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In the port of Tobermory, on the Isle of Mull in Scotland, you can only meet big boats, even very big boats. It must be said that the Scottish winds are enough to discourage many of them. But that day, we also met a Mini 6.50 flying the French flag! On board, Océane and Constantin, 28 years old, coming from La Rochelle.
The project of this young couple is simple: to take the time to take a break from their professional, volunteer and political commitments, to find themselves as a couple, to live simplicity in nature and to meet others.
Océane and Constantin already have a history of traveling by van, hitchhiking or motorcycle. This time, the idea of leaving by boat comes from their new life in La Rochelle, near the port, going out with friends on the water. One day, at the end of the evening, the idea of buying a small sailboat to leave for a few months seemed brilliant. The next day, they seriously discussed it and left in search of their mount!
Which boat for the adventure?
The initial specifications are quite classic: a modest size sailboat, 8 to 10 meters, with 2 double cabins to invite friends and a shallow draft to fit everywhere. The budget is about 10 000 euros, ready to go. The project should show that adventure is accessible to all and that it does not take much to leave.
But, during his research, Constantin came across an ad for a Jean Dupré Mini 6.50 proto, built in 1983, and belonging to skipper Thomas Lurton. The idea to buy it comes as a joke.
Leaving with a small racing sailboat would be so much more fun! Speed is also a guarantee of safety when you get to your destination faster, and Océane and Constantin know how to do without the comforters so much so that one morning, at 5 o'clock, Constantin takes the road to go and see this famous Mini and buy it in the process!
Transforming a racing boat into a cruising boat
However, to go cruising, even with little comfort, the Mini needs some adjustments. Constantin spends several months, in parallel of work, between reflection and search of second hand parts. He becomes an expert of the good corner, then takes a month and a half full time to modify the sailboat. Oceane, on the other hand, is completely absorbed by her work and her political commitments.
Here again, the objective of the work is to keep it simple: use second-hand equipment and reuse everything that can be reused. He worked on the ventilation of the boat to limit condensation with the installation of a solar fan and passive grills. Then he revised the electricity, added 12V and USB plugs, as well as LED interior lighting.
On the storage side, Constantin opened the two 200-liter ballast tanks to create new equipment with shelves inside. A hatch, created under the helm, also allows access to the volume located under the cockpit to store the anchor, the dinghy - an inflatable kayak - and organize a storage area.
There is also the boom to be raised to gain space above the roof. This allows to install the life support and two solar panels. At the same time, the mainsail is changed for a new one, well revised, and a lazy bag shortened to fit.
The outboard is exchanged for a 4-stroke of 4 horses. The saddlery is also redone with recycled materials. Many nets are added to gain storage space.
The key word for the transformation of the sailboat remains simplicity: respecting the nature of the boat, keeping the essential of the existing fittings, choosing functional, inexpensive and recycled equipment as much as possible. The initial budget is largely respected, port fees included.
A cruising sailboat is born: Hanabi!
Ready for departure, Hanabi, which means fireworks in Japanese, offers a double berth in the forepeak, equipped with nets on the sides for clothes. The center of the yacht is occupied by the galley area with a gas stove, a bucket for dishes, storage for food and utensils. A Jetboil completes the kitchen equipment to boil water while saving a maximum of gas in the cartridge.
Then, aft, the side coffin berths serve as both saloon side seating and storage for sails and gear under the cockpit.
For the sails, Hanabi starts with a mainsail, 2 solents, a medium asymmetric spinnaker and a staysail. The max spinnaker is left in La Rochelle because it takes up too much space. On the electronic side, the boat has a VHF AIS, a GPS without charting, an old sea watch and the chart on a waterproof phone with the Reeds and some paper coastal pilots.
Limited offshore sailing experience
Océane and Constantin are ready to leave! With what sailing experience do they start their 6 month cruise? Oceane has very limited experience at sea. In fact, she had never sailed before she met Constantin. She learned a little in La Rochelle, but it is on the job that she will really get used to it during the first weeks of their trip.
Constantin, for his part, learned to sail during his childhood summers on optimists and then small dinghies. He loves speed and sailing with a touch of sport! He even took part in a regatta in high school aboard a First 7.50. However, he has no real experience in offshore sailing.
An example of adventure accessible to all
By sailing at their own pace, in their small sailboat, with a small budget but without taking the easy way out, Océane and Constantin also want to show that adventure is accessible to everyone. You don't need to spend a lot of money to convert a small boat, nor do you need to have a lot of sailing experience to sail in beautiful places.
However, you must have the desire, the ingenuity, a little time and the courage to take a break from your professional life to leave. The adventure is there, just at the end of the pontoon, you just have to seize it!
