One boat, in L'Herbaudiere, attracts more attention than all the others.
Indeed, her scale makes her hard to miss. Even were she of a more muted hue, sported a more conventional rig, or was of less significance.
The craft in question, is Yves Parlier's catamaran. The test bed and demonstration platform for his Sea Kite project. Which uses kites, as opposed to sails, to transform wind energy into motion.
If Yves Parlier’s name is unfamiliar to you:
Yves Parlier cemented his place, in sailing folklore, during the 2000 edition, of the solo, unassisted, around the world, Vendée Globe race. During which, he dismasted in the Southern Ocean. Whereupon he fought his way to New Zealand. There he anchored, for two weeks, to improvise a replacement rig. Anticipating reduced speeds, during the second half of his circumnavigation, Yves harvested seaweed, with which to eke out his on board rations. These he also supplemented by fishing. Yves crossed the finish line, off Les Sables d'Olonne, on the sixteenth of March 2001. And was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, in recognition of his feat.
Yves' experience inspired him to develop the Liberty Kite. As a get-you-home-solution for dismasted sailors. Arnaud Boissieres (pictured) used one to good effect, when he lost his rig, in the 2024 Vendee Globe. Subsequently sailing over a thousand miles, to safety, in the French Caribbean.
The Sea Kite is currently under development, as a low carbon means of primary propulsion, for commercial applications.
Picture Credits
Yves Parlier. Rig bricolage, in New Zealand. Courtesy of thmartinez.com
Arnaud Boissieres. Under Libery Kite. Courtesy of Arnaud Boissieres.
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