A sporting life in Mediterranean regattas
In 1974, Gaston Defferre ordered a yacht designed for competition. All the sailboats built by this sailor-politician would be named Palynodie. This will be the 6th of its kind. Based on the same hull as the Swan 48, this Sparkman and Stephens design features a totally flush deck. For its restoration, the last owner chose to cover it in teak. At the time, it was just painted. Her track record, marked by prestigious victories, notably at the Giraglia, bears witness to her performance. These early racing years shaped the ship's aura.
Humanitarian and educational missions
In 1980, Gaston Deferre sold the boat to the Glénans sailing school (500,000 francs at the time) for the Paimpol and Concarneau bases. But the 15-meter sailboat was expensive to maintain, with 16 headsails including 7 spinnakers on board (7 spinnakers: the large and small triradial, the large and small with nozzles, the large and small starcut and the storm spinnaker. In addition, there are 3 genoas of different sizes and weights, 2 staysails, 2 yankees, 1 big boy and 1 storm jib)! Around 1986, the sailing school sold her to a yachtsman who transformed Palynodie 6 into a cruising yacht. In 1995, Stéphane Mingueneau bought her to join his Seanergies Océanes fleet. For the next two decades, Palynodie 6 was used to support educational and scientific projects. Her record is impressive: ten Atlantic crossings, over forty Mediterranean sailings!
Meticulous restoration for a new lease of life
From 2020 to 2023, the Palynodie 6 will undergo an in-depth restoration, entrusted to professionals to honor her heritage. Sandblasting, engine and electrical system replacement, new upholstery and fittings... Everything has been rethought to put the yacht back in racing configuration, with a touch of modernity and aesthetics. The teak deck gives the yacht the elegance it needs to compete on the classic Mediterranean circuit.
Despite its 50 years, this sturdy AG4 aluminum hull is still incredibly youthful. Stéphane Mingueneau explains: " Gaston Defferre, with his support, had asked Pechiney to deliver aluminum sheet from the same bath, which is very rare. Today, this boat doesn't have an electrolysis tip. The bottoms are incredibly clean. What's more, the sheet metal work carried out by the ACNAM shipyard in Marseille is so clean that the boat doesn't need heavy coats of coating. We've now epoxied the hull, and there are no screws running through the deck. All fittings are now mounted on plates welded to the deck, giving access to the screws. "
In terms of fittings, this yacht has almost regained its former charm in its racing version. It has 8 berths and the possibility of seating 12 around the saloon table. " The incredible thing about this yacht is that all the weights are centered at the foot of the mast. The engine is just above the keel, with the batteries and water tanks on either side, which can be used as ballast tanks. "
Back to the starting lines
In 2025, the Palynodie 6 is set to be awarded the "bateau d'intérêt patrimonial" (BIP) label. This recognition underlines her role in French maritime history, as a witness to an era and a symbol of remarkable naval know-how. Now based in Toulon, the restored sloop is looking forward to a return to the classic regatta circuit. All that's missing is a new set of sails for this monument to once again shine on the circuit.
