A project : find the navigation
Delphine grew up surrounded by the sea. With her family on board a catamaran for 9 years, she learned about life on board and was closely involved in sailing. In 2019, while living in New Caledonia, she wishes to acquire a sailboat to sail for a day or a few days in the lagoon. She came across an ad that seemed interesting for her project, and decided to visit the ship.
The tour of the deck is fast! The boat has a fairly large cockpit and a small point, with no catwalk between the two spaces.
The interior features a front cabin, a small toilet area, and a living space that combines a kitchen and a convertible saloon. It is possible to install a banquette or to configure the space with a table and benches. The high headroom is appreciable and the large portholes make the space very bright.
A boat she doesn't know
The decision is quick and easy. The owner confides: "I only visited it, it was dark, I didn't even try it. I had a crush!" She spends the equivalent of 3,800 euros to become the owner of a sailboat named Titiem.
On the registration card that she retrieves when she buys it, she learns that it would have been built in 1970 by a shipyard called Playsavia. She recounts: "At the time and for the past three years, I have never found any information on the Internet. I know the little sailboat arrived by container several years ago, but I don't know what country it came from." One thing is certain, Titiem has an atypical profile and does not resemble the other boats in the port of Noumea.
The sailor is doing her first outings. She laughs:" The first time I sailed, I was afraid I had made a bad decision on a whim! The boat hadn't been careened in a long time and was really not moving forward on the water." .
A sailboat finally made for her
Fortunately, after the maintenance of its hull, his choice is confirmed: Titiem is a mini-sailboat very adapted to coastal navigation, in solo or in couple. With its lines very close to the water and its tiller, it offers sailing sensations close to light sailing. Delphine explains: "I think it's a good sailboat for both those who want to start sailing, but also for those who are more skilled and looking to improve."
The overall length of 7.60 m and the small sails that are easy to hoist make Titiem a maneuverable sailboat for solo sailing. The draft of 1.60 m allows Delphine to approach the islets and to take full advantage of the anchorages of the region.
For a year, the boat is anchored in an easily accessible bay and she uses it regularly. She remains vigilant: the weather can change quickly in the lagoon, and she knows that the comfort of the sailboat is limited in heavy weather.
A course: the installation on board
The following year, when a gale was approaching, Delphine obtained a place in the port. She then settled permanently on the sailboat, in the center of Noumea, for less money than a classic rental and especially to enjoy her boat more.
The life on board requires some adaptations. She added an 80-liter water cow, removed the toilet to make the bed in the front cabin a little longer and make it her bedroom. Titiem has neither a fridge nor an oven: she also modifies her food and learns to preserve her food by lacto-fermentation.
Two years later, even if she feels very comfortable on board, Delphine admits that the boat is still a bit small for life on board. She regrets not finding space to install a library! Titiem is equipped with an 8 HP outboard engine in a well. On a chair, it would allow to gain a little more living space.
