Clément Lelabousse, oceanographer for the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), specializes in the study of marine ecosystems in isolated areas. Based in the Indian Ocean, he has been carrying out missions for the past ten years aboard Antsiva, a 28-meter aluminum schooner-drifter anchored in Mahajanga, a port city on the northwest coast of Madagascar. For this scientist, Antsiva stands out for the versatility of her accommodations: originally designed for scientific research, she also offers cruising yachtsmen the opportunity to explore the remarkable seabed of the Mozambique Channel.
A comfortable on-board yachting experience
Originally designed for scientific exploration, Antsiva is a 28-metre aluminium dinghy fitted out for commercial use, and featuring a number of versatile features: " It's an expedition boat, but between two scientific missions, it also welcomes tourists on cruises" explains Clément, who is preparing for a new mission on board in a few weeks' time.
The yacht's numerous, well-thought-out layouts combine scientific research with passenger comfort. On board, passengers can take advantage of two large spaces adapted to both cruising and extended scientific missions: the first, bright and spacious, serves as a dining and living area, while the second, fitted out as a lounge with a library and comic-book library, offers a place to relax for readers of all ages.
Cabins with dressing areas, showers and WCs provide comfortable accommodation for every guest.
To ensure their total comfort, the boat is even equipped with a washing machine and a watermaker capable of producing 200 liters of fresh water per hour. At the stern, a large multi-purpose skirt offers a variety of uses: hang a hammock for a nap, take an outdoor shower or enjoy a swing.
Antsiva is also equipped with 3 rigid motorized tenders, ranging from 4 to 6 meters, adapted to the needs of the various users.
Accommodation is for 8 passengers, plus 4 crew members including the owners, Nicolas and his wife Anne Tisné, Alex Gaux, the second captain, and Odilon Tsiafara, a Malagasy sailor.
Explore Madagascar's unspoilt waters
Antsiva sails mainly in the north-west region of Madagascar. " It is a veritable hotspot of the world's marine biodiversity"
Aboard Antsiva, boaters can take advantage of the equipment available, provided they have the necessary certifications. Clément also points out the importance of being able to raise the boat's centerboard: an essential structural asset for navigating in mangroves.
The cruises offered cover an area stretching from Baie du Courrier in the north to Baie de Moramba in the south, an itinerary where yachtsmen have the opportunity to discover unique ecosystems, often inaccessible by traditional tourist circuits. Among the most remarkable sites, even if the choice is not easy, Clément recommends this zone: " If I had to name one place that comes to mind, it would be Moramba Bay. Between the Radama and Mahajanga islands, there's a large bay with Tsingy islets. It's a magnificent place" .
Robust scientific logistics
Antsiva stands out for the diversity of its cutting-edge scientific equipment, indispensable for oceanographic missions. To this end, the boat is equipped with multibeam echosounders for mapping the seabed, compressors for scientific diving, an underwater drone and even a hyperbaric chamber, a rare piece of equipment for a sailing vessel. " It's an indispensable safety tool for scientific diving missions; let's hope we don't have to use it." confides Clément, who is used to deep-sea dives for his research.
On the scientific front, everything has been thought through. Antsiva has a laboratory dedicated to analyzing the data collected at sea. " The laboratory is essential for our expeditions" he insists. " ."
With such a wide range of equipment on board, energy requirements can be considerable. A fact that doesn't seem to be a problem for Antsiva, which benefits from, as Clément points out, " remarkable autonomy" made possible by doubled equipment including emergency generators and compressors.
These robust logistical infrastructures make Antsiva a key player in large-scale scientific missions such as the "Récifs Isolés" program run by the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF), where Clément works. This project, which aims to assess the state of health of the coral reefs and associated ecosystems of the Éparses islands (Europa, Juan de Nova, Bassas da India and Glorieuses), is renewed every 5 years. Several campaigns at sea are therefore necessary to establish sustainable ecological monitoring of these territories. " The next mission is scheduled to take place between October and December 2024 "he explains. " We'll be embarking with several specialists on this expedition aboard Antsiva, chartered via a public contract. "This review is due in June 2025. " The results of this campaign will help to improve the management and preservation of the coral reefs of the Eparse Islands s", he explains, before adding that these ecosystems are of crucial importance for understanding the impacts of climate change, pollution and human exploitation.
A reduced ecological footprint
Unlike other scientific boats in the region, such as the Angra Pequena or the Curieuse, Antsiva saves thousands of liters of fuel on each mission thanks to its sail-powered propulsion. Although the dinghy doesn't run exclusively on sail, Clément, a committed advocate of more ecosystem-friendly navigation, points to its low carbon impact: an asset he considers major to the success of the scientific mission he has been assigned, particularly in this region of the Mozambique Channel where human impact must be reduced as much as possible to preserve the fragility of ecosystems.
Promoting respect for marine ecosystems
In the course of the scientific expeditions they have hosted on board, there's no doubt in the oceanographer's mind that the duo Anne and Nicolas, owners of Antsiva, have increased their knowledge of the complex dynamics involved in preserving marine ecosystems. An advantage that enables them to share this expertise with passengers, whether to observe the richness of coral reefs, fish responsibly or explore remote locations often inaccessible to other tourists, without harming biodiversity.