NOTE: The French version contains considerably more detail on this post of the blog:
260320 ALCYONE – COMPLETE INVENTORY & HISTORY (French draft currently being updated)
1) ALCYONE'S HISTORY BEFORE 2017
ALCYONE is hull number 26 of the series and one of the last five Outremer 55 Lights ever built. As such, she benefited from all the experience accumulated from the previous boats, both in design and construction.
She is something of a survivor, having had a difficult start to her life. The Outremer shipyard itself ultimately rescued her and brought her back from the Indian Ocean after six years of operation, demonstrating its confidence in both the strength of her structure and the quality of the design.
The hull identification engraved on the starboard hull confirms that ALCYONE was the last Outremer 55 Light launched during the lifetime of designer Gérard Danson.
2003–2004: A Dream Shared by Four Partners
Delivered in April 2004, the catamaran was commissioned by four legal professionals (lawyers and notaries) who planned to operate her as a charter yacht in tropical waters.
To support this objective, she was configured with:
- Simple systems that could be maintained anywhere in the world.
- Conventional shaft-drive propulsion.
- Large water capacity for extended autonomy.
- Four spacious and symmetrical guest cabins.
- Crew berths in the forward compartments.
- Discreetly integrated equipment intended for charter use.
- A simple, robust sail inventory.
- A high-performance SSB radio system for long-distance communications.
After several cruises in the Mediterranean, ALCYONE departed for the Seychelles via the Red Sea.
2004–2008: The Reality of Charter Operations in the Seychelles
Following only limited charter activity, the project was largely abandoned.
Eventually the Outremer shipyard decided to bring the boat back to France. This proved beneficial for everyone involved:
- The original owners recovered part of their investment.
- Outremer acquired the vessel at a reasonable cost.
- Future owners—including ourselves—benefited from the opportunity.
- And the boat itself was given a second life.
One may wonder whether such an operation would still be possible today.
2009: Return to La Grande Motte via South Africa
In her existing condition, ALCYONE was delivered back to France by Jean-Pierre Balmes, Outremer's in-house skipper, assisted by two friends from the Seychelles.
The route took her via Cape Town and Brazil before arriving at La Grande Motte.
2010–2011: Major Refit at Outremer
The boat was hauled out at the Outremer yard for a major refit before being offered for sale.
The 2015 survey report (available upon request) specifically references the extensive 2011 refit carried out by the shipyard.
2012: Purchased by François for a New Family Adventure
François purchased ALCYONE directly from the Outremer yard, beginning the second chapter of her life.
2013–2014: Atlantic and Pacific Crossing via Panama
Launched in May, François and his two children undertook an extraordinary voyage covering nearly half a circumnavigation:
- Canary Islands
- Cape Verde
- St Martin and the Caribbean
- Mexico
- Panama Canal
- Galápagos Islands
- Marquesas Islands
- Fakarava (Tuamotu Islands)
The boat then spent:
- Two months ashore in Tahiti for maintenance and a return trip to France.
- Three months ashore at Norsand Boatyard in Whangarei, New Zealand, for similar maintenance work.
2015: New Zealand Refit and New Caledonia Season
- First three months of the year ashore at Norsand Boatyard, Whangarei.
- Relaunched in April.
- Cruising season in New Caledonia.
- Returned to Whangarei in September.
- The owner put the boat up for sale and returned to France.
2016: Storage Ashore in New Zealand
ALCYONE remained stored ashore at Norsand Boatyard in Whangarei throughout 2016 while awaiting her next owner.
We eventually purchased her in January 2017.
2) ALCYONE'S HISTORY SINCE 2017
2017: Refit (Part 1) and First Season in Melanesia
January to April
Cleaning and first essential refit.
Approximately 1,200 man-hours spent ashore in Whangarei and Auckland.
(Blog entries 1702–1704)
May to October
Sea-trial cruising season: first season in Melanesia.
- New Zealand → Fiji (blog 1705–1711)
- Fiji → New Caledonia (blog 1711)
- New Caledonia → New Zealand, single-handed return to the Whangarei dry dock (blog 1711)
2018: Refit (Part 2) and Second Season in Melanesia
March to April
Second refit in Whangarei.
Approximately 800 man-hours dedicated to rigging upgrades and improvements identified during the first season.
(Blog entries 1803–1804)
May to November
Second Melanesian cruising season.
- New Zealand → Fiji (blog 1805–1808)
- Fiji → New Caledonia (full circumnavigation of New Caledonia, blog 1809–1810)
- New Caledonia → New Zealand (blog 1811)
- Cruising northern New Zealand before returning to the Whangarei dry dock at the end of November (blog 1811)
2019: Completion of the Refit and Departure for Canada and Mexico via the Southern Route
February to March
Dry dock in Whangarei.
Final preparation (approximately 200 man-hours) for the major challenge:
New Zealand → Canada
(Blog entries 1902–1904)
April
Final cruising season in New Zealand.
(Blog 1905)
May to June
Passage from New Zealand to Canada.
(Blog entries 1904–1907)
- New Zealand → Raivavae (Austral Islands) via the Southern Ocean route, with a two-week stopover.
- Raivavae → Amanu (Tuamotu Islands), four-day stopover.
- Amanu → Hilo (Hawaii), passing the Marquesas without stopping, three-day stopover in Hilo.
- Hawaii → Canada.
July to September
Cruising British Columbia and circumnavigation of Vancouver Island.
(Blog entries 1908–1909)
October
Pacific Northwest and California.
(Blog 1910)
November to December
Cruising Baja California, Mexico.
(Blog entries 1911–1912)
2020: COVID Break – Puerto Peñasco Dry Dock (Mexico)
Preventive hull protection and epoxy treatment.
January to March
Cruising Baja California before a rush to CABRALES Boatyard in Puerto Peñasco.
Emergency return to France aboard one of the last Air France flights departing Mexico, via Mexicali.
(Blog entries 2001–2004)
April to December
ALCYONE remained ashore without us for an extended period.
Work completed:
- Complete hull sandblasting.
- Preventive epoxy anti-osmosis treatment.
(Blog entries 200410–210119)
2021: French Polynesia – Beginning of Our Five-Year Partnership with Bertrand in Amanu
February to March
Return to CABRALES Boatyard, Puerto Peñasco.
(Blog entries 210115–210309)
March to April
Cruising down Baja California.
(Blog entries 210310–210424)
April to May
Passage from Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, to the Gambier Islands, French Polynesia.
(Blog entries 210423–210513)
May
Rikitea (Gambier Islands) → Amanu (Tuamotu Islands).
Beginning of our five-year partnership with Bertrand.
(Blog entries 210514–210521)
June 30 to August 5
Amanu.
August 6 to September 10
Amanu → Hao.
September 11 to 30
Hao → Tahanea → Kauehi → Toau → Tahiti with Bertrand.
October 1 to 5
Tahiti with Bertrand.
October to December
Tahiti → Amanu via the Tuamotu Islands with Bertrand.
(Blog entries 2110–2112)
2022: French Polynesia – Bertrand Partnership, Season 1
Visit from Jim (our son)
January to April
Amanu, then Amanu → Hao with Bertrand.
May 1 to 5
Hao → Amanu.
May 6 to August 10
Amanu.
Jim visited from Auckland between July 17 and August 19.
August 11 to 14
Passage from Amanu to Tahiti with Jim.
August 15 to 22
Maintenance period in Tahiti with Jim and Bertrand.
August 23 to December
Tahiti → Amanu via the Tuamotu Islands with Bertrand.
The scheduled haul-out was postponed.
2023: French Polynesia – Bertrand Partnership, Season 2
Visits from Philippe & Odile, then Jim
January to April
Amanu, then Amanu → Hao with Bertrand.
May 1 to 4
Hao → Amanu.
May 5 to June 9
Amanu, then Amanu → Hao with Philippe and Odile.
June 10 to 12
Hao → Amanu with Jim.
Jim stayed aboard from June 10 to July 2.
June 13 to July 2
Amanu with Jim.
July 3 to December 31
Amanu with Bertrand.
2024: French Polynesia – Bertrand Partnership, Season 3
Visit from Laurent
January to May 14
Amanu, then Amanu → Hao with Bertrand.
May 15 to 17
Hao → Amanu.
May 18 to June 18
Amanu.
Laurent visited from June 11 to June 23.
June 19 to 23
Amanu → Tahiti with Laurent.
June 23 to December 15
Tahiti → Raiatea (haul-out) → Amanu via the Tuamotu Islands with Bertrand.
2025: French Polynesia – Bertrand Partnership, Season 4
Visit from Luc and Gislaine
January to May 13
Amanu, then Amanu → Hao with Bertrand.
May 14 to 17
Hao → Amanu.
May 18 to August 9
Amanu.
Luc and Gislaine visited from July 3 to July 16.
August 10 to December 31
Hao → Amanu with Bertrand.
Bertrand Partnership – Season 5 (last)
With Gordon and Fiona
(schedule accurate to within approximately three days)
January to May 16
Amanu, then Amanu → Hao with Bertrand.
May 17 to July 9
Hao and Amanu.
July 10 to 26
Amanu with Gordon and Fiona.
July 27 to 31
Passage from Amanu to Tahiti with Gordon and Fiona.
August 1 to 11
Tahiti → Huahine → Raiatea with Bertrand, Gordon and Fiona.
August 11 to 16
Raiatea.
ALCYONE available for inspection.
August 17 to 20
Haul-out and survey at RCS Raiatea.
ALCYONE available for inspection.
August 21 to October 15
Raiatea.
ALCYONE available for delivery to her new owner.
October 15 to November 1
Return to Amanu or passage to the Marquesas Islands.
From November onward
Marquesas or Amanu
