I've always been a fan of anyone who is able to step aside and work without the baggage of doing the same old thing and is willing to scratch an itch if the itch presents itself. It would be safe to say that Eric Henseval has no qualms about scratching that itch...
Not so long ago a reader of this blog dropped me a line asking my suggestions on what sort of boat he would need to do a single handed Transatlantic voyage adding that he was not interested in setting any records but he thinks he needed at least a fifty foot boat for the endeavor, My question to him was why so big?
His answer that bigger is safer is one of the most common of nautical misconceptions and in this design by Mr Henseval "Souriceau" ( Little Mouse) you see a boat quite capable of blue water sailing and long passages yet with a length overall of less than sixteen feet! While small this is one serious boat and is quite able to take you anywhere you care to point it in safety.
The whole bigger is better concept is a real problematic issue in boat design and a lot can be learned by studying just how the designer gives you just what you need in a minimum envelope...It may not be what you want though but it would get you where you wanted to go.
Of course I'm not saying that this is the only way to cross the Atlantic but it is pretty close to what you really need to cross and that a person should always keep in mind that there is a big difference between "need" and "want" and once you get past need it's all gravy!
Plans Change, Martinique version
1 week ago
