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Monday, September 21, 2009

Picture of the day: SY Penelope


Click to enlarge

The 38m-127ft sailing yacht Penelope (ex: Talofa IV, ex Sayonara) was at anchor during the Cannes Boat Show.

Built in 1968 by Chantier de la Perrière in France, she was designed by the French architect Cornu.
When she was launched, this 38m schooner was the largest private sailing yacht in the world to be built in aluminium.

44 comments:

mp mc said...

August 2011. Sadly SY Penelope lies on the fisherman's wharf in Aguilas in a sad state. Her final crew didn't even bother to furl and cover her sails.

Holborn said...

I almost knew, she would end up like that. In 2008 I was commanding her, but things on board were already a bit strange...Bad maintainance, lousy payment for the crew an british millionaires, who pretended not to smell the rottenness inside of her. A swedish moneybroker as an owner, who just polished her up, but did not do any substantical work.
One of two engines did not work, the sails were old, and so on, and so on...

Anders said...

I have sailed on her in the french med.
Do any of you know where she is now, and who the owner is ?

jordsd1 said...

I was crew when she was at the cannes boat shhow. The time i spent on her was a nightmare. No engines working. One was seized, the other we could not figure how to get fuel to the engine. We had to sqil her off the anchor in st tropez. The hot water never worked. Got it going then one of the pipes burst. When it got to aguilas apparently 13 tonnes of bilge was removed. Oil and fuel. Pay was intermittant. The swedish owner did not care for it. No credit cards to buy provisioning. Just gave a few hundred euros every couple of weeks. Rifle onboard with no paper work. Paperwork wasnt in order. We got boarded by the duane. I could go on. Left before their trip to spain

Horacio said...

She has a new owner and is being fully gutted. Needs a good 6 months of work, new engines coming in next month, etc.

Unknown said...

She is still moored to the fishing key. Took a picture still looking in a sorry state.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/97628290@N08/

Russell Savige said...

Very sad, it reminds me of Errol Flynn's "Zaca" which was sitting on the bottom of the harbor at Villefranche when we sailed in there in 1977.

I crewed on Sayonara Alpha (Penelope) for 18 months (1976/77). She was almost a replica of Zaca in retrospect... massive flush oregon deck, beautiful flowing lines... built for pure speed at the time.

In her original build Sayonara Alpa was a traditional racing yacht externally, but fitted out to luxurious standards internally. She could handle any sea conditions (and did often). I still have my diary describing our voyage from the Pocheroles to Marsailles in a wild Mistral wind (5 days of hell). Winds over 70 miles an hour, but she came thruogh it just fine.

When we sailed into Marssailes we were told we were the only vessel to arrive in the port for 4 days.

Unknown said...

Saw her today so sad to see such a beautiful yacht in such a sorry state. She deserves a caring owner before she falls apart!

Unknown said...

I visited Penelope in 2012 lying in the fishing harbour of Aquila. Nobody was caring about her. Foresail on deck, All covers open, lots of water insides the so very beautifull saloon. Chairs and cushions were floating around. All was in a sadly state. In a closet I found a new and well blistered polo marked with the shipsname Penelope and this item is nowadays my best remembering to this ever so very beautifull lady.

Unknown said...

J'ai vu Pénélope il y a quinze jours à Aguilas. Il est vraiment dans un sale état. C'est très triste. Quelqu'un connaît il les actuels propriétaires ?

Lillingston Fizzy said...

So sad, this beautiful boat is tied up and rotting on the fishing harbour wall - anyone can get on board. No security whatsoever. There is a feeling of great sadness and decay about her. I can not begin to imagine how much it would cost to bring her back to her former glory. It's probably too late now!
Fizzy and Jack on Carpe Diem SY

Unknown said...

Does anyone have P, J,I or E for this yacht? I have been asked to look for second hand sails so need some basic sail measurements to start the search. Thank you all in advance.

Russell Savige said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Russell Savige said...

She was built at Chantier de La Perrière in France in about 1967. They should have the original drawings and specs for you. She was lengthened by about 2 metres by about 2mts about around 1990 or so... however the main mast sails and foresails dimensions would remain unchanged as the extra length was at the stern.
Looking at photos of Penelope, I doubt that they would have lengthened the Mizzen mast, but they may have lengthened the Mizzen boom.
The main, genoa and spinacker, sailswere enormous.
We never raised the spinacker when I was a crew member, but we did sail under the genoa and it was freakishly big
The mainsail cloth was about 1kg per square metre.

ptwatercraft said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
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Russell Savige said...

Old yachts are much like old sailors... neglected and forgotten

Unknown said...

The penelope has sunk this morning due to the miserable state of the ship. A sad ending for a very beautiful boat.

los dos piratas said...

coulé le 4 janvier, démâter à l'oxicoupeur le 5, triste fin de vie pour un aussi beau voilier

los dos piratas said...

coulé le 4 janvier, démâter à l'oxicoupeur le 5, triste fin de vie pour un aussi beau voilier

los dos piratas said...

coulé le 4 janvier, démâter à l'oxicoupeur le 5, triste fin de vie pour un aussi beau voilier

Unknown said...

Sadly Penelope has sunk last week in port of Aguilas

Unknown said...

This is sad news. I remember her in the early 80's while crewing in Tortola and St. Thomas.

Peter Bignose said...

Does anyone know who owned her in 1979, who was the skipper and crew members?

December 1979: A large yacht name 'Sayonara Alpha' anchored off Villa Beach, Saint Vincent, and had laid at anchor for several weeks. The police, following a tip-off, searched the vessel. They found it loaded with guns, ammunition and explosives. Four crew members were taken into custody, they were said to be three English, one German and a Caribbean man. A story at the time was that the boat was used as a transfer depot for the weapons. Also that a local group was involved in receiving the arms. There was much speculation if this was part of the Caribbean Marxist Conspiracy.
{for some reason this matter has been written out of Vincentian history]

December 8, 1979: The government had to quell an uprising on Union Island. The uprising called the "December Revolt" on Union Island by a group that wanted more power in the country's new government. Rastafarians seized the airport, police station, and revenue office on Union Island in the Grenadines.

Any information would be appreciated truthfullanswers@gmail.com

thanks

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Alston Kane said...

Very interesting and informative blog and about the yacht I must appreciate your work well done keep it up.

Yacht Photography

Caroline from DownUnder said...

I was one of the "all female" crew on Sayonara mid-1988. Very interesting owner/skipper, Michel ?, from the old Yugoslavia. Very crazy stories I could tell you. I could write a book about the two months upon which I was crewing. Very sad to hear that she was left alone and neglected.

Russell Savige said...

Caroline... for you information Michel now has a motot sailor that travelles between Panama and Columbia weekly (at least it did 18 months ago).
I crewed on Sayonara in the mid to late 70's when Michel was getting her ready for charter work. We sailed about 16,000 sea miles in the 16 months I was abourd, including a return transataltic after which I left.

Peter Bignose said...

Does anyone know about 1979 when she was found at Young Island Cut, Saint Vincent SVG.
Loaded with guns and amunition, thought to be part of a coup attempt involving local Marxist activists, the Cubans and the Maurice Bishop government.

It has been written out of Vincentian history, records have disapeared, can anyone help?

Russell Savige said...

This once beautiful yacht has now been raised, taken ashore and is being broken up for scrap.
https://murciatoday.com/images/articles/33624_145-ton-abandoned-yacht-finally-removed-from-guilas-fishing-port_2_gallery_large.jpg

Holborn said...

Rest in Peace, Sayonara Alpha and Penelope!
Does anybody know, who took the logbook?
I would like to publish something about her.

Rainer (former skipper)

Michel F said...

Vraiment triste fin pour ce qui fut le plus grand yacht aluminium construit en France en 1967 par les Chantiers et Ateliers de la Perrière (CAP) juste avant que les Chantiers n'attaque la construction pour Eric Tabarly du Pen Duick III.
Je suis l'animateur du site internet qui essaye de regrouper et présenter un maximum de documents sur les navires construits par les CAP. Si des navigants à l'époque TALOFA, SAYONARA ou PENELOPE peuvent nous communiquer des commentaires et photos sur leurs navigations et expérience a bord du navire, nous les publierons avec plaisir.
Ce bateau mérite que l'on parle de lui!!

Caroline from DownUnder said...

Hi .
Caroline from DownUnder here. I'll be digging out my old photos before long and hopefully there'll be some photos from my time on Sayonara Alpha, as she was known in mid-1988.
By the way Michel F, were you the skipper/owner from that period?
It would be lovely to re-connect with you after all these years!! :-)
Also Hi .

Bruce said...

I was crew on Sayonara in 1986 along with two French guys (Claude, Emmanuelle) and a German fellow named Uli. We were based in Martinique. We all worked in the drydock to paint the hull and improvise a patchwork of over way overdue repairs. The boat went up for sale later that year and the owner Michel eventually left, presumably coinciding with the change in ownership. A French skipper came to bring the boat back to France. I elected not to do the transatlantic.
The boat was in pretty tough shape, esp. the electrical and engines. Life on the boat was substantively dysfunctional. She was a joy to sail though - a thing of beauty a 20 knot breeze, and we all stayed for that.
There is an article in Neptune Yachting about Sayonara written back in her better days.
It's a shame no-one stepped up to restore her. She was one of a kind.

Skippy said...

Sayonara Alpha is gone.
Michel is currently in Philippines buying, fixing selling boats.
He is finishing writing his book... I keep in contact with him via email.
Skippy...

Hatteras said...

I was aboard Sayonara in St Croix, 1980 I think it was. She had just crossed the Atlantic in what the Captain said was a world record time. A wave had blown open a forward hatch during the crossing. Flooded an electrical panel and the Captain was looking for someone to repair it. Was a problem getting the right breakers if I recall correctly. He'd done the crossing with two crew. A mate named Jurgen I think was his name and a young lady. Long time ago, beautiful boat, never forgot it.

Skippy said...

Michel has written his book and published it on Amazon.

LIVING OVER THE EDGE ADVENTURES BETWEEN RIFFS, STORMS, WOMAN AND PIRATES

It documents his life with Sayonara Alpha based on his log books.
I get a couple of mentions in his book.

I was aboard this magnificent yacht for over 16 months and his references to the time I was on board are very accurate based on my memory of my time there.

Skippy... I'm now 73 years old
Russell Savige
Darwin, Australia

Unknown said...

Hello Caroline from DownUnder. I was on board Sayonara in 1988 as well. There were two, sometimes 3 women on board at the time and I'm guessing you were one of them. Crazy stories indeed! Actually still have my super-tight, 3 sizes too small Sayonara tee shirt (actually, it's probably closer to 5-6 sizes too small now :). Kept it just to remind me that it wasn't really just a very strange dream. Let me know if you know of a way to get in touch. I'd love to connect, share stories and the few photos I have but I'm not sure the way to do that.

Skippy said...

I have set up a Discord Server named "Sayonara Alpha Yacht"
Anyone can join as a way to meet up, reminisce or reunite.
https://discord.gg/ppwaESBS

"Skippy"
Russell Savige

_jm__22 said...

Bonjour à tous et toutes,

j'apprends à l'instant la triste fin de Sayonara !!!
j'étais membre d'équipage de février à avril 1990 et j'ai effectué quelque mois de charter et la transatlantique à son bord.
Nous l'avons ramené à Lorient sur son chantier de naissance.
il a été rallongé de 2 m et des travaux sur le grément ont été effectué.

j'ai des souvenirs impérissables des mois passés à bord.
la traversée a été un enfer, elle a duré 28 jours dont 18 jours de tempête à force 9 - 10

j'ai beaucoup de photos: tirages papier...

jean-michel

uli said...

Hi Bruce, this is Uli. I was a crew member with you and Claude and Emmanuel in 1988. If you see this get in touch with me at ulih@mac.com. It would be great to hear from you!

Skippy said...

I was still in contact with Michel up until about 8 months ago when he suddenly stopped replying to my emails.
He was living in Philippines and well into his mid to late 80's at that stage.
My guess is that he has passed, though I hope not.

Valérie said...

Indeed, Michel died almost 2 years ago (in May 2022 i think) ..... end of thé store. I Was on bord Sayonara from 1976 to 1983

Skippy said...

Valérie I was on Sayonarra in '76, we crossed Atlantic to Caribbean and stayed there 6 months before returning to UK where I left the boat in Southampton UK.
I was the curly haired Aussie with beard.
I live in Darwin Australia now.
I was emailing with Michel until 2 years ago.
Sad to hear he passed.
He was a hard man, but good.