This is the third boat that the association The Boatmen of the Winds of Galerne launched since their creation in 2013. From its name, La Brise Chapelonne 2, this toue sandpit, built according to Touraine traditions, was launched for the first time Saturday November 9, in La Chapelle-sur-Loire, in front of a quay crowded with curious people and Loire boatmen.
After an hour in the water, the hull showed no no flaws and perfect buoyancy. The first stage is validated for this flat-bottomed boat which will have to accommodate a dozen passengers for trips up the Loire in May 2025.
“This is my last baby to be put in the water”
A moment full of emotions for the president and founder of Bateliers des Vents D'Galernes, Jacky Thiry, who saw the last boat built under his mandate at the head of the association enter the Loire. “A new life on the Loire is about to begin. For him and for us too, because we have to get used to his whims.“
But before starting to sail on the Loire, the Brise Chapelonne 2 must be certified by a river expert and receive a navigation permit from the River Safety Instructor Center of Nantes.
Built according to the Loire tradition, this sand pit is entirely made of wood, except its shell, which is made of aluminumin order to guarantee a longer lifespan and facilitate maintenance. This hull was designed in Maine-et-Loire before being brought back to the Pont Neuf district in La Chapelle-sur-Loire, to add the rest of the toue. This project lasted a year and required 73,000 euros. A sum to which the town hall of La Chapelle-sur-Loire, the regional council and the association itself contributed 33,000 euros.
