Mathéo traveled on a sailboat with his parents, including a transatlantic race. He then trained with his 2 cousins, even owning a 5.50 m sailboat between them. Based in Noirmoutier, they explored the surrounding area, gaining in nautical skills and sailboat management. This time, however, the thesis project could not be combined with the trio's ambitions. So Mathéo had to find his own boat.
Looking for an elegant sailboat
For his choice, Mathéo is looking for a sailboat, less than 10 m long, as this not only fits his budget, but will also enable him to sail solo. But this sailboat will have to be beautiful: " For my choice, I am guided by the beauty of the lines "he explains I like sailboats designed in the 70s, elegant and low to the water. "
He discovered Argo in a classified ad on LeBonCoin. " This Tartan 30, a Sparkman and Stepeen design, is exactly what I'm looking for. The ad was quite succinct, with very little description. The boat was advertised as being in Bordeaux. Finally, on contacting the seller, I discovered that the boat was in Barbate, in the very south of Spain, with an unusual history. For although the contact is French, it is in fact an American sailboat sold by a French intermediary, but currently owned by a Spanish shipyard where it is on dry dock! "After a short 5-minute visio aboard the sailboat, Mathéo didn't hesitate any longer: he booked a ticket to Seville, rented a car and, after a 2.5-hour drive, found himself at the foot of Argo.
A sailboat with a history
Argo is an American sailboat that enabled a very young 16-year-old American, Cal Currier, to cross the Atlantic single-handed from the United States to Europe. After a 24-hour stopover in the Azores, he finished his transatlantic crossing in Portugal after 28 days at sea. Accompanied by his father this time, he continued the journey, hoping to reach Greece. But the orcas in the Strait of Gibraltar decided otherwise, attacking Argo's rudder one evening at 11 pm off Barbate. It was in this port that the boat, which no longer had a rudder, was towed out of the water. Rather than carry out the repairs, estimated at ?7,000 by the local shipyard, the young American preferred to sell the boat back to the shipyard for ?5,000 and return home. In the end, the yard carried out the work and sold Argo back to Mathéo for ?14,000.
A sailboat prepared for the open sea
Mathéo discovers a sailboat perfectly suited to offshore sailing. Well-prepared by her previous owner, she is especially designed for single-handed sailing. It features a windvane gear, autopilot, solar panels... If the work carried out on board has been designed for practicality, aesthetics are of little importance, with visible electrical cables running through the cockpit. But the yacht has been modified to facilitate navigation. The sail plan has been redesigned to transform it into a cutter with a solent and a yankee, both furling. The cockpit winches have even been moved to the center of the boat, to avoid bending over when tucking in. Of course, all maneuvers are refocused on the deckhouse piano.
An invigorating grip
Mathéo has no regrets about his purchase. In March 2024, he'll be launching his boat to sail to Le Grau du Roi from southern Spain. The 800-mile cruise will often take place in very strong winds. Argo and her crew even finished with more than 40 knots (fortunately downwind). What's more, the boat's average speeds put a smile on its new captain's face. Mathéo is reassured that Argo is a fast, seaworthy boat!
A program around the Atlantic
Now based in Le Grau du Roi, Mathéo will be able to prepare his sailboat, giving it a thorough overhaul, mainly of the engine and rigging, before casting off in September. Target Porto Santo, north of Madeira, to test the use of Argo as a laboratory for his geography thesis. This will be followed by a two-year Atlantic loop to visit Europe's overseas territories.
