the “friends” of this magnificent century-old sailboat hope to be able to buy it back

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“When you board this boat, you fall in love with it and you can’t leave it!” “. Rutha two-masted ship which is moored to the port of Paimpol (Côtes-d'Armor), brings together more and more energy but its “friends” would like to buy it back before it is sold.

Paimpol, home port

The Friends of Ruth association created in July 2022, chaired by Laurent Belleudy, continues to attract new members. If there were only 4 in 2023, at the last general meeting, there are around fifteen today.

Ruth is this magnificent sailboat (a gaff ketch) that you cannot fail to notice when you go around the port of Paimpol. The sailboat built in 1914, with Swedish origins, is moored behind the Docks&Mer store.

Today, its home port is officially Paimpol and that means a lot to its Friends.

The dynamic association has for two years developed the visibility of the sailboat by increasing its activities and partnerships. Today, the association has 41 members and not necessarily only Paimpolais.

Benjamin and Lucie who followed the assembly by video are from Normandy. He is a blacksmith and tailor, she is a wood sculptor. The young couple came across Ruth on their way to Granville. Gabriel is present and came specially from Vannes; Ruth won him over during a maritime festival in Douarnenez.

Looking at the 2023-2024 activity report and the projects for the coming year, we realize that being a Friend of Ruth commits you to the adventure.

Entirely visitable for free

Apart from the work necessary for the maintenance and restoration of the boat, the emphasis was placed on a few strong points.

Ruth went out several times with her volunteer crew to go to Granvillehas Camaret.

Ruth is the only boat that can be visited entirely in the port of Paimpol. There guided tour by volunteers is free and it will remain so that everyone benefits from it.

90% of visitors have never seen the inside of a boat.

An educational vocation which continues with schoolchildren and members of the association who gradually acquire maritime know-how. “Seamanship” courses for volunteers are mentioned.

Projects for the coming months

In 2024/2025, more projects to join maritime festivals de Granville, Erquy…, creation of a escape game on boardtheme evenings (soup and story evening, in winter, for example).

Other projects are still cited: designing a virtual tour of the boat for people with reduced mobility with students in the audiovisual section at the IUT of Lannion; rental of the bridge to host events; continue to strengthen partnerships with the Sea Song Festival, with the SNSM, with other old rigging associations, etc.

Balanced accounts but…

Financially, the association is in balance. Donations represent 47% of the resources followed by visits during the boat's movements.

The association has no subsidy and will approach Paimpol town hall in 2025, which encourages free dockside visits. But, everything is not going so well.

Ruth does not belong to the association which rents the boat to “SAS Ruth Affrètement” and the majority of shareholders wish to sell the sailboat.

Buy back the sailboat?

To continue their project more peacefully, the association wants to give itself the means to buy back the ship which would be put on sale for 100 000 €perhaps less because shareholders are members of the association.

Cet storm warning is not to be taken lightly and several avenues will be explored to seek funding such as sponsorship, the repurchase of shares by the association… The Heritage Foundation cannot intervene because Ruth still belongs to a for-profit company .

At the end of the general meeting and the board of directors which followed, the new office is made up of Laurent Belleudy, President, Delphine Barré, treasurer, Sylvie Barché, secretary.

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