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Displaying items by tag: Sun Odyssey36i

Boat owning these days is an increasing challenge, with unavoidable costs and spiralling maintenance charges always needing to be balanced against the hoped-for return in trouble-free sailing pleasure writes W M Nixon.

It’s very easy to be enchanted by the thought of bringing life back to some once-cherished boat which has somehow fallen on hard times. But in times of economic rigor, a feeling of sympathy is not a sound basis on which to be making a very significant purchasing decision.

In other words, the uncertain Autumn of 2016 is not a good time to be taking on someone else’s problems. On the contrary, if you’re on the lookout for a sensible used boat, take account of the fact that a minimum number of owners with the boat in question, and the sense of her having been well-cared for, will provide every expectation of a relatively trouble-free and enjoyable ownership period for yourself.

The above general rules apply in any boat-buying situation. Yet they might have been written after studying the data available on this Sun Odyssey 36i for sale through Crosshaven Boatyard and advertised on Afloat Boats for Sale. Built 2008, she was commissioned in 2009, but has had only one owner from new. And as broker Hugh Mockler’s video eloquently tells us, even after seven years she’s still quite simply as good as new.

She’s an interesting Marc Lombard design of top-end construction – the “i” at the end of her name is to indicate she was injection-moulded under scientific and carefully-controlled conditions. A very manageable size – big enough to be comfortable without being bigger than most folk would require – her asking price of €82,950 reflects the extensive range of equipment and the fact that she’s ready to go. With good weather forecast for this final Bank Holiday weekend before Christmas, you could be sailing her with confidence this Saturday. As they say in the trade, she’s very well presented – details here

Published in Boat Sales

Ireland & La Solitaire du Figaro

The Solitaire du Figaro, was originally called the course de l’Aurore until 1980, was created in 1970 by Jean-Louis Guillemard and Jean-Michel Barrault.

Half a decade later, the race has created some of France's top offshore sailors, and it celebrated its 50th anniversary with a new boat equipped with foils and almost 50 skippers Including novices, aficionados and six former winners.

The solo multi-stage offshore sailing race is one of the most cherished races in French sailing and one that has had Irish interest stretching back over 20 years due to the number of Irish stopovers, usually the only foreign leg of the French race.

What Irish ports have hosted The Solitaire du Figaro?

The race has previously called to Ireland to the following ports; Dingle, Kinsale, Crosshaven, Howth and Dun Laoghaire.

What Irish sailors have raced The Solitaire du Figaro?

So far there have been seven Irish skippers to participate in La Solitaire du Figaro. 

In 1997, County Kerry's Damian Foxall first tackled the Figaro from Ireland. His win in the Rookie division in DHL gave him the budget to compete again the following year with Barlo Plastics where he won the final leg of the race from Gijon to Concarneau. That same year a second Irish sailor Marcus Hutchinson sailing Bergamotte completed the course in 26th place and third Rookie.

In 2000, Hutchinson of Howth Yacht Club completed the course again with IMPACT, again finishing in the twenties.

In 2006, Paul O’Riain became the third Irish skipper to complete the course.

In 2013, Royal Cork's David Kenefick raised the bar by becoming a top rookie sailor in the race. 

In 2018, for the first time, Ireland had two Irish boats in the offshore race thanks to Tom Dolan and Joan Mulloy who joined the rookie ranks and kept the Irish tricolour flying high in France. Mulloy became the first Irish female to take on the race.

Tom Dolan in Smurfit Kappa competed for his third year in 2020 after a 25th place finish in 2019. Dolan sailed a remarkably consistent series in 2020 and took fifth overall, the best finish by a non-French skipper since 1997 when Switzerland’s Dominique Wavre finished runner up. Dolan wins the VIVI Trophy.

Dolan finished 10th on the first stage, 11th on the second and seventh into Saint Nazaire at the end of the third stage. Stage four was abandoned due to lack of wind. 

Also in 2020, Dun Laoghaire’s Kenneth Rumball became the eleventh Irish sailor to sail the Figaro.

At A Glance – Figaro Race

  • It starts in June or July from a French port.
  • The race is split into four stages varying from year to year, from the length of the French coast and making up a total of around 1,500 to 2,000 nautical miles (1,700 to 2,300 mi; 2,800 to 3,700 km) on average.
  • Over the years the race has lasted between 10 and 13 days at sea.
  • The competitor is alone in the boat, participation is mixed.
  • Since 1990, all boats are of one design.

2023 La Solitaire du Figaro Course

Stage #1 Caen – Kinsale : 610 nautical miles
Departure August 27 (expected arrival August 30)

Stage #2 Kinsale – Baie de Morlaix : 630 nautical miles
Departure September 3 (expected arrival September 6)

Stage #3 Baie de Morlaix – Piriac-sur-Mer : 620 nautical miles
Departure September 10 (expected arrival September 13)

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