80's French boats vs their English counterparts

[Ohlin Karcher]

They have a good name as a tough boat. The YM crash test boat was a 1982 Sun Fizz ketch, nothing wrong with it just unfashionable. They probably paid less than 15k.

Yes John Kretchmer had one as well, a sloop though, he didn't fall in love with the yacht but she withstood severe blue-water batterings.
(He also did New York to California in a Contessa which evens it up!)
It's in his book, Sailing a Serious Ocean, which everyone should read or listen to.