Christine and Jean-Louis have no mischief in classifying themselves as neophyte sailors. If they're sailing today with a fine wake behind them, it's to make a dream come true. Their dream is to sail together around the world. Jean-Louis admits to having had this dream since childhood. But life decided otherwise. And it was only after the Covid episode that he set off, accompanied by Christine.
An opportunity full of surprises
To set sail, the couple bought an Océanis 430. This 12.60 m sailboat makes no secret of its age. It dates back to 1991. Today, looking back, Christine and Jean-Louis feel they've been swindled. In fact, the purchase was scheduled for July 2021, with a view to a rapid departure. But discovering the condition of the yacht and wanting to put it in their hands would take time. In the autumn of 2024, they will finally set sail... after 3 years of work!
A dry site
Bought in Arzal, Océanis 430, christened Niué, has osmosis on the hull. Jean-Louis therefore began scraping the entire hull to allow it to dry out, and the boat would remain dry for 9 months before receiving an anti-osmosis treatment: " When you're plastering and sanding, you think that a 6-metre boat isn't bad either, "jokes Jean-Louis.
Teak deck to be changed
The deck, with its teak-covered gangways, is also to be replaced. This will be done with cork slats, which offer the appearance of wood, but above all provide thermal insulation. On the deckhouse sections, Jean-Louis has found a non-slip sprayed cork. " In use, it's really comfortable and holds up very well over time "he explains.
Redesigned cabins and saloon
But it was above all in the area of fittings that the couple were heavily involved. Having spent his life as an interior carpenter, Jean-Louis knows a thing or two about closets and galleys. The couple wanted a boat to live aboard, with comfort and storage for long-distance cruising. So he starts by rethinking the forward cabin, the owner's cabin: "I'm going to make it more comfortable Originally, it had an angled bed on the port side, little storage space and a lot of wasted space. I took it all apart, insulated it and installed a large 140 x 200 cm bed in the center. On either side, I created storage space with closets and drawers" says Jean-Louis.
After that, he tackled the kitchen. When he dismantled the broken-down fridge that opened from the top, he discovered completely moldy partitions. So he decided to take the whole thing apart. It would be the entire square that would be overhauled. " We opted for a central island that allows you to pass around it to reach the front without getting in each other's way. The fold-out table is attached to the island. On starboard, a single berth can double up when the table is lowered. This is where we slept when sailing, to stay close to the descent. "
Brand-new networks
Of course, each of these changes is made by modifying all the networks: " I rewired the entire electrical system, changing all the wires. Ditto for the water, the pipes and all the valves. "
In the end, it's the aft cabins that have undergone the fewest modifications. For all that, the port cabin is reserved for Christine and her sewing accessories, with new storage space, while the starboard cabin is more like a workshop for Jean-Louis' tools Today I use it for storage, but it's always possible to put the cushion back on and put this cab back into operation. "
As far as engines are concerned, the Yanmar 55 hp of this Océanis received a complete overhaul, including replacement of the turbo, which was showing signs of age. Today, the engine has reached 5000 hours.
An imposing hard top
But there's an impressive piece on deck. Christine wanted to sail with protection. So Jean-Louis built her a highly protective hard top. Made from polyester with wood reinforcements, it runs right up to the helm station. " The entire cockpit is protected, but the helmsman, behind the wheel, can still see his sails. "The dog house also supports 4 x 200 W solar panels. It has also been designed to collect rainwater directly from tanks containing 600 liters.
Make way for navigation
Once the huge 3-year project to bring this cruiser back to life had been completed, Christine and Jean-Louis set sail. Their only nautical experience had been outings off Pornic on a friend's sailboat. Now based in Arzal, they'll be taking advantage of the Vilaine to train. Jean-Louis explains: " The difficulty with a sailboat is maneuvering under motor. We got the hang of it on the river. With sailing, we learned by doing, by feeling the boat. We even crossed the Bay of Biscay without an autopilot. I'm not taking any risks, as I'm probably going slower than the boat's potential. But we made it to the other side. "
A beautiful transatlantic
Indeed, during the winter of 2024/25, Nuié passed through the Canaries, Cape Verde to finish the transatlantic race in Martinique. But once in the West Indies, Christine and Jean-Louis realized that they had realized their dream. Now they want to do other things, especially enjoy their family and grandchildren. With many new projects in mind, they put their Océanis 430 up for sale. Discover this sailboat at Le Marin and in the Bateaux.com classified ads. The sale price has been set on the basis of an expert appraisal, and Jean-Louis is ready to pass on his knowledge of his Nuié, which he now knows inside out.
