44-47 Patrimoine_MM147-US:PATRIMOINE 10/05/11 13:59 Page 44 HERITAGE The last of the big proas: TAHITI DOUCHE When development is no longer possible, change intervenes, said Alain Gliksman. This change gave us the craziest boats in nautical history: the proas. Here is the story of the last of these big boats... By Philippe Echelle In 1979-80, we believed we ROSIERE’s capsize on the start sailing and offshore racing. With was also the only French free- could already evaluate the deve- line of the ’82 Rhum signalled Michel Malinovski, he establi- lance journalist at the start of lopment of multihulls, and the the end of the match, and the shed the profession of journalist- 1960 Transat. The touch at the perspective of twenty years of proas were no longer allowed in tester. From Bateaux magazine helm, honed by heroic RORC western re-discovery led us to transatlantic races. On reflection, to editor in chief of Neptune, this races, and Olympic selections in believe that the next victory it is quite probable that all of gifted, meticulous dandy embo- the Flying Dutchman class, an would reward an inevitably revo- these boats lacked, not inge- died the position of the man of incisive pen and eye, a sharp lutionary machine. The proa nuity, but preparation and perfec- the sea. Flirting with being unfo- tooth; Alain was as comfortable concept was ready and waiting ting. The saga of the biggest sur- cussed, the romantic adventurer in editorial meetings or celebrity in the wings, and we witnessed vivor illustrates this era of pio- a creative proliferation. The neers, who invented speed on would jump on a plane after a call dinners, as in the cockpit of KRIT- diverse (mis)fortunes of AZU- the water. from Alain Colas, to skipper TER for the first Whitbread, LAO, GODIVA (Newick), LESTRA NARRAGANSETT (a converted aboard RAPH, or the memorable SPORT (Ollier), AZUREX, IT WILL BE CALLED TAHITI 12m JI) in a golden Trans-Pacific TOUCAN in the first OSTAR. A ETERNA … did nothing to Alain Gliksman is one of the race, or deliver a Nicholson 55’ to gentleman in cowboy boots, he consolidate its reputation. major memories of leisure the other side of the world! He succeeded in surpassing his 44 Multihulls World - #118 44-47 Patrimoine_MM147-US:PATRIMOINE 10/05/11 13:59 Page 45 Here is the famous proa in its trophy version, in the colours of St MARC IV; note the helmsman’s full helmet! (photo: Christian Février) TAHITI DOUCHE’s first sail... A superb boat! (photos: Daniel Charles) TAHITI in its original version, at the end of the Ipswich – Deauville delivery trip. (photo: Christian Février) well-brought-up side whilst rea- new type of sailing boat (with G. ween the designer’s creative to meet the needs of a complete dily drawing on a prodigious tech- Ollier, Dick Newick and the young power and the demands of use at project, it contributed through its nical culture, without ever being Russ Brown), proposed a pilot sea, were absent. The boat was thoughtlessness to the adven- taken in by the pitfalls of the sea study which was unanimously extremely light when launched, ture’s failure. The reputation of the or destiny. A Route du Rhum and adopted. and very fast! Alas, the essential brand (Johnson) didn’t suffer from a somersault later during an test period was lacking, and the it; these lines are the proof! ’ AN IMPROBABLE ODYSSEY attempt on the Atlantic record reactions of one of the fastest sai- TRANSATS, SCARES AND aboard SEIKO/RTL/TIMEX The recently-created builder, ling machines of its time were (‘Chavirage en trimaran’, Nicolas Starberry, had the talents neces- going to be tested at sea. The RECONSTRUCTIONS Angel/Editions Pen Duick), the sary for the perfect artistic crea- relationship between the fiery Following a memorable Channel conclusion of a curious and secret tion of bold, complex shapes, but skipper and the architect with his crossing in the company of internal debate (between an not the experimental experience hardened character turned sour, Christian Février, Christine encyclopaedic sailing culture, the essential to excellence in boat- then murderous (Marc Van Capdevielle and Halvard Mabire spirit of innovation, and a limited building. The multihulls built in Peteghem), the newly conceived were in charge of the first tests, budget) led this Cartesian to a Ipswich were thus superb, but proa paying the cost of this oppo- conducted at the double by a meeting with a proa. Daniel the rules of the art of certain sition. As the conquering Halvard who was new to proas, Charles, a member of the very joints and other tricks of the trade, American hygiene industry hadn’t but not to fast and furious sailing! closed club of designers of this supposed to form the link bet- allowed a sufficiently large budget A few cracks later, a crew of Multihulls World - #118 45 44-47 Patrimoine_MM147-US:PATRIMOINE 10/05/11 13:59 Page 46 HERITAGE worked up about a historic mini tion has volunteered to restore the transat. Their energy and talent last example of this turbulent succeeded in convincing architectural family (after the des- The last of the big proas awaits its rescuer on the hard standing. The construction of TAHITI DOUCHE at Starberry in Ipswich (GB). (photo: Daniel Charles) vassed and faster, rigged as a sloop (!) it was taken over by Christian ocean racing heroes set off for La Augé and Daniel Dorléans for the Baule – Dakar and tried to tame the delivery trip to Plymouth. Passing sometimes unpredictable reac- the Raz de Sein at stratospheric tions of a 17-metre double-ended speeds seemed promising, but the machine; the skipper’s huge expe- ride was interrupted by the fracture rience did not adapt well to the of the part of the keel the new nocturnal scares of being caught mast was resting on! aback; the jamming of the rudders Gliksman; the record round truction of FUMÉE NOIRE at Guadeloupe was soon in the two Brest); one of the members is accomplices’ bag. This success already the agent for GODIVA, and led to the start of an upward spiral CHEERS is on the inventory of his- and triggered financing for toric monuments. The will is there, « “They passed me as if I Quebec – St Malo. The delivery the skills have been brought toge- was stopped...” (B. Peyron went well, but in the euphoria of ther, a French multihull builder has the start, a capricious wind shift put his hard standing at our dispo- aboard JAZ) » caught the boat aback, and flipped sal to accommodate it, but there it over! “They passed me as if I is major work to be done on the was stopped, and then set the float before it crosses the Atlantic consummated the divorce, without spinnaker!” (B. Peyron aboard and we see this beautiful boat sai- allowing the separation, which RECORD AT BREST JAZ) ling along the Mediterranean would be progressive. The attempt Failed Twostar 81, towed any old coasts again. EPILOGUE: SAVING THE LAST More than just a boat, it is a way on the Cape Verde – West Indies how, TAHITI was then half-pillaged OF THE BIG RACING PROAS of sailing and an architectural record was becalmed mid-Atlantic. in Brest before being once again Delivered to Rotterdam by cargo memory which must be preser- The qualification for the Twostar rebuilt at Port la Forêt in what was ship, TAHITI later returned to the to become the CDK boatyard. ved for future generations, as took place in the company of West Indies, where it had a few Resigned, Alain handed the reins these boats will never be built Christian Augé, who had just built dark hours, before being bought of the wild beast to his son Denis, again! ETERNA for J.M Vidal and had the by Jean-Claude Van Rymenant and Marc Lombard, who found in experience of an Atlantic crossing (SNSM boss at St Martin). The it a unique test bed for his inven- The proa is ready to be assem- as a family, on this machine! He Golden Oldies Multihulls associa- bled. It would be sailing very tive spirit. The avant-garde multi- was one of the rare people who soon... (photo: Daniel Charles) understood its mysteries. After hull caused sparks to fly in the having seen the two friends hug Brest Speed Week and beat the the Pointe des Chateaux time set by FUNAMBULE (G. (Guadeloupe) close to the basalt, Delage), at 23.37kts over 500m, without being able to bear away to before breaking its crossbeams tack (a particularity of proas), again! Later, finally perfected, Kersauson, not usually given to wary insurers prevented it taking pomposity, declared to Gliksman, part in the two-up Transat. Denis “I’ll fight anyone who says you’re obtained the fifth theoretical time in the 83 edition of La Baule – chicken!” Brought back home by a Dakar, before going to the trio of Jedi who put the boat aback Caribbean again. to empty the float whenever it sank too deeply (following hidden leaks), THEY PASSED ME AS IF TAHITI was completely re-interpre- I WAS STOPPED! ted by the Le Jeloux boatyard in La The Tellier brothers couldn’t see Trinité. Even more generously-can- such a prototype without getting 46 Multihulls World - #118 44-47 Patrimoine_MM147-US:PATRIMOINE 10/05/11 13:59 Page 47 ... I designed Tahiti Douche balance, at its launch, the boat weighed By Daniel Charles 2050kg without masts and appendages! During the night, the crew had painted the lain Gliksman had been a structure were totally different (sides parallel to name which had been kept secret; it caused remarkable ocean racer the centre of the hulls to give more volume in much hilarity..