In the nautical world, some yachts retain a timeless charm. Diva, an elegant Bermudan yacht of 12.30 meters overall, perfectly embodies this spirit. Built in Germany by the Abeking & Rasmussen shipyard, this varnished mahogany boat has been restored to her former glory by owner Éric Furet, who is renovating her for racing and cruising.
Diva: a timeless classic
The Diva, a classic wooden yacht, has its origins in a 1956 design by the American naval architecture firm Sparkman & Stephens. Construction took place in Germany, under the supervision of an Abeking & Rasmussen subcontractor. Inspired by the Dorade, another boat designed by Olin Stephens, the Fastnet winner in 1931 and 1933 who made the famous architect famous, Diva marks the beginning of a series of Stephens-designed yachts that remain unrivalled in the regattas of the time.
Diva is trimmed in varnished mahogany and rigged in Bermuda yawl. Its layout follows in the footsteps of the "Finisterre", whose first models date back to 1956. Of the 17 units produced, 9 were equipped with a daggerboard well, while the long keel, like that of the Diva, was adopted at a later date. Of the 60 or so models initially built, only 4 or 5 remain in the world. With the evolution of naval architecture a major preoccupation, Sparkman & Stephens supplied the plans, while individual owners customized the fittings by selecting quality materials.
It seems that Diva has never been raced since she was launched in 1963.
In 2019, it was bought by Eric Furet, who became its third owner. A native of Blois, Eric entered the world of sailing at an early age. During his long military service, he was posted to the French Navy in 1992, as a deckhand on Belle Poule. He then sailed on old rigs: Don du Vent, Étoile... His search for a sailboat suited to his needs, both for cruising and for engaging in sporting competitions, led him to find Diva in the Netherlands.
Discovered in the former Huisman workshops on the outskirts of Amsterdam, Diva is in a remarkable state of preservation, having been meticulously cared for by her two previous German and Dutch owners. Wintered in a heated shed, her coat is re-greened every year during the winter months.
Annual refit and rearmament
After his arrival in Saint-Malo in 2020, Eric Furet will continue to look after Diva, giving her annual maintenance at the Tanet shipyard in Mihinic-sur-Rance, which has specialized in wooden constructions since the 1980s. This maintenance is essential for this 60-year-old wooden sailboat, now classified as a Bateau d'Intérêt Patrimonial (BIP). As the seasons go by, Diva is brought up to date, with a refit of her fittings and sails to enable her to evolve during regattas. Marine carpentry work is also carried out. " The dark discolorations on the hull are the result of repairs carried out after the boat was hit. This is glued mahogany; there are no joints or caulking. The finish is perfect "underlines François Seguin, a friend of Eric's and boat captain of the Diva.
In 2024, new refurbishments were undertaken on the boat, including the installation of a larger spinnaker, a tape-hull staysail and a spinnaker staysail to make the most of her capabilities, in reference to her illustrious predecessors such as Dorade or Stormy Weather, by the same firm Sparkman & Stephens. Other elements have been reworked, as every detail counts: martyrs have been placed, with the reefing bumps cutting into the wood of the boom. '' Every year, it's all about doing a little explains Eric.
On site, the professionals are busy under his watchful eye. Together, they work on the jigs for integrating the stanchion bases into the rear balcony. '' Only 3 jewellers in France are trained to cast bronze'' says Eric, ''they were trained by the French Navy e''.
A proven boat
'' With crews boasting an impressive track record (America's Cup, Solitaire du Figaro, Round the World, transatlantic races, Olympics, Mini Transat, RORC Championship, French team...), Diva has distinguished itself in all the competitions in which it has been involved françois, who is also in charge of the yacht's public relations, explains. His sisterships often topped the podium in the Bermuda Race in the 1960s. So it had definite potential.
Eager to compete against a larger fleet in its class, Diva headed to southern Brittany in early June 2023 to take part in the Voiles de la Citadelle in Port Louis. The event brought together 32 competitors, including 4 of Eric Tabarly's Pen Duick boats. He distinguished himself with a fine victory. Diva went on to take first place in the Régate des Zèbres en Rance in May 2023. Finally, the Branle Bas de Régates in Saint-Malo, the flagship event of the corsair city celebrating its 85th anniversary in 2023, in mid-August, brought Diva's major racing program to a close. After four days of fierce competition between Saint-Malo, Les Hébihens, the Chausey Islands, Granville and Cancale, Diva once again put its name on the honor roll, narrowly edging out the runner-up, Patrice Ratzel's Ossian.
Reaffirmed sailing ambitions
Diva will set sail again on April 9 in Saint-Malo for a trial run. Eight crew members are expected to maneuver the boat, with all halyards at the mast foot.
'' Although it's not that heavy (10 tons), the Diva's light weight is a key consideration. However, this is a boat that requires a minimum of weight to perform at its best françois points out. For his part, Eric jokes: '' For the race, we'll take off the crystal glasses! If it saves us a few knots... anything goes! !''.
The rest of the program for 2024 is already well established. The boat will be refitted for weekend training sessions in the Bay of Saint-Malo, as well as for the Régate des Zèbres en Rance in June. For the future, a series of events is already planned: the Belle Plaisance in Bénodet in June, the Rassemblement de Brest in July, and the Branle Bas de Régates in Saint-Malo in August. Then, for the years to come, Diva is planning a season in English waters before heading back down to La Rochelle and the Mediterranean.
Eric has no intention of stopping there: in a few years' time, he's aiming to take part in the Transat Classique.
In Saint-Malo, if you hear about the "Diva of Cunningham", it's not because of the luff adjustment device. That's because Eric Furet is also the owner of a hotel-bar bearing the name ''Cunningham''. And guess what? The interior is a replica of the Diva!
