A mythical boat
The company Blue Observer, created in 2021, is based in Brest. Its ambition is to be a low carbon maritime operator for oceanographic research. Last spring, Blue Observer acquired a mythical sailboat, the ex Adrien, to transform it into a laboratory boat, renamed Iris.
Adrien is a design by the naval architect Gilles Vaton, specially conceived for the round the world record attempts against wind and current. It is with this boat that Jean-Luc Van den Heede - VDH - broke the record in 2004 with a time of 122 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds. This aluminum monohull, 25.70m long and 5.40m wide, displaces 30 tons. With its 4.60 m draft and 29 m mast, it can carry up to 600 m² of canvas downwind.
And why this boat rather than another one? The answer of Eric Defert, skipper and founder of Blue Observer, is: "a marine boat that has proven itself with almost two round-the-world trips, a simple saloon, on a gimbal, that can accommodate the crew of 6/7 people and a huge interior volume in front of the saloon allowing to install the lab!"
Substantial work to adapt the yacht
Moored in Brest, its new home port, the ship has undergone a complete overhaul and has been entirely refitted. Overhaul of the rigging, water outlet, hydrogumming, painting, creation of a laboratory dedicated to the onboard scientists, interior fitting work necessary to accommodate a crew of 6/7 people, composed of sailors, engineers, scientists and media man. The works, currently being completed, are being carried out with local companies.
In front of the saloon, apart from the engines and ballasts, the old sail locker will allow the installation of the lab.
Oceanographic missions
The Blue Observer company proposes, thanks to this platform of oceanography under sail, an offer of services throughout the world for all the oceanic studies related to the climate. Climate research, understanding of biodiversity, knowledge, protection are the selected themes.
This offer is intended for scientific and industrial players developing innovative solutions in the OceanTech ecosystem. This includes all players who use data or natural resources of marine origin. These are today an ideal response to problems in energy, transport and agriculture.
The sailing vessel Iris has more than one advantage for these missions. It is a fast and carbon-free platform with the appropriate technical and scientific equipment. Her crew is multidisciplinary. Innovative and flexible, it can accommodate customized missions
With an objective of 250 days per year at sea, the sailboat will leave Brest at the beginning of October 2021 for a transatlantic voyage to the American coast to validate the work and especially the onboard laboratory.
A mixed crew of sailors and scientists
Éric Defert, president of Blue Observer is also a renowned professional skipper. With three Solitaires du Figaro, a Route du Rhum and a North Atlantic Record in his wake, Eric alternates between his interest for marine biodiversity and competitions. He has gathered around him a versatile crew.
He is assisted by Nicolas Audigane, known as Nico. Racer, skipper in cruising school, Nicolas has a great experience of the boat and it is him who supervises the work.
The crew is also composed of young sailors and scientists. Paul, a student at the maritime high school of La Rochelle, is preparing his Captain 500 in alternating years, and Eloïse Le Bras, a biologist and sailor, is a plankton specialist. She is in charge of the good realization of the samplings during the expeditions and of the general public awareness: installation of the sensors and samplers, definition of the pump flows and the suction times, conditioning and fixing the samples... These are his missions. "It's great! After a first experience with the Iodysséus campaigns, I'm starting a new project that allows me to make the link between the marine environment and offshore sailing", says the young woman.
Grigor Obolensky, oceanographic engineer, completes the technical team. Grigor is in charge of the technical, energetic and electronic issues of the ship and the scientific installations.
Good luck to all and we are waiting for the details and results of the missions!
