Manon and Robert share their adventure onboard a performance catamaran

Apr 8, 2024

Spirit of adventure

Not every boat owner cites the spirit of Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton as their inspiration for voyaging – yet it is the case with Robert and Manon, who took delivery of B Cube, their Windelo 54, a performance catamaran. Perhaps it says something about the adventurous spirit that fires the imagination of many prospective Windelo owners.

Robert explains: “One of the things that inspired me to set out on this adventure with Windelo was reading a book on Ernest Shackleton. That really awakened my imagination, and I certainly wanted to experience more sailing throughout our lives as a result of that.”

If this spirit of adventure drove the couple towards Windelo, it was also tempered by their extensive experience sailing in cruising catamarans. The couple had spent three years sailing the oceans with their children on a comfortable cruising catamaran, and although the experience was incredible, it meant they had a firm idea of what they needed from their next boat.

“We wanted a boat that was more performance-oriented, that still had a good level of comfort but could sail in lighter winds instead of using the engines.”

Robert explains: “We also liked the idea of daggerboards for sailing upwind and the ability to have good visibility on all of the sails and good access to all of the lines and the winches so the forward cockpit was of interest to us.”

Taking the plunge

Robert had always been a big fan of the Barreau/Neuman design team, which penned the lines of the Windelo 54. It was their name that first drew him towards the 54. As he explored the possibility of buying a Windelo, Robert was blown away by how innovative the boat was. He took some time reflecting on the boat before consulting with Manon about the possibility of buying one. Manon was rapidly hooked by the Windelo 54.

“We knew that this was the boat we wanted and we know from experience that once you find the boat you want, you better act on it because waiting is often not a good option!” Robert reflects: “We decided to go all in and buy this boat, and right away, we felt part of the big family.”

“We left our working careers in Canada and then four days later were walking up to and touching our new boat that was very special for us to experience. We felt very welcomed by the Windelo group.”

“For us, buying a boat in France was also a big thing because of the high level of knowledge. Everybody we met sails, and it’s great to know that when they build a boat, they know what needs to be done and what needs to go into it because they think like sailors.”

A magnificent adventure

Manon and Robert now had their hands on the wheel of their brand-new Windelo 54, and the horizon beckoned – but where to go? “We definitely had a general sailing plan, but we did not have any precise dates for where we need to be or by what time,” Manon explains. The couple knew that the important thing was to gain confidence sailing the boat as a couple, so they spent the first couple of months taking it easy, sailing in a simple manner, not over-pressing the boat, and perfecting their teamwork. As the weeks went by, confidence increased – while, the miles slipped under their foils.

Manon explains how the itinerary became increasingly fluid thanks to the Windelo 54’s speed and comfort: “We did 10,000nm, and we had an initial plan that we did not follow in the end. First up, we went to the Canaries, then on to Cape Verdes, and across the Atlantic to Barbados.

It was while cruising up through the Caribbean Islands that our plans changed, as Robert explains: “One day I said ‘I’ve never been to Bermuda,” and very spontaneously we said ‘Okay, let’s go to Bermuda’!”

“Once we got to Bermuda, the sailing had gone so well, and we were ahead of our schedule. And we just said, well, let’s go back to Europe, and we decided to sail to cross again and head back to the Azores, Portugal, Spain, and back in France.”

Hidden benefits of comfort afloat

“It was the boat that really allowed us to decide to go back to Europe. What we came to realise during our initial crossing of the Atlantic is that the cockpit is basically inside the boat where you live, and that meant we could do five, six or seven days of crossing without any fatigue.”

“I think one of the big features of this boat for us is the proximity of the cockpit – the fact that even though we’re never separated really and one can be resting, and the other is taking a shift fully protected from the environment, from the wind and rain with full access to all the lines and winches so what we discovered is that we could do a ten-day Atlantic crossing and feel fairly fresh at the end of that of that crossing.”

As the couple grew accustomed to the boat, they also started to enjoy the full potential of the 54’s performance, as Manon explains: “Even if the intent was to learn the boat as we go and take our time – because of the ease of use it didn’t take long before we felt much more comfortable pushing the boat a little more and even racing every time there was a boat nearby – or even far away!

“After the second crossing, we felt fairly good about the boat – we felt that we could do basically all the right manoeuvres and sail changes. Everything became quite easy and we could push the boat as the architect initially designed it to be sailed, often sailing you 10,12, 13 and 14 knots – pushing the boat and feeling very comfortable.”

Here, the quality of the build also helped the couple with their sailing; as Robert explains:

“One of the aspects that we were very impressed with was the quality of construction and the rigidity of the hull. Even in rough seas, you don’t hear any creaking and you don’t hear any noises inside. That’s very reassuring.”

Green sailing

The other factor that really blew the couple away was the green sailing. The Windelo 54 is equipped with twin electric motors as standard, and the batteries can be topped up underway by the masses of solar panels on the coachroof. These are coupled with hydrogenerating propellers which spin to generate power for the motor while the boat is under sail. As a final backup, there is a diesel generator. The couple prudently filled their fuel tanks for the trip across the Atlantic.

“We were in the mindset of being on a normal boat”, Manon explains. “Like everybody else, we bought jerry cans and filled them with diesel, and then we felt ready to cross the Atlantic. At the other end, in Martinique, we had to donate our diesel because we didn’t use a single drop.”

This is a key point because the Windelo 54 does not just run off electric motors; it also draws a lot of power for cooking, air conditioning, and watermakers, among many other things, yet on the trip across the Atlantic, the boat was autonomous.

“I have been interested in that technology ever since 2002 and have studied the various attempts to create these electrical drives,” Robert explains. “We were very reassured by the Windelo approach, which delivers a very robust and simple system with a high level of reliability, and I have to say that we have had no issues.”

“We are very satisfied with the power and reliability of the engines.”

The couple has also been delighted with their ongoing relationship with the Windelo team as they have voyaged far and wide, as Robert explains: “This is the second time we purchased a new boat. We know from experience that there are always adjustments to be made on the boat.

What is important to us to deal directly with the factory, with the Windelo team, not a third party. Our relationship with the team – how they can remotely diagnose issues and resolve them quickly during our travels – has been great.”

Future plans?

So far, so good – but what about the future? It sounds like the couple’s adventures have only just begun, as Manon explains: “The plan is very general so far, but the intent is to exit the Med in early spring and head north.”

“Considering the qualities of this boat, there is no limit as to where we can go.”

If their trip north is to their liking, they may well get the taste for high latitude adventures that drove Robert’s hero, Ernest Shackleton, on to epic exploits at the far ends of the earth. They certainly have the boat made for the job.

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