A solid working schooner
Persévérance, the supply sailboat for the future Polar Pod scientific drifting station, is a sturdy aluminum schooner, 42 m long, with a displacement of 320 tons and a draught of 4.15 m. She has a sail area of 730 m2. It has a sail area of 730 m2 and is powered by a single-engine 600 hp Baudouin.
Its role will be to provide supplies and transfer crew for the Polar Pod scientific base, which will be drifting around Antarctica for two years.
These shifts will take place every two months. To face up to the hostile conditions of the southern seas, we needed to be solid. Everything aboard this workboat is tough. The hull is 16 mm thick aluminum.
Designed by Olivier Petit in collaboration with VPLP Design, Persévérance's design differs from that of Antarctica, Jean-Louis Etienne's legendary schooner. Antarctica was designed to integrate into the ice and drift with it. Persévérance's hull is designed to withstand impact, but it is not intended to voluntarily come into contact with the ice.
Installed on Persévérance's quarterdeck, the tender will be launched via a half-submerged invert, as Yohan Mucherie, the vessel's captain, explains: "Refuelling will be done using our Tender Hydrojet, which is the most efficient solution for staying stationary under the Polar Pod cranes. We tried several technologies and this is the one that caught our attention."
The large bridge is equipped with two watch seats, and features comprehensive on-board electronics.
A yacht built for extreme conditions
On deck, the two 33m masts support a sail area of 730m2. All maneuvers are carried out aft, under the shelter of the imposing wheelhouse.
The foremast is fitted with an imposing spinnaker pole, designed to stabilize the yankee. No spinnaker or downwind sails: performance is not on the schooner's agenda.
The masts are from Maréchal, while the sails are from Incidences. Deck fittings include Harken winches and Bamar furlers.
The target speed is 10 knots, and the first trials under sail during the delivery from Vietnam were conclusive, as the boat reached 12 knots, abeam with full sail.
A supply, cruise and scientific vessel
The crew is made up of 8 sailors, and 12 passengers can be accommodated aboard Persévérance when she is dedicated to southern cruises. Each cabin has its own bathroom.
Persévérance is also equipped with an on-board laboratory, which will enable us to collect a wealth of information.
The Ferrybox can be used not only to analyze seawater samples, but also to take phytoplankton and zooplankton readings.
Finally, chief engineer Aurélien Hébrard takes us on a tour of the engine room:
"Perseverance is powered by a single-engine 600 hp Baudoin. This is surrounded by the two on-board generators, which produce 400 V. Directly opposite is the hydraulic power station, which powers the windlass and winches. Fresh water on board is produced by two watermakers, which consume 1,000 liters a day. "
