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The Brest 2024 maritime celebrations gave us the opportunity to meet Mathieu Goraguer and Iris Cordeau, passionate sailors for whom time is no object and who have demonstrated that patience pays off. As proof, it took them almost 7 years to refurbish Basile, a 14.5-meter schooner designed by Michel Joubert, which enjoyed polar adventures combining ice axes and sailing in the 70s. If today this boat, recognized for its heritage interest, has been transformed into a cruising school, it's thanks to the sustained efforts of its new owners and a whole band of volunteers driven by a surge of collective solidarity. Alongside Mathieu, his partner Iris shares with us the story and some photographs of their achievements.
How did your project to renovate this boat come about?
Mathieu was originally looking for a boat. Not just any boat, but one capable of going into the ice. He'd always wanted to go out to sea to meet people and talk with them, with the idea of bartering pancakes! The two of us met a little before he found the boat. That's when Halvard Mabire, president of the Class 40, told him to come and see Basile in Barnevile-Carteret, Normandy. At first glance, Mathieu thought it was too big and ended up leaving. On his return, he began to do some research on Basile. Finally, he asked the second owner if he could come aboard. That's when Mathieu was won over. His great aunt had left him 20,000 euros to buy a boat. The owner agreed to let him have the boat at this advantageous price, despite its higher market value - I'd say in the region of 30,000 or even 40,000 euros. Basile was brought back to Brest, taken out of the water, and it was there that the renovation work began. She had never really been serviced, just routine maintenance. And it's when you take things apart that you discover other problems... Mathieu had planned for 1 year of work, but in the end it took 5 years, 7 years in all.
What were the renovation stages?
We started by completely emptying the boat in the first year to inspect the bare steel hull and check its general condition, as this material is prone to rust. Overall, it wasn't in too bad a shape.
First of all, we renovated the bow section by adding a watertight bulkhead. The deck layout was slightly modified, and all chainplates and cleats were welded to avoid the use of bolted parts wherever possible.
We kept a lot of the original fittings. After all the welding work, we were able to sandblast the hull, then coat it with two-component epoxy paints. The insulation was also completely redone with sprayed cork and expanded cork sheets, which prevents condensation from forming.
The special feature of this boat is its 5-ton lifting keel, where all the ballast is concentrated, with nothing in the bottom of the boat.
A 1200-liter fuel tank is also integrated into this keel. When the keel is raised, the draught is only 1 meter, allowing the boat to run aground. It took us 3 months to inspect the whole system because of the seized cones. A each time, we had to check lots of little things like that...
Initially, we didn't know much about boat renovation, although Mathieu had a little more experience, without being a specialist.
He had taken a vocational baccalaureate in marine mechanics before becoming a sports educator, and had always loved tinkering with boats. Living by the sea, we were used to sailing, even if our boats weren't very big. The renovations were made possible thanks to the invaluable help of volunteers, who contributed their specific skills. We were fortunate to benefit from the assistance of some thirty volunteers aged from 18 to 80, first Mathieu's friends, then people we met on the quayside, who spontaneously offered to help us. Later, we used Facebook to expand our support network.
As for the boat's fittings, each piece of wood was labelled for renovation and replacement. Jean-Yves Dubois, Loïc and Bertrand's brother, took care of them in St Lunaire, in the workshop where they had been built in 1976. The front part of the boat was reassembled identically.
In 2020, work began on the rear of the boat. The fittings were emptied and a cabin was built aft of the deck, with the aim of redoing the cockpit, the companionway and building a rigid steel canopy. At the time, there was no protection at the bow, which meant that sailors setting off on expeditions had to face the sea! This boiler-making work took many months...
The engine cradle was also modified to accommodate a new engine, a brand-new 65-hp Vetus. The rudder was redesigned and custom-built. A gantry with davit and solar panel support was added, and we installed a wind turbine. As a result, we're self-sufficient in energy with a 24V, 12V and 220V circuit, and we also have a 700-liter water reserve.
After all these modifications, the stern of the boat received the same treatment as the bow: sandblasting, painting and insulation. We then reassembled some fittings and rebuilt others in line with the changes made: a new cockpit and the addition of a bathroom. After cleaning and a few adjustments, the masts were put back in place, followed by exterior painting.
Finally, we were able to put her back in the water in October 2022. In the near future, we'll be installing a furling sail on the bow. Our current sails are worn out and need changing. Facnord offered us a furler, so we might as well install a sail that goes with it.
What are your future ambitions for the boat?
Since the launch, we've sailed mainly in Finistère. We've launched a cruising school for the summer of 2023, departing from Brest or Bénodet, to explore the Mer d'Iroise, the Glénan, Groix and so on. We stayed in Brittany because there were still some adjustments to be made once the boat was back in the water. With our STAPS degrees, we can introduce people to sailing up to 200 miles from the coast. We offer an introduction to sailing and nature, which attracts people new to sailing who want to discover new experiences. They can disembark to explore the area, or use the paddleboards for a stroll.
They take part in the maneuvers and enjoy some time to discover Brittany. We'd like to combine activities as we practice different sports. For example, we've organized a sailing and rock-climbing trip.
Perhaps in the future, we'll consider sailing and skiing trips to Norway. The idea is to return to the poles and to Saint-Pierre et Miquelon, where Mathieu spent part of his childhood.
Basile's interior is truly comfortable and functional, with the aft section comprising the saloon, kitchen, chart table and bathroom. At the bow, we find the sleeping quarters with two bunk beds and a single bed in the engine room, as well as a double bed. The double cabin aft is reserved for us, as we live aboard.
It's tiring to systematically take people out to sea, let's face it, but that's only part of the year. As sports educators, what we love is sharing, meeting people and exchanging ideas with them.
For the moment, we're not yet making a living from the cruising school. This winter, we've been working. In high season, we may be able to earn a little money for 2-3 months, but it'll be small wages. We'll have to work again next winter, but we hope to be able to make a living from it little by little!
