An amazing crew
Captain Yorick Maguin and the ship's mate, Vanessa, his wife, were determined to do just that: " To leave one day with your family on board a sailboat to live a human experience, to discover new ports and new countries, different cultures, and to make them discover to our children. "
Yorick was 25 years old when he discovered the world of the sea during his studies in the Landes region of France, through a few regattas on a Class 8 boat and by sailing for several days between Cape Breton and the Ile d'Yeu on a 12-meter monohull. This newfound passion is reflected in the couple he founds with Vanessa, whom he met in Nantes where he settled for his professional activity. The many local sailing clubs (CVAN, CMN and then CNP) allowed them to explore this universe on 420s and J80s. All aspects of the sailor's job are covered: technical terms, the points of sail of a sailboat, the weather, mooring, port maneuvers, safe navigation..
The purchase of their first sailboat, Pépito, an Aquila 8.50, was an obvious choice and the starting point of the family adventure. It was then time to discover additional notions such as careening, energy on board, inboard engine mechanics, night sailing, reefing in autonomy..
" Life on a boat, sailing brought us a lot "says Vanessa. The couple's passion for sailing was fueled by sailing blogs.
Lou's nose is showing in 2018 and the family is organized around work, the nanny, and weekends on board Pépito, based in Crouesty. The playground in Quiberon Bay is pleasant, but time flies too fast, and leaves a taste of unfinished business. " We don't take advantage of anything. It's the right time, we can't wait. We have the capacity, let's go for it! "The decision was made, but space was running out on Pépito, while the last young sailor, named Peyo, was already cradled in his mother's womb by the movement of the ocean. A bigger sailboat was needed to accomplish this radical change of life with wife and children.
A decisive meeting with Carmina.
Yorick knows what he wants! Spotted on a private sale website, this 1987 Oceanis 390, a Briand design built by Bénéteau, just back from a transatlantic race, will be the robust and spacious companion of the family adventures.
Equipped with 3 double cabins, a spacious and luminous saloon open to the equipped kitchen, with a 4 meter beam, this well-equipped cruising monohull offers all the comfort necessary for this project.
Additional improvements and equipment were carried out on Carmina such as the installation of spinning nets, the change of the original windscreens and roof windows, a new mast (not budgeted for...), the change of the breeze sail rigged on a removable forestay, and interior shelving and storage to optimize space. The spacious children's rooms are furnished to recreate their universe, with a profusion of stuffed animals, games and books. A padded board at the end of the beds is added to prevent falls while sailing.
It's time to cut ties in June 2020, in a tense health environment.
Life on a sailboat: a long quiet river?
Funding for this life on the sailboat is made possible by years of savings and Vanessa's parental leave. " If we are careful, a monthly minimum wage is enough to live on for 4 ". In fact, the most important consumption items, such as on-board energy, are produced thanks to natural energies, solar panels and wind turbines, and allow 100% autonomy in summer.
Fresh water reserves are precious on board: you must be very careful. Sea water is a resource in abundance and is used for dishes, toilets, and showers at anchor. Whenever there is work to be done on a sailboat, the budget can quickly explode (in case of a gale, a bad maneuver, an engine incident...). " For the moment it is going very well. Within a year, we will probably have to find a job to feed the cash register. "
There are also unpleasant surprises: " Peyo was seasick between Crouesty and Pornic upwind with 25 knots and a heavy sea: 9 hours with the little one vomiting on you... ! "
So there are moments of doubt, but with each difficulty, you have to try to find solutions, adapt without giving up.
" It is a big commitment, this choice of life. This different and assumed life refocuses us on the essential which is our family, and allows us to project a different look on society, a look shared with our children. More simply, with less things, we become minimalists, and closer to nature.
It took living on a sailboat for us to become aware of this and to question our impact on marine life. We question ourselves every day about our actions and their impact on the environment. "The sailboat is the ideal means of life and transport to show that on board, it is essential and possible to produce as little waste as possible.
This couple in their thirties with two pretty, laughing, chubby toddlers aged 3 years and 18 months have found a form of harmony on Carmina, and have renewed a special bond with nature.
Is this the new model of the modern family of the 21st century, committed and assumed?
Their association, renamed "Projet Horizons" NAVIGUER ET PARTAGER, allows to perpetuate this dream. A first step and a departure from Lorient on March 13, 2020, will be the beginning of a journey of several months on the French coasts, from North to South, a virtuous and ecological tour of France with many stops.
