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Built in a garden in British Columbia, the trimaran Amiliee was found dismasted and half-submerged after a long drift across the Pacific. Here's a look back at the sad epilogue to a masterfully executed amateur build.
Rigorous amateur construction by John in British Columbia
The trimaran Amilie was launched in 2019 in Ladysmith, on the Canadian coast. At the helm of the project, John, an amateur builder, has devoted almost five years full-time to the boat's construction.
The basis is a design by Kurt Hughes, a well-known architect in the field of fast multihulls. The original design, a Hughes 40, is here shortened to 35 feet.
Despite John's status as an amateur builder, the level of craftsmanship is remarkable. The construction combines structural foam and fiberglass lamination, with carbon reinforcements on stressed areas, notably the link arms. Cedar strip planking completes the package, all assembled with epoxy resin.
The result is a displacement of close to 4.5 tonnes at launch, consistent with a fast-cruising program with a wing mast.
Resale forced by health reasons
But John's plans for the boat come to an abrupt halt. John decides to sell Amiliee for health reasons.
And this is a sensitive point for this type of project. An amateur-built multihull, even a well-made one, relies on a detailed knowledge of its structures, tolerances and possible limits.
The transition to a new owner implies a complete handover, with a careful reading of the systems, from centerboard to masthead. Without this continuity, certain weak points may be overlooked.
A break in the rudder with the new owner
Even before setting off on the delivery trip with its new skipper, a weakness was identified in the rudder. Despite this discovery, the crew set sail.
80 miles off Oregon, the rudder gives way. The crew asked to be evacuated. However, the area was still accessible for assistance. A tow or outside intervention was still possible, provided a reliable position could be transmitted.
The crew was recovered unharmed, but the trimaran was abandoned with no usable tracking device. No active AIS, no EPIRB to track the vessel.
A long drift to Hawaiian waters
On April 28, the US Coast Guard finally spotted Amiliee some 150 miles south of Hawaii's Big Island. The trimaran was dismasted and partially submerged.
Amilee drifted alone across the Pacific for several months. Despite the damage, buoyancy remains assured. The floats retain sufficient volume to keep the boat afloat, proof that the reserve buoyancy was correctly dimensioned at the time of construction.
A case in point
Amilie's story highlights several technical and practical points.
Quality of construction is not enough without follow-up over time. The acquisition of an amateur build requires special attention, even if production boats have also lost their rudders in the past.
Amilee crossed the Pacific alone, proving once again the value of a multihull, whether catamaran or trimaran. Even when flooded with water, it continues to float. A good example of this is the story of sailor Charline Picon, whose Outremer continued to float even after one of the hulls was completely flooded.
Finally, the absence of a beacon or active positioning quickly turns an incident into a definitive abandonment.
