English version

YACHT-CLUB INTERNATIONAL

English translation

DYNAMIQUE 62 "CARAÏBES" WHITE SAILS IN THE SUNSET

"Antares" is a name reminiscient of speed and beauty. Initially skippered by Yves Pajot in the first La Baule-Dakar, it tben became tbe only mono-hull in the "Jet-Services" fleet, under the helm of Patrick Morvan. This pure bred has now given up the race courses, and been adapted for a more leisurely life as a luxury cruiser in the beautiful surroundings of Saint Martin in the Lee-ward lslands. Ladies and gentlemen may I introduce the amazing "Dynamique 62 Caraïbes"?! A blend of Sun, sea, and sails.

First, may I introduce the island, then the boat? Saint Martin is a melting pot, half french-half dutch, one speaks in english and trades in US dollars, all this in a treasure island setting, the pirates have long been buried with their peices of eight, replaced by more modern adventurers, basking in the natural beauty of the island with its creole mansions, sugar loaf "mountains ' — creeks, harbours and in general, a Dolœ Vita that is so welcome and yet so rare. It is one of the last paradises left for us to enjoy on the more or less troubled waters that usually surround our modern life style.

We board "Ming' from the transom gang way which also converts into a swim ladder when that is more useful for climbing aboard.

"Ming;" is equipped with the indispensable "bimini-top" awning, to protect the cockpit and its crew. Designed for charter the "Caraïbes" version of the Dynamique 62 has a vast open cockpit, apart from the wheel house, the whole of this teak upholstered (flooring and benches) area is devoted lo providing space for up to 8 people to take their ease without walking over each other.

However if you leave the cockpit, and walk up front, you soon realize that this is no show boat. From the spotless winches surrounding the foot of the mast, to the neatly coiled ropes, the perfectly furled sails, one soon understands why all of the Dynamique 62's used for charter trade are leased with a crew.

FIRST OUTING. T0WARDS TINTAMARRE.

Nine of us aboard, we edged out of port between the pier and the usual catamaran filling up with fuel. However Lionel (our skipper) seemed perfectly at ease handling 20 meters of boat, and quietly slid us out of the harbour. The water below us soon turned to that lovely green, and the swell came up to meet us pushed along by a lively wind. Good conditions to test engine traction, wind speed 16 knots, swell depth 1.50 meters, our speed 7 knots full face to the wind. Fore deck getting slightly friendly with the crests of the waves, but the boat handling firm and steady as we head out towards the Anguilla channel, Lionel hits the thottle so we are doing about 8 knots when we meet the bigger waves. Now is the lime we scramble fore-ward and hoist the main sail, winches working like mad. Patrick and Marc saying once again that they will quit unless they get "coffee grinders", they don't have too much time to complain, since they have to raise the lore staysail immediately other-whise the boat goes leewards. Further out the sea flattens out, the wind gets stronger, 36 knots; "Ming" seems at home in these conditions, riding smoothly, even if quite a lot of water washes along the leeward side of the boat, it doesn't seem to hinder the crew working the winches and after all, the water is quite warm! We are more or less blowri into Tintamarre, a well chosen name since Tintamarre means "to make a lot of noise". Surf and sail boards skidded up and down and along a beach invaded by what one can only describe as colonial nudists, in the fact that they were totally nude, apart from the wearing of solar hats, white socks and sandals. Quite a sight! Putting down our binoculars, we partook of a regal feast served in the calm of our cockpit, roast lamb cutlets grilled on the rear barbecue. Then after a refreshing swim, and a delicious shower we set off home, back to St-Martin This time with just the genoa deployed, wind 30 knots, our speed? between 8 and 10 knots. What a lovely way to sail on this boat, like most of the "passengers" I was sad to return to harbour, the trip seemed too short. So I was looking foreward to.

OUR SECOND OUTING

The weather did not allow us a "real" trip, so we coasted around the islands before heading for Marigot the "French" capital of Saint Martin. This gave me time to inspect the boat in (further detail. The hull design is perfect for such conditions. The stern is wide, well eutlitted, clespite certain draw-backs, such as ventilation holes under the helms-mans seat that ventilate but also let water in, the engine controls that are very badly placed, the roof hood which is difficult to slide open or lo shut. There are also certain technical details to be sorted out, but Cm sure that the boat yard will listen lo, and take into account the crew's complaints!.

The architect and boat yard have kept more or less the same foreward deck lay out as that on the racing version. The foot of the mast is surrounded by live winches, rows of blocks and pulleys. The six stay plates visibly chosen for their strength rather than their appearance. Luckily a teak "dance floor", a welcome area for Sun bathers, is there to break up this impressive display of hard­ware, which continues up front with the fore sail stays, the twin windlass, (electric), sturdy stem braces worthy of Ben Hur.

However all this results in a boat which is packed with performance and yet surprisingly easy to handle, as was amply demonstrated, when a reduced crew of only 3 bought the boat from La Rochelle to the Antilles without undue fatique, they even refused to use the automatic pilot during their trip, which is certainly a tribute to the ease of sailing the dynamique.

AND NOW LETS TAKE A CRUISE DOWNSTAIRS.

The peak is taken up by a sail locker that opens up ondeck. Then working backwards, we find a twin head/shower with no less than nine open lockers, doors lead off to the port and starboard cabins.

The cabins throughout the Dynamique are well furnished, drawers under the beds, tall wardrobes, and also very well ventilated.

A corridor leads to the starboard central cabin, the most comfortable one I think, the large cupboard built into the side of the corridor, was used by our skipper lo stack his ample supply of water filters, since the HRO 600 water purificator gives a plentiful supply of fresh water at very low cost (1 Franc per 100 liters) far less than that charged in most ports.

The chart table is to starboard close to the companion way. The lay out of the saloon is better shown in our photographs.

The rear cabin with its private head/shower, is set close to the galley, which, as you can imagine is well equipped having to cope with up to eight hungry holiday makers plus crew!

CONCLUSION

The "Caraïbes" version of the Dynamique 62 is really fantastic value for its price. Ideal for charter, it can easily house up to eight customers plus crew. It is designed for those who want a boat that is fast and exciting to sail, yet comfortable to live aboard. In that, the Dynamique 62 is a total success. So, happy cruising.