La Hirondelle 55

 

RM are not the only boat builder in town. Amel, builders of idiosyncratic blue water cruisers, is also based in Perigny. Along with the innovative Neel Trimarans, in the Bassin Chalutiers. For sheer numbers, however, Fountaine Pajot is by far the most prominent La Rochelle yard.

Catamarans under, or awaiting, commissioning are crowded two deep on any available pontoon.

Crews of commissioning engineers swarm about their decks.

A generous hearted Fountaine Pajot technician rescued my Tuesday meeting, at the RM yard. Hearing the kerbside phone call, after the arrival of my taxi, to collect me from, rather than take me to, RM; he ushered me into his Tesla. Before carving skilfully through the La Rochelle rush hour. To arrive comfortably before the lorry left, carrying the finished boat, which I was to view.

Today the flags fly stiffly, from Saint Nicolas and La Chaine. Twenty five and thirty knots of north west wind whistling between them.

An uncharacteristic tinge of grey to the sky, as the last of the night's drizzle clears through.

Tomorrow, blue skies and a passage-

making westerly are forecast. With a fair tide for the morning.

Picture Credits

Tesla Model 3 courtesy of  automobile-magazine.fr