The fact that the ships from Normandy are thoroughly capable of sailing in extreme waters has been proven by none other than the long-distance sailing icon Jimmy Cornell has impressively demonstrated his expertise over the past two years. At the time, he ordered construction number 1 of the Garcia Exploration 45 and travelled the Northwest Passage with it. He failed on his first attempt in 2014. But not because the boat didn't cooperate, but because the ice refused to clear the way. Cornell made the best of it and sailed far up the west coast of Greenland towards the north.
Last summer, it then managed to pass through the Arctic regions, but this time from the opposite direction, i.e. eastwards from the west. To do this, the ship had to travel from Greenland to the Caribbean and on through the Panama Canal to the Pacific. This also proved the suitability of the massively insulated hull construction for the tropics.
Proven in the ice
Later in the Northwest Passage, the crew had to find their way through sometimes dense drift ice fields. The construction also survived this unscathed. And when, after completing the passage, the engine broke down on the way back across the North Atlantic - incidentally the only serious damage during the entire maiden voyage, which lasted almost two and a half years - and a terrible storm hit the sea area for days, Cornell was also able to convince himself of the Garcia Exploration's suitability for strong winds. Albeit involuntarily.
And now the big sister. The plans for this had already been in the drawer of the French Aluminium boatbuilding specialists located. They also come from the design office of Berret/Racoupeau Yacht Design. So it's no wonder that the larger model is very similar to the smaller one. Everything is just a little longer, wider and bigger.
For example, the long, fixed canopy over the companionway, which provides excellent protection for the crew in the cockpit. However, if you compare closely, you will recognise that the superstructure is somewhat more "streamlined" and no longer quite as bulky as on the 45. There is a reason for this, as the helmsman's view on the 45 was somewhat impaired by the high superstructure.
The double steering position, the equipment rack projecting over the stern, the stern platform with additional integrated holders for various equipment and the slanted and tinted saloon windows, which are also surmounted by the roof, have also been retained. Everything is the same as on the 45-foot version.
Everything almost as before, only bigger
The differences in the interior are more striking. Cabins, galley and seating group in the saloon are again located on different levels. However, there was no room on the small Garcia for a technical room below the saloon seating area, i.e. in the basement, so to speak. There is now such a room on the 52. If desired, it can even be converted into an additional guest cabin.
Otherwise, the layout is almost identical to that of the 45-foot model. The boat comes with a choice of interior layouts. As standard, there is a spacious owner's cabin in the foredeck with its own bathroom and separate shower. In the stern, on the starboard side, there is an equally large cabin with a double berth for guests.
Variable interior layout
On the port side aft there is another cabin with one or two single berths. There is also a large bathroom and a separate shower. The large deck saloon with a 270-degree panoramic view and the navigation centre, which is arranged in the direction of travel, together with the inside steering position, forms the centre of the ship. The longitudinal galley is positioned opposite the seating area on the port side.
In contrast, the "Multiversion" differs primarily in terms of the number of berths: an additional berth can be accommodated in the cabin under the saloon if required. And the seating area, which can seat up to eight people extremely comfortably, can also be converted into a huge berth if required, on which two people can be accommodated as "saloon sleepers". In extreme cases, this provides overnight accommodation for up to ten sailors.
Like the 45, the 52 also has a lowerable ballast centreboard. With its help, the draught can be varied between just under 1.30 metres and 3.00 metres. Perfect for penetrating shallow waters and anchoring close to the coast.
Many other special features, as already seen on the smaller sister, could also be mentioned. For example, the ice hook on the bow, the chain locker positioned amidships for balance and ballast reasons or the solid and watertight locking companionway bulkhead. All of this leaves an enormously confidence-inspiring impression.
And with more and more crews recently seeking the challenge of the high latitudes, there should be no shortage of seriously interested parties for the ship. Only the price of 831,000 euros for the basic version could put some people off.
The boat can be seen at the Garcia stand in Hall 16, D 42. The dealer for German customers is the company Blue Yachting in Bremen.
