The sailboat France 3 saved from destruction
Best known to 12 M JI the French sailing boat France 3 led two particularly successful campaigns on the America's Cup . Helmed by Bruno Troublé and third boat of Baron Bich in the competition, it reached the challenger final in 1980, the best French performance in the America's Cup. After a second campaign in 1983, she was finally handed over to the Ecole Navale, which used her to train the sailors of the French Navy in sailing.
But the boat finally ends up on the platform, gradually abandoned.
"The boat was destined to be destroyed. I learned what was going to happen and thought it was a bit dramatic for this boat, which has the best record of French challenges in the America's Cup. The Ecole Navale is in love with the boat and wanted to find someone to bring her back to life. We were put in touch and we agreed" says Yann Labbé, new owner of France 3.
Build a collective of enthusiasts around the 12 MJI
The boat has now been repatriated from the Ecole Navale quay to Concarneau, in the dry port park managed by CN Diffusion, a boatyard and dealer owned by Yann Labbé. "From now on, we need to build a collective of professionals and enthusiasts. Racers, stratifiers, experts, enthusiasts of the history of French navigation, who each with their level of involvement will help us. This can be in advice, to find material. I have already been contacted by some of them, the people who renovated the France 1, in particular. We will try to involve the numerous Breton companies in the field" explains the Breton entrepreneur.
Get back to the original sailboat
Yann Labbé has already started to collect information about the history of the France 3, in order to respect the philosophy of the boat as much as possible. "I want to make a renovation as close as possible to the original. There may be some adjustments to simplify things a bit and be able to sail with a smaller crew. But I want to keep it in its lines. She has a displacement of 27 tons including 22 tons of ballast, a 3.75 m beam for 15 meters waterline and a 300 kg aluminum mast, made at the time by Dufour Aluminum! When you see her next to a modern IMOCA on the quay, it's quite funny!" smiles the new owner.
If Yann Labbé gives himself time to carry out a well thought out and quality restoration, the objective is clear. "The boat will sail and participate in classic regattas" he concludes.
