La Hirondelle 54

 

I am invited aboard a, very red, RM 1070+. Fresh in from a four month cruise to the Azores, via Madeira, Lisbon, Porto and A Coruna. Average speed six point seven knots. Mercifully completed without orca interference (having stayed far offshore south of Lisbon).

Her decks are wide, stable and uncluttered. The deep toe rail giving a sense of security. Added to by the 'walk-through' shrouds. Like Stargazer's, the lowers come down to the inboard side of the deck, the caps to the outboard. Providing security when walking forward, or tending to the mast.

The boat is cutter rigged, for flexibility in higher winds. Instead of holding on to an oversized jib, in order to maintain an acceptable upwind angle, (as we are forced to aboard Stargazer); this boat simply furls the genoa and unfurls the smaller staysail. Maintaining comfort and performance aboard.

The owner reckons that, on the wind, twenty knots is the transition point. For switching to staysail and taking the first reef, in the main. The second reef going in at around twenty five knots.

Down below, the seagoing, wedge-in, U-shaped galley was in the midst of a clean down. Its many lockers still full of ship's stores, provisions and utensils. Saving a mental struggle to imagine whether all the domestic paraphernalia, of a boat on passage, would fit.

The answer being, yes. The all important nest of drawers, is to hand at the foot of the companionway. (Stargazer has the top drawer for cutlery, second for rigging tools and spares, third for electrical cables / chargers / adapters and fourth for frequently used hand tools). These units solidly made, sliding smoothly and closing with a satisfying 'clunk,' on robust-feeling latches.

The heads demonstrates conclusively that this boat was designed by people that sail offshore. Sat down, you are wedged in, with a bulkhead within bracing distance before you. Stood up, with full headroom, a handhold is provided. (Picture from factory visit boat).

Aft of the heads, is the 'technical room.' In the French style, there is no cockpit bench locker. (Although there are two lazarettes, which provide stowage for mooring lines and the like, accessible from the cockpit). The technical room, is a purpose made version of Stargazer's 'stow cabin.' My name for the aft cabin, once the mattress has been removed. To be replaced by boxes of spares and stores. Plus, when on passage, the fenders. Leaving the aft cabin, to starboard, in the case of the RM, available for its designed purpose.

Forward of the heads is the chart table. A rare sight on a modern boat of any length, let alone a thirty five footer. A welcome one none the less. Not so much for navigation, but more for stowage of navigation related oddments; and to provide a dedicated station at which to 'work' at a screen. Without taking over the saloon table. Which, in any case, is usually too low for comfortable keyboard operation.

Another RM 'neat touch' lies beneath the two saloon settees (both over two metres long, as are all berths on the boat, and provided with seaman-like lee cloths). The bunk boards are perforated, to prevent condensation; and hinged. Which I have not seen before. A simple solution, which instantly removes the perceived (to my mind anyway) inconvenience, of removing a cushion and then a large board. With nowhere to conveniently place it, whilst accessing the stowage below.

Historically, the one thing missing from an RM interior was visible wood grain. In Cesar's words, chuckling at the memory, "we laughed about that quite a lot, when Grand Large Group first took over this business. A wooden boat, with no wood!" A source of mirth which the new management team took action to remove. The saloon table now a visual centrepiece. Its grain, and substantial capping strips, on view to warm the ambiance. (Yard boat picture).

Accentuated by the exposed wood surrounding the hull ports, both in the saloon and forward, in the owner’s cabin. (Owner's boat picture).

With their painted hull finishes, all colours are possible. The more vibrant hues having become something of an RM trade mark.