Giving meaning to one's life
"We've been a couple for five years. Basically, we don't know anything about sailing. We live in the North of France, we're earthlings with a banal lifestyle." explains Amandine.
Feeling uncomfortable in their plans for life on land, the couple dreams of adventures, encounters, freedom and above all, of enjoying them. Because Amandine is 22 years old and Nicolas 61 years old... It is during their holidays that Nicolas offers her to buy a sailboat and to go around the world.
"There's nothing keeping us here. We want to give meaning to our lives and our relationship. We love each other very much, but we also know that one day nature will work. Nicolas has always been attracted by water, sailboats, the sea, but without much hope of seeing this project come to fruition" details Amandine.
The difficulties they also had to overcome in order to live their love in the open was a real strength to set up this project. Today, they want to discover new cultures, nationalities, beliefs, without being labelled with an eternal label. A curiosity that has always been in Nicolas, the son of a military man who has travelled a lot. The couple also wants to change their way of life, to consume differently, to be independent and autonomous. "Acting on their scale to make a difference."
Training in navigation
On their return from their holidays, the couple took this project very seriously. They inquired about the price of a second-hand yacht, bought the Cours des Glénans and started looking for training courses in houseboat sailing, as their aim was to live on the boat. If Nicolas knows how to distinguish the bow from the stern of a boat, his knowledge is limited there.
Thanks to their savings, he turned to an association of sailors based in La Rochelle to discover the world of sailing. He went on a series of sea trips, in all conditions, and validated a very large part of the programme. Today, he feels ready and able to take command of a sailing boat and to recover a person who has fallen into the water. Next step, the CRR is scheduled for December 17, 2020 and the offshore permit, if conditions allow. As for Amandine, she will learn on board, trained by her dear and tender.
"What's important on a boat is to be able to manage all the elements. I never had a boat, but I had a house. I'm very curious and methodical, there's no reason why I can't do it. On site, we are very well surrounded by caring people who accompany us. It's reassuring to have advice from experienced people. You have to remain humble. We learn every day. It's a new experience, but you can't make mistakes. It's not like a car. You have to be aware of that and be humble, explains Nicolas.
Finding the "love boat"
After the apprenticeship part, Amandine and Nicolas set out in search of the yacht of their dream. If the couple set themselves a set of specifications - 90s, between 38 and 42 feet, rigging and sails new or in good condition, engine without too many hours of operation - it works to their heart's content.
"We were looking for a boat that would stand up to the road, be livable, functional and maintained. We didn't want too many things to redo." explains Nicolas.
They learn from forums and from sailors about hulls to avoid and those that have proven themselves on round-the-world voyages. They select several models including a Sun Odyssey 47 and a Sun Kiss 47, "big beasts." . On their way to Port Saint-Louis du Rhône, in the PACA region, to visit the 2nd model, they learn that the boat had been sold the day before. The port manager then offers them a tour of a 2005 Oceanis Clipper 393 Performance, which is not yet on the market. There are 3 cabins and two bathrooms.
It's a big disappointment for Amandine and Nicolas. They have already visited Oceanis - a 411 - and were not seduced. They continue on their way to visit the Sun Odyssey 47, a young woman's favourite.
"In the end, the boat was too big, with too much to do and off budget." details Amandine. They finally decide to come back to Port Saint-Louis du Rhône, to visit the Oceanis, of which they could see some pictures.
"We didn't have any notion of budget in the beginning. Then the captain informed us of a price of 65,000 euros negotiable at 59,000 euros. This was within our budget of 70/75,000 euros, which we deliberately set a little high to find a boat without too many repairs to make." adds Amandine.
Once on board, the charm works and the couple is under the spell.
"We looked at each other, we had tears in our eyes. It was a real crush. Maybe it's fate. Barely inside, we knew it was him. He was appraised at 70,000 euros. The engine is new, the electronics too, the rigging has been changed and the sails with, there is a watermaker, solar panels for energy autonomy. There's nothing to do but put up protective nets, change the through-hull fittings and valves and redo the antifouling. Eventually, for the transatlantic race, she will also be equipped with a hydrogenerator. We'd have the level, we could immediately set off on a transatlantic crossing" explains Amandine.
Living on board and getting your bearings
But for now, we can't weigh anchor that quickly. As their boat will have a berth for a year, the couple will first settle down to live there and get their bearings from the end of February 2021. Thus they will start with day trips by going up in sailing conditions.
"We'll start in relatively light winds and then go up to 35 knots to see how he reacts. In the continuation of March/April, we'll begin more consistent sailing towards Corsica and Sardinia. If necessary, we will carry out a new inventory of fixtures before setting off again towards the Balearics or continuing in the Mediterranean" details Nicolas.
For the time being, the schedule isn't really set, but the couple are already imagining themselves in a transat to reach the West Indies and perhaps even rounding via Patagonia to reach the Pacific.
"It's not the same level or armament as the Panama Canal. Right now, we're concentrating on the Mediterranean and the West Indies." concludes Nicolas. And Amandine adds: "Financially, we don't have to ask ourselves any questions since Nicolas is retired. So we can live in our floating home with our dog Lilou, our Shih tzu, without financial pressure."
