Classic French lady, lovely lines. seeks date !

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silversailor75

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Don't all rush - she's already spoken for!
Does anyone know anything about CHASSIRON French classic yachts?
Although I have been the fortunate owner of this lovely ketch for 15 years I have never been able to establish when she was built.
The yard, Edouard Richard of Marennes, France built many of this class but closed in the 80's.
My yacht, TARA, is built in wood and I believe was one of the last before the change to GRP.
Knowing her number would be a help but I haven't found it cut or stencilled into the hull.
Can anyone throw any light on this? Any info about Richard yachts would be appreciated. I know ladies are bashful about their age so any replies will be treated with the utmost confidence!
 
Not uncommon in the "old days" for boats to have no identification on them, although they may well have had a yard number to keep track through the build process. Typically this would be on a board temporarily attached to the boat and removed once it was finished. Record keeping in yards was also very hit and miss. Some yards were obsessive about keeping detail records, but others would see that as far less important than actually building the boat, keeping the customer happy (and probably the creditors at bay!)

Good luck with your search.
 
Pay a visit to the locality of where the yard was, maybe s0meone in a café will recall the boatyard workers..... in 80s if they where only say 40 they might be still about.....I worked in a small yard and the old men always remembers the names of boats and owners..
 
I occasionally see some of the members of the local sailing group, Les Voiles du Estuaire, on the Seudre estuary and there is a yard that deals with wooden boats. Marennes is on the estuary. I might be able to to dig around a bit at the w/end when a member friend gets back from holiday.
Meanwhile, some pix of the annual jolly. I'm in there with my faering. https://www.flickr.com/photos/42241216@N08/sets/72157673360163826/page2
 
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Nice pics! Brilliant that you have an on-going contact with the area. Someone may know of the Chantier Richard and about the yachts they built.
When I bought TARA she was lying at SETE and I kept her in the area for several years, also transitted the Canal du Midi on her as far as Bordeaux, thinking of re-rigging and sailing to La Rochelle but ran out of time. She has a draft of 1m40. so kissed the ground on many occasions because the canal is no longer scoured out by commercials. That was about 4 years ago so I can't recommend anyone trying it with 1m40 today.
I will upload some photos but am a new member and haven't worked out how to do that yet!
 
Brilliant idea Wansworth, why haven't I thought of that? Getting a camper van I hope, come the summer, so the trip would be worth while. There must be an old-timer or three who worked at the Chantier Richard and would perhaps remember putting TARA together since she was one of the last to be built in timber.
 
20160708_155516.jpg2015-07-09 11.53.46.jpg

Here's a couple of pics of TARA. Someone may recognize her. She's lying at Ternuezen at the moment but unfortunately this super family-owned yard is closing in July due to compulsory purchase so will be looking for an affordable mooring somewhere on the East coast, Maldon or somewhere fairly near.
 
This is the second try - first upload didn't seem to work. Here's a couple of pics taken at Ternuezen where she lies at the moment but this super family-run yard is closing in July due to compulsory purchase so I will be looking for an affordable mooring somewhere on the Essex coast, Maldon, or somewhere near.20160708_155516.jpgimg100.jpgimg022.jpg
 
Lovely lines although the whole is slightly spoiled, to my admittedly inexperienced eye, by the reverse sheer of the coachroof, the assortment of windows and the structure over the companionway.
 
silversailor75 said:
This is the second try - first upload didn't seem to work. Here's a couple of pics taken at Ternuezen where she lies at the moment but this super family-run yard is closing in July due to compulsory purchase so I will be looking for an affordable mooring somewhere on the Essex coast, Maldon, or somewhere near.View attachment 62370View attachment 62371View attachment 62372
Click to expand...

Beautiful boats the Chassiron.

I believe that they were designed by Michel Joubert. He s no longer with us but perhaps his firm could help?

ARCHITECTES NAVALS JOUBERT – NIVELT
6, rue Surcouf – L’Aubreçay 17138 SAINT-XANDRE

E-mail : joubertnivelt@wanadoo.fr

Tél : +33(0) 5 46 37 40 58 – Fax : +33(0) 5 46 37 80 32
 
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