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Some boats go down in history just as others sail the oceans. Damien, built in 1968, accompanied two young Frenchmen, aged just 22, on an unusual planetary adventure. Neither record-breakers nor sporting wagers, but a free trajectory from Spitsbergen to Antarctica, via the Amazon River. This story, both technical and human, is one of the great pages of ocean-going yachting.
A 10-metre boat designed for the unknown
Damien is a Marconi sloop-rigged monohull yacht based on plans by English architect Robert Tucker. Measuring 10.10 meters long and with a displacement of 5 tons, she is built in molded wood (four plies of 5 mm mahogany) at the Nautic Saintonge shipyard in Saujon (17). Its design favors simplicity, solidity and lightness, with a beam of 3.08 meters and a draft of 1.45 meters. It is ballasted to 1.6 tons and powered by a 15-hp Couach BD2 engine.
Originally, it was designed to carry three people independently in isolated areas. There are no watertight bulkheads or life rafts on board at the outset. Navigation is based on the basics: watch, compass, sextant and paper charts. No GPS, no VHF radio.
A route far removed from conventional itineraries
The start was given in May 1969 in La Rochelle, despite a sailing authorization limited to 30 miles from the coast. Gérard and Jérôme headed north. The crew reached Bergen, then Spitsbergen, crossing Lofoten and Tromsø. At 80° north latitude, Damien becomes one of the smallest yachts to have sailed so far into the Arctic.
The journey back south takes them through Iceland, Greenland, Newfoundland, then the American East Coast. From there, they head for the West Indies, where a series of problems arise: illness, accident, departure of a crew member, theft on board. But the goal remained: the Amazon.
A thousand miles against the current on the Amazon
After passing through the islands of Salut and Kourou, Damien entered the Amazon network. The yacht spends several months sailing in freshwater, between isolated villages and inaccessible forests. Near Oriximiná, the anchorage on Lake Sapucuá becomes a haven of peace. Gérard takes on the role of "bush doctor", using the on-board medical kit. An experience he later recounts in Atalaya, a season in the Amazon .
The crew is warmly welcomed by the local population and receives material support. For the two navigators, it's a moment of humanity even more than navigation.
From Patagonia to dismasting in South Georgia
From Brazil, Damien heads south. Ushuaia becomes the last port of call before entering the Howling Fifties. The passage around Cape Horn is from east to west, against the prevailing winds. But it's between the sub-Antarctic islands and South Georgia that Damien faces his toughest test.
Three capsizes, 70-knot winds, one dismasting, two men trapped in the overturned hull... The mast was recovered, a makeshift rig set up with a spinnaker pole, and Damien made it to Grytviken.
There, with the help of the British Antarctic Survey, they repaired, installed a new mast and set off again, this time for South Africa.
En route to Antarctica
After an overhaul in Cape Town, they set off again for Antarctica, via the Crozet, Kerguelen, Heard and Macquarie islands. In Tahiti, they meet Bernard Moitessier. They then headed south.
In 37 days, Damien covered 4,500 miles to reach Adelaide Island, south of the Antarctic Circle. It's the first time such a small sailboat has landed so far south. After a detour via the South Shetland Islands and another passage through South Georgia, Damien begins the climb back towards Argentina and Brazil.
Back to La Rochelle on September 22, 1973. The circle is complete.
A philosophy of life more than a feat
During this 55,000-mile round-the-world trip, there were no sponsors, no brands. Gérard and Jérôme built their project themselves, with the help of other enthusiasts. The sailboat was their way of being free, not a pretext for glory.
They then went their separate ways to pursue this life at sea. Jérôme returned to the Falkland Islands, where he still lives. Gérard continued sailing, notably with Kotick (ex Damien III).
Damien, for his part, has had varying fortunes, culminating in abandonment.
Rescue, restoration and return to the sea
Classified as a historic monument in 2002, Damien was saved in extremis thanks to the Association des Amis du Musée Maritime de La Rochelle. Restored between 2012 and 2019, with the support of the DRAC, the city and patrons, she was relaunched on September 18, 2019, at the Grand Pavois.
Since then, he has been sailing again, alongside the Joshua de Moitessier, with members of the association. An educational and heritage project that goes beyond mere conservation.
Damien sets sail again in 2026, following in the footsteps of the original voyage
Half a century after his round-the-world voyage, Damien is preparing to cast off once again. In April 2026, the famous ten-meter cutter will leave La Rochelle for a new expedition called Let's talk Damien . The aim is to replay the major stages of Gérard Janichon and Jérôme Poncet's voyage, from Spitzbergen to the Falklands via Amazonia.
This time, Damien will be joined by a new crew: Mehdi Cammoun, Capucine Treffot and Sacha Felletig. The project is supported by the association of the same name, with a strong desire to pass on the "Damien spirit" to younger generations. Jérôme Poncet, now settled in the Falklands, is looking forward to seeing his old companion again, for a final salute.
The voyage, conceived as a collective adventure, will combine ocean navigation, human encounters, artistic and scientific projects. It is also a tribute to Gérard Janichon, who passed away before this second departure. The association is launching a call for participation to bring on board, in the broadest sense, all those who wish to bring this new maritime epic to life.
Watch the itinary of Damien's first trip in the video below:
