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From September 22 to 27, 2026, visitors to the Grand Pavois La Rochelle will be able to see Pen Duick, Pen Duick II, Pen Duick III, and Pen Duick V side by side in the Heritage & Craftsmanship area, at the end of Pier 7. Beyond the heritage value of this exhibition, this gathering offers a unique perspective on the evolution of naval architecture, ocean racing, and the transmission of maritime knowledge through the work of Éric Tabarly.
Four Sailing Yachts to Understand the Evolution of Offshore Racing
Gathered together in the same basin, these four boats tell the story of nearly a century of evolution in recreational and competitive boating.
Pen Duick marks the beginning of this story. Built in 1898 by the Fife shipyard, this wooden gaff-rigged cutter accompanied Éric Tabarly on his first steps at sea. It embodies an era when recreational sailing still relied heavily on traditional craftsmanship and classic rigging.
With the Pen Duick II, launched in 1964, the landscape changed radically. The plywood ketch was designed for the solo Transat Anglaise. Its victory in the 1964 race from Plymouth to Newport marked a major turning point. For many maritime historians, this crossing helped to permanently popularize offshore racing among the French general public.
Pen Duick III, launched in 1967, marked the beginning of a new era. Its design, proportions, and aluminum construction signaled the arrival of a generation of sailboats designed primarily for high-seas performance.
The Pen Duick V took this research even further. Built in 1968 for the Transpacific race between San Francisco and Tokyo, it notably introduced the use of water ballast tanks. This system allows the boat?s trim to be adjusted without carrying additional permanent ballast. More than half a century later, this principle remains widely used on modern racing yachts.
