type races or on the Mediterranean circuit. Within the limits of what I can do in terms of time and resources
How does the public welcome the Red Cigar?
I didn't imagine it like that, but I can see it, people come by, ask questions and I have testimonies from people who are happy to see this boat again. Through his story - he has 5 world tours - it speaks, as it spoke to me. I am attached to historic boats. When I look at Pen Duick I'm happy, when I look at Kriter I'm happy. To see these boats, not only live, but run. I'm happy to share that too.
Can you introduce us to the boat?
Inside, at the foot of the descent is the chart table and the kitchen with the small stove. I'm going to stay around here a lot, sitting on the steps. The bubble above me protects me and offers a lot of visibility. In front there are two bunkers with anti-roll cloths and even further forward the technical part.
On the bridge not much has changed. The boat has kept its original number! We have put in front sail storage to reduce the weight a little bit in the tops.
The poles are original! On the occasion of the start of the 2017 Mini Transat, I went to bed and received a call from VDH saying: "Jean-Marie, I found your poles!" He sent me a picture and indeed: there was a party in a room and on the ceiling of that room there were my poles to decorate the room. On the occasion of the 40th anniversary of the Mini-Transat, the participants of the first edition - including VDH - were invited to meet the riders at the start
I went there. I was told a scary story that they had landed there to "do a favour". In short, I got the poles back, now they are in their place. Well now, you have to handle them because they are still some very heavy machines!
What has changed on the boat is that I added a daggerboard to compensate for the keel, which is much narrower.
The sail locker, accessible by a hood on deck, is located between two watertight bulkheads. In front of the hold, a watertight volume where there is no water! Historically there has never been any material, but there has been a lot of water. When VDH saw its hull delaminated, there was 300 litres of water in this compartment.
Because I have 52 brooms, I added a balcony at the foot of the mast. They laugh at me with my balcony... Jean-Luc tells me that it's useless. It's no use, but downwind I'm glad to have it. Safety is priceless and in traffic I find it convenient.
Finally I put the bowsprit back on. Originally the boat had a piece of outside, but the IMOCA gauge had asked to remove it for reasons of overall length. The boat has had her whole career without it, but as today I'm out of gauge I put it back. It's still a little bit of outside, it's better than nothing for the headsails.
On the rigging side, we have a mast with spreaders in the axis, double runners and double low runners. The mast falls if you forget to put them on. It's difficult for me who's not used to it.
In the cockpit, I kept the original wooden telescopic bar. But in reality I'm not going to steer much. It is a boat that is very pleasant to steer. I have just found some exchanges between VDH and the boat's architect. Jean-Luc wanted a simple boat, with few sailclothes, few requirements and few consumers for the pilots. Just the opposite of what we're doing today. The rudder is quite short, the boat very neutral so the pilots work very little. Little wet surface as were the boats of a slightly older architecture. Catherine has been halfway around the world without energy, moored bar. I think that today on an IMOCA it would be more difficult to have the bar moored.
For energy in fact, we added a fixed solar panel and we added a hydrogen generator that produces well.
It has also kept its original colour and I think it has helped to maintain the link between the lovers of this boat and those who have raced on it. Because in the IMOCAs I am totally lost... "Which one was it, old this, old that...". The Red Cigar has a visual identity linked to its architecture, but its colour has always remained red. I hope that the Red Cigar story will continue, that there will be someone else after me to take over the helm.
