The pleasure of maneuvering under sail
After a tour of the boatyard, it's time to board the Bihan 5.80. While we were chatting in the workshop, one of the yard's employees went to fetch the boat from the anchorage. He joins us at the pontoon, under sail. The Bihan 5.80 we were testing had no engine, but despite the light breeze that morning, it slipped easily between the boats at anchor. Between the self-tacking jib and a beautiful rudder blade, identical in size to her 6.50-meter big brother, the yacht is easy to maneuver.
Dinghy responsiveness
Under an overcast sky, the wind was not very generous, initially barely reaching 10 knots. However, with its measured weight of 560 kilos, it quickly glides out of the currents of the Gulf of Morbihan. As long as you pay close attention to pitch, the bulky bow, which is very useful downwind, is not a hindrance on our first upwind points of sail, with our 21 m2.
With a crew of varying ages, everyone finds a comfortable place aboard. Indeed, while the yacht glides like a dinghy in light airs, its height over the water and large cockpit offer far greater comfort!
Spinnaker made easy!
After the first upwind tests, it was time to set the helm. In just a few minutes, the pretty yellow asymmetrical spinnaker is deployed. Rigged in a dinghy-like rig, with a closed circuit allowing the same halyard to be used to extend the carbon bowsprit and hoist the sail to the masthead, the downwind sail is very easy to use. It's the perfect solution for anyone who's worried about launching a spinnaker.
The boat accelerates rapidly, and even if the air remains moderate, we can easily imagine it reaching double-digit speeds in more muscular conditions.
Speed and freedom
After a crew rotation, we head for the entrance to the gulf. As the wind drops inexorably, we can't work miracles against the current. But after an hour of standing still and backing off, the wind picks up again. And the Bihan 5.80 shows just how well day cruising in bodies of water like the Gulf of Morbihan fits into its program. Pushed to the limits of its spectrum, the asymmetrical spinnaker and its 30 m2 help us to sail upstream close to the right amount of wind. As the breeze picks up, we sail up and down between the exit of the gulf and Ile de la Jument, without worrying about the current. And when a stronger gust arrives, the boat's stability gives a feeling of total security.
Unfortunately, it's now time to return to the boat and sail back to the buoy. Rolling in the mainsail, and tucking it into the small "cabin" on the starboard bow if desired, then fitting the covers over the spinnaker hatches, the stowage takes just ten minutes or so. On disembarking, the crew are all smiles, after an outing that offered sailing pleasure without giving in too much to comfort.
