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The video focuses on an interview with Mathieu Feurprier, ship's captain with the Association Éric Tabarly. Shot in the hangar where Pen Duick II and Pen Duick V overwinter in Lorient, it shows how a heritage fleet remains active at sea.
A cross-functional role, between technology and crew
In the interview, Mathieu Feurprier describes a versatile job. He supervises annual boat maintenance, monitors construction sites, prepares the navigation season and recruits crews. His mission is not limited to technical matters.
We have to plan convoys, anticipate classic regattas in England or nautical events, and organize logistics. Each boat has its own captain and a sailor on civic service. Since 2017, these young embarked reinforce the crews and take part in routine maintenance.
For both professionals and yachtsmen involved in an association, maintenance reminds us of a simple reality: sailing a vintage yacht requires rigorous organization.
Maintain to navigate, not to expose
Mathieu Feurprier insists on one central point: the aim of the association is to get the Pen Duick sailing. Wintering in the hangar is just one stage. Careening, structural checks, deck and rigging monitoring - these operations prepare the way for the season.
Some boats remain afloat all year round, due to lack of hangar space. Others, like Pen Duick, which is being refitted in Brest for winter 2025/26, are undergoing heavier work. This differentiated management demonstrates the complexity of a fleet made up of vessels of varying sizes and designs.
For the navigator, the message is clear: a sailboat lives if it sails, but in return it requires precise monitoring.
Onboarding members: a controlled opening
The interview also touches on the role of members. The association functions thanks to them. In exchange for their membership fees, they can embark on convoying, regattas or day trips.
Mathieu Feurprier points out that not all profiles correspond to all programs. A delivery trip to England can take place upwind in 20 knots. This already requires solid experience. Other outings are more accessible.
This type of operation is of interest to yachtsmen looking to sail demanding craft without owning them. It also raises the question of transmission: how to train, supervise and empower crew members on sailing yachts with a strong character.
A route taken from the field
Finally, the video looks back at Mathieu Feurprier's career. After arriving in the early 2000s, initially as a volunteer, he discovered the world of classic sailboats before taking on more responsibility. Fifteen years on Pen Duick, then a move to Pen Duick II.
He takes a technical look at Pen Duick II, an ocean-going boat designed for single-handed sailing, easy to handle and still fast when compared with contemporary boats of comparable size. This analysis is of direct interest to sailors, as it shows that certain architectural choices made in the 1960s are still relevant at sea.
Through this interview, the video does more than simply evoke a heritage. It shows a living organization, structured around navigation, maintenance and the transmission of maritime know-how.
