An expedition to study biodiversity
At the end of March 2025, we set sail on Timayou for a 6500km expedition . We'll sail down the Danube to its delta, one of Europe's largest wetlands, before returning by sea. There, we'll be sampling microplastic to study its impact on biodiversity, which will be the subject of a documentary.
Etap 22, an all-terrain sailboat
As our sailing takes place between river and sea, we had to opt for an all-terrain sailboat. Finding a small houseboat that would meet our river and sea requirements was not an easy task. EURÊKA, after a few months of searching, we selected the Etap 22, with its lifting keel and unsinkable reputation. So much the better!
We bought Timayou in the small Italian port of Maurice. In addition to being habitable, its overall length is no more than 6.60 m, perfect for maneuverability in a river. Thanks to its lifting keel, we'll be able to get close to the banks of the Danube, and film the birds of the Danube Delta up close. On the way back, we'll enjoy the safety of a ballasted keelboat in the blue of the Mediterranean, on which we'll sail all the way to Marseille.
Easy demasting and masting
Anchorage - in inland waters, anchorage is the depth of water available for a boat - is not the only variable to take into account when sailing on the Danube: sailing on a river also forces us to lay down the mast several times a week in order to pass bridges! And just as well, since the Etap22 is fitted with a tipping mast on binoculars. It's a rather long and perilous maneuver, but one we've trained ourselves for.
A mandatory engine
We'll also come across more than 15 locks on our journey, which are strictly forbidden to sail through. A good engine is therefore essential, if you don't want to be jolted by the barges. In our case, we have a Mercury 9.9 hp 2-stroke. If the engine exceeds 6 hp, you'll need a coastal and river license. But we've also fitted two coamings, so that we can move noiselessly - and without polluting! - as we approach wilderness areas.
In search of autonomy
As you can see, the Timayou meets all our sailing requirements. Now that we have confidence in our faithful steed, let's see how we're going to live on it? In 4 months of work, we had to fit her out: plumbing, electricity, kitchen... Eight months of sailing in partial autonomy VS a day out with the family doesn't require the same equipment. We have to swap the picnic bag for strategic food reserves, and the mask and snorkel for a solar shower. Always with the aim of saving as much space as possible!
Fresh water on board
What are the right choices for sufficient autonomy on a boat? The first step is to identify your needs. Every crew will have a different answer, and that's why our installation can't be a panacea for everyone!
We began by looking at our water autonomy. By splitting our use into two (drinking water and clean sanitary water), we control the quality of the water we drink. Then we determined how often we could refuel. We estimate our consumption of drinking water at 3 liters a day, and clean water at 10 liters a day. To sum up, with a 20-liter transportable can of drinking water and a 70-liter freshwater tank, we should be able to sail for a week!
Electricity needs
Making an ornithological documentary, the question of electrical autonomy became a major issue. The navigation equipment (autopilot, GPS tablet) and audiovisual equipment (camera, drone) are power-hungry, so we had to anticipate a means of production on the boat. After calculating our daily requirements, we opted for 100A of storage in a lithium battery (more expensive, but much more cost-effective in terms of weight, space and energy). On the production side, we bought 160w solar panels, with an average production of 9 A/h on our 12v grid. A nice sunny day should allow us to fill up! The panels are mounted on a stainless steel support that can be adjusted on the stern rail, giving us free passage on the boat (Photo 3)
The expedition we've decided to undertake has forced us to rack our brains a little to meet the challenges of navigation and autonomy. Between administrative formalities and technical adjustments, we're now ready to take on the Danube meanders!
