From construction to navigation
The Glénans school arranged to meet at the Lycée Pierre Guéguen in Concarneau. The KISS project, for Keep It Simple and Smart, launched by the famous sailing school, has already been presented in these columns was entering a new phase. After the first prototype of this small sailing and paddling trimaran, built in-house and presented at Nautic 2022, the educational project could begin. The school in Concarneau is the first high school whose students will have the chance to finance the construction of a boat and benefit from 5 days of sailing training at Les Glénans.
A tour of the workshop reveals that the first elements of the central hull are being assembled. Students from the marine carpentry course are busy cutting the reinforcing rails. But the day's program also takes place on the water, with two students embarking with a member of Les Glénans for a first demonstration.
A simple boat
The little multihull lives up to its acronym. If it had been rigged prior to the event, the Glénans team claims that assembling the hull and floats and fitting the sails takes no more than 30 minutes. No shrouds or complex rigging, just two simple self-supporting carbon tubes. The headsail fits on a small-diameter windsurfing mast.
Lowered to the slipway, the shallow-draught yacht sets off under sail, after unfurling the sails from the mast.
Great potential for acceleration
On this March day, conditions in the bay are rather light, around ten knots. Despite this, the boat, with 3 adults on board, was easily unhitched. Then, a few reefs appeared and the boat accelerated rapidly.
With a change of crew, we climb aboard. It's easy to get onto the large trampoline. The 3 of us can stand on it without any problem. The mainsheet, brought down to the mast, frees up the circulation and makes it easy to get around. A downwind run reveals the boat's surfing potential, easily exceeding ten knots. Its pirogue-like hull makes you want to sail down swell trains.
A paddle-friendly boat
To conclude the outing, we test the second facet of the KISS. If it's great for sailing, it's also great for paddling. A coaming forward of the mainmast accommodates the lead oarsman, while the other 2 sit in the cockpit, each equipped with a simple paddle, easy to slip between the hull and the trampoline. Sufficiently light, the boat glides beautifully.
The KISS confirms a versatile program that is sure to attract new boaters and maintain the Glénans' role as a transmitter and gateway to the sea.
