Zen Again 79

 

Saturated colours. Shimmering heat. Ships, queuing for La Pallice docks, at anchor in the bay. Sun bathers sat up high, on la plage des Minimes, the better to catch the cooling sea breeze.

The inspiration for, local boatbuilders, RM Yachts. Noted for building in epoxy infused plywood; for cruising designs informed by contemporary ocean racing hull shapes; and for vibrant, 'any colour you like,' paint jobs.

Their latest progeny, pretty in pink, is the RM1080. A thirty six footer. With a full four metre beam, carried right aft. To deliver off wind sail carrying power.

And interior volume, with would put many a forty footer to shame.

Let alone a more traditionally shaped thirty six footer, with less beam and a finer run astern, like the J36  (see Zen Again 75)

One foible which both boats share, however, is placement of the jib sheet winches out of reach of a solo helmsman, confined behind the twin wheels.

A cobalt blue RM970, one size smaller, at thirty two feet, comes to the rescue. Tiller steered, as standard, her skipper sits well forward. Beneath the shelter of the sprayhood, with winches comfortably to hand. 

These, as is the RM trademark, are placed at the forward end of the cockpit, at waist height; instead of, as is customary, out on the coamings. With the RM layout, they are both safer and easier to work at sea. A typically cruiser savvy touch, from the race influenced La Rochelle yard, which prefers to go its own way.