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Training for liveaboard sailing often begins with a fundamental choice: the boat. In Plestin les Grèves, on the north coast of Brittany, the BordeTaVoile project is entering its concrete phase with the launch of the construction of a 9-meter aluminum school sailboat, designed from the outset to teach coastal cruising.
A sailing school designed for demanding waters
The future BordeTaVoile sailboat is designed by ?uvres Vives Architecture Navale, with clear specifications. To offer a robust and forgiving habitable unit, capable of sailing all year round between the Bay of Morlaix and the Bay of Lannion.
This stretch of water, marked by currents, pebbles and changing weather conditions, calls for a sound, predictable boat capable of withstanding repeated maneuvers. The sailboat is not designed for pure performance, but for transmission, progress and safety, essential criteria in a pedagogical context.
The choice of aluminum for durability
The material chosen structures the entire project. The hull is made of aluminum, a conscious choice for a boat destined to be sailed frequently, with a variety of crews, some of them beginners. Aluminum is shock-resistant, tolerant of light groundings and easy to operate over the long term.
The sheets used incorporate up to 70% recycled aluminum. They were shipped from Dunkirk, laser-cut in Sizun, and then delivered to Bord à Bord, the assembly yard in Plestin les Grèves. A short, local production chain, in keeping with the spirit of the project.
A boat designed as an educational tool
At 9 meters, the yacht offers sufficient volume to accommodate training crews, while remaining maneuverable with a reduced crew. The advertised program covers introductory and advanced cruising, right up to first coastal regattas.
The aim is not just to learn how to steer or trim sails, but to pass on the basics of self-sufficiency at sea. Preparing the boat, harbor maneuvers, reading the weather forecast, sailing without an engine, managing the crew and the rhythm on board. The boat becomes an all-encompassing learning tool, as close as possible to the yachtsman's reality.
Local construction at the heart of the project
Construction of the yacht is taking place entirely in Brittany, at Bord à Bord in Plestin les Grèves. After several months of design, the first aluminum parts are now being assembled, marking the visible start of construction.
The project involves opening up the shipyard to visitors, allowing them to follow the construction process before the boat is launched. It's a way of making the process clearer, but also of showing in concrete terms what the birth of a boat represents, from the first sheets to the sailboat ready to sail.
A boat for a cruising school
BordeTaVoile is positioned as a coastal sailing school open to all, with short formats - half-days, evenings, courses - adapted to today's time constraints. The sailboat is designed to welcome sailors without a boat, with family, friends or solo.
The approach also includes a social dimension, with the aim of offering accessible sailing to medical and social structures. A crowdfunding campaign has been announced to complete the safety equipment and work with a local sailmaker.
