There are such and such. Boats that leave the sailor cold, unimpressive objects, interchangeable to commonplace, even boring. And then there are those with character and originality, which attract attention in every harbour and at sea, touch the viewer in some way, provoke a reaction, be it negative or positive. The spectrum ranges from admiration to astonishment to rejection, from an appreciative whistle to a frown to a shake of the head.
But what happens to a sailor who approaches the unconventional boat type of La Gazelle de Sables? The first sight arouses mixed feelings, ranging from sympathy to protectiveness, a benevolent smile is almost inevitable - a boat that leaves no one cold. The rounded GRP part is barely longer than a bathtub, it even resembles one. Instead of a drainpipe, there is a sloping, fixed long keel on the underside. The upright stern is positively moulded, the bow is full and round like the bulkhead shape, and the deck has a pronounced positive deck bulge. To top it all off, the prop of a built-in engine protrudes from the sternpost. Excuse me? The boat is only 2.70 metres long, making it probably the smallest keel boat with classic lines.
It's not easy to take a "gazelle" seriously - a mistake
The Gazelle is a paradox: with over 250 units, it is already considered a mass-produced boat builder's product, but in its style and attitude it remains unique. She is the brainchild of Marie and Patrick Besnié, who seem to thrive on building and marketing. They have already exhibited at boot in Düsseldorf, where in 2020, for example, they stood lost in Hall 17 between full-grown yachts and daysailers due to the size of the boat.
Demonstration date on the Lac de Maine near Angers, in the Loire Valley, a puddle that seems to suit the vehicle, which looks like a manoeuvrable model boat. The Gazelle sits on a trailer. With a weight of 65 kilograms, it would almost pass as roof transport, it even fits completely into a van, and it can even be trailered by bicycle. Marie Besnié apparently pushes the GRP tub onto a slip trolley, which is nothing more than a box equipped with wheels, for demonstration purposes. Patrick Besnié shoulders the rig and rudder and goes to the slip ramp. The boat is ready to go in just a few simple steps. Attach the rudder, connect the battery for the electric motor, insert the telescopic mast and hoist the sails.
Ready to sail takes no longer than with an Opti or Laser. The sheet is only deflected once, directly on the tiller, where it is also secured in a clamp - it couldn't be simpler. The sail plan quotes larger classic models: The gaff-rigged main can be completed with a topsail. A jib is attached to the bowsprit, and a larger, rounder sail, similar to a Code Zero, can be set in front of it if required. The name of the boat, meanwhile, is reminiscent of the 19th century sardine fishermen used in the Vendée region on the west coast of France. The hull silhouette with the lower freeboard aft, which was intended to make it easier to pick up the catch, is borrowed from the historical models.
Boats are laminated in the former sheepfold
Marie and Patrick Besnié, on the other hand, come from the Guérande peninsula in Brittany, which is world-famous for its salt. Marie worked in marketing and media there, Patrick as a composites engineer. They were jobs, nothing more. And the sailing part of their lives became less and less important. The turning point for a better quality of life came on Marie's 30th birthday. Patrick gave her a boat he had built himself, the first Gazelle.
They built another one and had a blast sailing the boats along the coast. Some of those who experienced the small boats and their enthusiastic owners were carried away, and a demand arose that Patrick initially satisfied privately. Finally, in 2005, the two became self-employed and turned their beloved hobby into a profession, founding the Ateliers de La Gazelle des Sables.
The shipyard now resides in a small castle, the Château de l'Orchère, surrounded by vineyards and rivers south of the Loire between Angers and Nantes. There, on the former vineyard, they laminate the boats in a former sheepfold - but in a very modern vacuum injection process using RTM. This means that the laminate is placed dry in a mould and fixed there. This is closed with an inner mould that is smaller by the thickness of the laminate and the resin-hardener mixture is sucked into the fibre mix by vacuum. When used correctly, the system ensures the desired low defined resin content, a homogeneously compacted laminate and clean surfaces on both sides with a low weight. What's more, it is almost emission-free and produces significantly less waste than conventional vacuum processes. RTM, or resin transfer moulding, is more complex than conventional methods due to the second hull form and is therefore very rarely used.
The sail carrying capacity of the Gazelle is a whopping 7.29
The size, shape, sails, origin and construction are by no means the only special features of this nine-foot retro classic from the Pays de la Loire. The high level of stability is surprising when boarding. The boat works with water ballast. Around 75 litres of water flow automatically into the tank in the keel within a few minutes as soon as the Gazelle is lowered into the water. When it is taken out of its element again, the ballast flows out again automatically through the bilge opening in the stern. The system works without moving parts, flaps or pumps, which is another solution that cannot be simplified any further.
The boat sails comfortably and agile even in light winds, although the speed is difficult to estimate due to the unusually low proximity to the water for yacht sailors. Riding out, making weight on the edge, elaborate side changes? Not a chance. You sit comfortably in your hull and are the captain. When tacking, the helmsman slides over to the new side and there is no risk of injuring your head in the process or in a jibe: There is no boom. There is also no obstructive keel box in the way, the floor is flat. It's hard to believe: there is enough space for two adults, and the load capacity certified by the recreational craft directive is a whopping 180 kilograms.
Another value of the Gazelle is surprising: the sail load factor, which puts weight and cloth area in relation to each other. Calculated with ballast, it is 7.29, which would classify the boat as a hardcore racer - and clearly shows the limits of this assessment basis. The boat also proves its ability to take wind and waves in its stride, as various photos, video recordings and owner testimonials show. And why not? The sail area can be reduced from 14 square metres to four, and a powerful pump or a simple oil drum can help against a lot of water in the boat.
The "Gazelle" is bursting with good ideas and simple solutions
And if there is not enough wind, the Gazelle can be wriggled or rowed, or pushed with the electric drive, which is equipped with a battery for two hours. And the boat is also unsinkable: The space between the hull and the deck/cockpit shell that is not occupied by the ballast tank is filled with closed-cell foam.
All in all, the Gazelle is a fully-fledged boat, a sturdy daysailer, a retro classic. On the other hand, it also makes a great tender for a full-size yacht. With a length of 2.70 metres, the size is quite common as a tender, even if the weight is around 30 kilograms higher and the payload is lower. A Gazelle could be towed or travelled on davits on a larger mother ship. The shipyard offers appropriate fittings.
And also strives for optimisation and individualisation in other ways. The Gazelle is available in nine hull colours, with differently designed decks and cockpit floors made of wood or GRP or in combinations. The aluminium spars are available in a wood look on request, and the cleats can be ordered in bronze. The boat is also available catrigged, in which case the mast is positioned further forward in a second mount. Ateliers also offers wooden oars, bronze dinghies and even a bar for the obligatory wine bar. The Gazelle des Sables is, so to speak, the Swiss army knife for maritime connoisseurs. Or the nautical equivalent of the English Brompton folding bike, which can be pimped up with various attachments, from the leather handlebar bag to the hand-stitched saddle, in a sympathetic touch of snobbery. The gazelle base price starts at 5650 euros. And it can easily be doubled with additional sails, the built-in engine, a road trailer and other nice touches - almost like a big boat.
Shipyard motto: "Small on land, big on the sea"
Marie and Patrick Besnié have created their own macro-cosmos with their micro-classic, and they also live their theme with their customers. They boast that they are always available, even via a text message hotline. The warranty can be extended on request, and the shipyard even offers annual maintenance work, as well as sailing lessons and training or visits to maritime festivals by boat. The two have long since realised the shipyard motto "Small on land, big at sea" with other models that are in no way inferior in terms of originality. There is the Gazelle Breizh, which measures just under three and a half metres and is based on a similar concept to the original boat, designed as a mid-cockpit vessel. Or the smaller catboat Lascar du Toul'Ru. They now also have retro-classic miniature motorboats in their growing range, and the latest design, the 3.20 metre long Morgat, is less of a scaled-down classic and more of a traditional fishing and sailing boat.
Oh yes: the Gazelle is also available in a third size, almost four metres long. It is called the Gazelle des Iles, weighs 120 kilograms and can carry 150 litres of water ballast. It is also available as a two-master and can be equipped with five sails. The up to four possible co-sailors should also have something to do.
Technical data of the "Gazelle des Sables"
- Designer:Patrick Besnié
- CE design category:D
- Torso length:2,70 m
- Width:1,20 m
- Depth:0,45 m
- Weight:65 kg
- Ballast/proportion:70 kg/107 %
- sail area:14,0 m2
- Sail carrying capacity:7,29
This article first appeared in YACHT 15/2020 and has been updated for this online version.
