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My name is Nicolas Granovsky. I?ve been sailing my whole life, starting out on my father?s boats: the Arpège, the Dufour 34, and then the Chassiron GT. Later, I had the opportunity to spend two years traveling on the Rara Avis and the Bel Espoir for a transatlantic crossing, on a Hanse 342 from Venice around the Peloponnese and back to Croatia. Finally, on a Garcia 62 from Turkey to Brazil.
A streamlined set of specifications
In late April 2024, after returning from a cruise on a friend's boat, I decided to find my own " divorce settlement ". A beautiful sailboat on a tight budget. The search criteria are simple, with a limited set of requirements, but constrained by the available budget. I have 6k? available, including any potential repairs. The sailboat should be about 10 meters long, offer enough space for at least four people, and be seaworthy, high-performing, simple, and sturdy.
I know this budget opens up some interesting possibilities based on two criteria: projects I can tackle on my own, and an enthusiast who, due to his age, needs to find a new owner and is eager to pass on his boat properly.
A Nichloson 33 is coming soon
I came across the ad on the day it was published. " Alibi ", a Nicholson33, 3/4-tonner designed by Ron Holland. Listed for sale at ?4,500 at Minihic-sur-Rance. I?ll be on board the day after tomorrow. In addition to its recent VHF and AIS equipment, it?s generally well-equipped and in good overall condition. The full-batten mainsail is in very good condition, and I have five headsails, including a nearly new tri-radial genoa.
The main problem is the engine. The owner tells me that it only starts with the Start Pilot. He says that his usual boatyard on the Rance River gave him a quote of 15k? for a new engine, and he doesn't feel ready to take the plunge.
A short sail on the Rance under a Solent sail, all by myself, and I?m struck by the serenity this sailboat exudes. It seems to be 5 meters longer?it cuts through the water with such determination. It was love at first sight. I?ll take the chance. I?m hooked anyway. And at that price, I?m not taking any big risks.
I'll take it!
I'm buying this boat without doing a lot of research. I'm relying on trust and intuition, based on the reputation of its designer and the original shipyard, whose motto was " Camper & Nicholson was designing exceptional boats 100 years before Rolls & Royce began manufacturing the world's finest cars "
It?s May 1st, and I?m committing to this. I?m letting the boat?s former owner keep it until the end of June so he can sell it. It?s a gamble?it?ll either work out or it?ll be complicated. I have part of July to get it back in the water and in working order before my vacation with my sons in early August.
Construction and Launching
The boat was taken out of the water at Chantier Grand Val, and I found it out of the water in early July to begin the work. First off, the underwater hull is in good condition. The hull is sound; you can tell the boat has indeed been well maintained. Inside, there were no unpleasant surprises; the boat will only need a few cosmetic touches and some comfort upgrades for future cruises.
I?m testing the engine, following a lead pointing to a lack of compression. First big break: the boat is designed so that the engine is extremely accessible and doesn?t need to be removed to be opened up. Second piece of good luck: it?s a Yanmar YS12, a basic single-cylinder engine. I had an YS8 on my previous Sangria, and I know a great guy?a highly skilled and knowledgeable mechanic who specializes in old Yanmars?right nearby in La Richardais.
I start disassembling the engine step by step, from the simplest parts to the heaviest. The cylinder head, the valves. Disassembly, cleaning, compression test?everything?s OK. The fuel injector? It?s spraying well?the flow is a bit uneven, but steady. So I pull out the cylinder? The verdict is in: the piston is broken between the rings. I?ve never seen or heard of anything like this before. It?s surely the result of the Start Pilot.
Hours of research and the generosity of certain repair shops and enthusiasts who keep parts?now impossible to find?on hand just in case have paid off. I found a piston. It?s used, but it?s still a good one. I replaced the connecting rod bearings and all the gaskets, installed new piston rings, and thoroughly cleaned the cooling system, the starter, and the oil system.
I?ll skip over the mishaps involving the crankshaft bolt that broke because I didn?t read the torque wrench instructions carefully, or the rusty sniffer that broke the day before we were set to launch the boat again. We replaced them by pulling them from a wreck?they were the last remaining parts! Luck is on our side with this project. I?d also like to give a special thanks to DAM, which still supplies parts for these antique engines!
The fuel pump is secured with straps at the last minute, just before it becomes impossible to launch the boat again for 15 days and I end up missing the planned cruise with my sons.
It's bobbing on the water, the engine purring?or rather, backfiring, just as it should. My first night, alone at anchor on my boat. The silence after the battle, the calm before the adventure...
Out of the Rance River and on our way!
The next day, I passed the Rance Dam on my way to the relaunch of Alibi?a name she should never have borne, an insult to her history. She was named Alibi to secure a berth for one of her former owners. I renamed it Seabird, after the song by the Alessi Brothers.
I discover a lively, powerful, fast boat?a racehorse set free?that I take out to the Ebihens for its ?maiden voyage? with some friends.
Then I weighed anchor for a tour of Brittany?from St. Cast, Paimpol, Roscoff, Ouessant, Loctudy, Groix, Belle-Île, and Port Navalo to Vannes?with my sons and Rufus, and then back alone via Vannes, Roscoff, and Cherbourg, Le Havre, its new home port. A magnificent voyage, brimming with beauty, happiness, wonder?everything that makes being at sea such a joy.
On to the next chapter!
Here comes September and its gray Paris. The boat is in Le Havre, and I go there as often as I can. And the idea of continuing its revival is taking shape. And why not compete in the 2025 Fastnet? Two sister ships won the 1975 and 2005 editions. Wouldn?t it be a nice way to thumb our noses at the modern ?grasshoppers??to return to the race for the boat?s 50th anniversary and the race?s centennial?
As we begin 2025, it?s official: the boat has been registered. Now we just need to find partners to strengthen the project and give our future partners the opportunity to embrace the values of resilience, determination, maritime tradition, and?above all?enjoyment!
