Nos expatriés
Marc
Ronet
Nantes, France
Certains de nos membres se sont éloignés géographiquement, mais même loin de la gare d’eau, ils gardent le contact et leur amour des bateaux.
Ici à Nantes tout se passe bien pour la petite famille. Les petits cavalent partout. Les premiers mots sont pour bientôt, je pense. J'attends juste qu’ils sachent nager pour les mettre à bord du canadien !
Sinon, coté restauration, je fais plutôt dans l'immobilier ! Parquet, escalier, cuisine et bientôt terrasse, le tout avec le plus possible de bois bien sûr !
Côté travail, on a de quoi s'occuper. Cet hiver a été consacré principalement à l'approvisionnement des bois destinés à faires les clores de l'Hermione. Plus d'une centaine de m³ de chêne de haute futaie ont été abattus cet hiver. En janvier, on a fait le sciage à Caen. Intéressant de voir passer des billes de 15 m de long et 1.20 de diamètre sur le banc de scie pour débiter des plateaux de 90 à 120 mm d'épaisseur ! Après, il faut attendre que ça sêche ...
À côté de cela on commence le gréement avec les premières vergues et mât de hune. Le grand canot sera mis à l'eau le 30 juin.
Autre projet en cours, la restauration de Wings, un 12 m JI Nicholson de 1937, au chantier du
Guip. Début des travaux en octobre 2006 et mise a l'eau prévue mi-mai 2007 pour participer aux régates classiques des 12 m à Valence. Rapide... quand on sait que l'on change 95 % du bois... et 100 % de la structure métal ! Le bateau sera superbe, remis au goût de l'époque, avec la structure métallique refaite en inox, rivetée comme à l'origine.
Voilà pour le moment., et j'espère que la restauration du second monotype avance bien
En attendant de revoir toute l'équipe sur l'île.
Malcom
Boyd
Sydney, Australia
Notes from the Antipodes
It is hard to believe that it is a little over 9 years since my wife, youngest son and myself arrived in Paris for our 18 month adventure to discover what it was like to work and live in France, rather than just visit!. How fortunate we were to find ourselves in Chatou and from there to discover the Association Sequana and to share their unique friendships and interests.
Back in Sydney, I have been working independently of my old company with whom I had worked for over 25 years. It was a typical case of corporate takeover and a new direction which was not compatible with the old one. C’est la vie!
My work now is mainly involved in technology commercialisation, particularly related to building and construction. Currently I am trying to develop a new business in cement technology which is an interesting challenge.
Unfortunately my work at present does not provide the same need for me to travel to Paris however Jane and I return occasionally to reconnect with our old friends from my previous work and more recent friends from Sequana, as well as our dear friends the Claudel family with whom we shared our lives at Chatou.
I am enjoying sailing my two wooden boats and occasionally racing on Sydney Harbour in an Yngling Olympic class boat. I have a 40 year old Folkboat (clinker timber sloop) and a 60 year old 12 Square Metre Sharpie (gaff-rigged timber centre-board boat), both of which keep me busy with maintenance! The Folkboat is originally a Scandinavian design from the early 1940s while the Sharpie originated in Germany in the 1930s. European, yes, but unfortunately not French!
Recently we joined with a group of wooden boat enthusiasts in a gathering at the old city of Sydney port area of Darling Harbour with our Folkboat (see pictures attached). It is wonderful to see some of the work people do to maintain some of our boating heritage. Also, earlier I joined my daughter and son in a 20 man “Dragon Boat” in some races to celebrate the Chinese New Year (see pictures attached). That was hard work but a lot of fun! Sydney does enjoy its water activities and to have them so close to the city is a real bonus.
My family grows (I now have a wonderful grand-daughter) and my “fleet” needs constant maintenance so I continue to work when I can - if nothing else but to ensure that we can continue to return to France, now and then, to enjoy that unique contact we have with the wonderful people of Sequana.
Malcolm Boyd - Sydney, Australia