Let’s go to Larmor Plage’s JPK Composites.
9th of July, Traveling Tuesday
It is 06.30 as we step in a fully packed Dacia Duster with a removed back seat to gain more space. We carry all kind of sailing utensils, from life vests to deflated fenders. And as this is not enough we drive first to Valkenswaard to pick up extra gear for mast climbing.
There’s hardly traffic delay and in the evening we end up (again) at camping Pont Farcy in Normandy. After we have finished our meal we sense we are on a ghost camping. Everyone is in the community house since France is playing against Spain in the European Football Champions league. As they get kicked out, we enjoy a quit night of sleep. Dreaming about our new boat.
10th of July, Checking Wednessday
At lunch time as we arrive at the shipyard. Most of the JPK Team eat at home and we take the opportunity the check the boat. It is lifted by chain hoists which are connected to side stay chainplates and to the back stay eyes. They are that strong they can carry the boats weight. This is far more load then they will get in practice.
Homeport Den Helder and boat name are on the back. Yes, it seems she is ready to be splashed. We are happy with the result and leave to camping La Fontaine in Larmor Plage to set our tent.
11th of July, Launching Thursday
At JPK we check with Jean-Pierre the time of launching. JP answers the trailer will arrive 13.30, and if we want, we can check our mast at rigging company Tonnere Greemant at La Base Loriënt. So off we go. At TG the carbon mast is hanging in straps. This ~17 meter mast is build at Axxon in Romania, and on it’s foot we read ‘Dracula Spars’. A good mast and good sails are important for performance sailing. This is a racing mast. It is less then half of the weight of an aluminium mast. The finishing is outstanding. We leave, enjoy lunch at ‘our bench’ at Rade du Lorient and little later, just before the truck, we arrive at JPK. One hour later she is taken outdoors, into the moderate shower.
After many years of preparation this is quite a special moment for us. It is really going to happen now. Despite the rainy weather the JPK Team comes to have a look and ‘Team 39’ joins for the manufacturers picture. We are proud, and one can see, they are proud as well. This is the moment to thank everyone for their involvement. Although we know, the work is not done yet.
It is about 4 to 5 km from the shipyard to La Base Lorient and we close our ‘Private Convoi Exceptionnel’ with alarm lights on. We get right of way everywhere from the French. But hey, this is La Cité de la Voile – Cité d’Éric Tabarly, as stated at the main entrances of Lorient. Lorient is somehow synonym for sailing. The whole industrial area around La Base is about Yachting and Boating.
The chauffeur drives very carefully and slows down to almost zero at every speed threshold. After arrival, at hoisting point K3, the riggers and Jean-Piere step on board for preparation. We put cardboard an plastic between the hull and lifting straps and there she goes. Shortly after the mast is stepped on deck. Around 6 pm the job is finished and we are alone on the JPK. The afternoon raincloud finally says farewell to us and we enjoy a beautiful sunset. Around us are all kinds of racing boats, a dozen of mini’s and some ‘Géants de Mers’, including the Maxi trimaran Edmond de Rothschild, sailed by French solo racer Charles Caudrelier, winner of the Arkea Ultim race.
12th of July, Setting Sails Friday
Today is another day of boatprep. Quentin Le Saout from North Sails comes to deliver. The NS sail loft is around the corner and their transport is really amusing. A small transporter is packed with sails and the mainsail is draped over the car’s roof, windows and hood. But no worry about safety, Quentin has a co-driver to monitor traffic at starboard side. The genua and main are set and the others sails are stored in our ‘shed’. This is our starboard cabin and it is no place to sleep at this JPK. Quentin takes the measurements for the mainsail cover and, as a starter, we get an old and torn sail cover. It is a sort of camouflage for the laminated 3Di sail.
Move
In the afternoon the harbourmaster asks us to leave the working dock, and we move to a dock for racers and big cruising catamarans. The Oceanvolt motor has some problems and engineers from Oceanvolt Finland log in to check the system. Is it fixed afterwards? Before the night we empty our car and stock all items in our port cabin. We will sleep in the front cabin. When we go to bed there is fireworks in Larmor Plage. Is it for the launching of our boat?
13th of July, Organising & testing Saturday
On a new boat you will always find items wrong or forgotten. So it wouldn’t be wise to schedule a holiday shortly after launching. As we have agreed upon with Jean Pierre, we check everything thoroughly and address the attentional items to JPK for follow up. The final payment will be done when these items are ticked off. So I make a list and send it to Jean Pierre. This list might grow (new items) or shorten (items solved). Obviously the goal is to reduce the list.
Weekend, and a boat stuffed with bags and boxes. Ester is organising the cupboards, cabinets and lockers (one her favourites) and I spend a day reading technical manuals and checking systems. From practically every part on board I’ve read the manual beforehand, to determine the right equipment, but this was a while ago.
Regulations
Our deadline for sailing home with the family is 29th of July, so they have some time. As a matter of fact we don’t like to hold too much, because when we have paid 100%, we will get the ownership papers and these are required for registration of the boat, etc. Ester takes care about these regulations and has had contact with many parties. It has driven her crazy at times. And because we started our partnership fastcruising.yachts there are additional rules (Oranje regels, Klassenbureau Zeevaart, etc) about safety for chartering.
Move again
Harbour control comes aside and we are asked to leave this dock on Monday morning as a big racer needs this spot. Es and I consider to motor to the adjacent Kernevel harbour Today. But it is quite windy and since the motor is not yet commissioned we decide to stay at the dock. One wouldn’t expect it at Lorient, but this dock has screw heads sticking out and missing wood pieces on the side. They scratch up our new protecting hoses on the fenders. A remembrance, always check the dock before or right after tying up.
In the evening there is a city festival at La Base ending again with fire works. It is for Quatorze-Juillet Ester says. Noo, it must be for our boat launching I think, when I fall asleep.
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