ProjectGoMad

TypeSailing Yacht

Make/modelEcume de Mar

Length8 metres

Berth3

Sailing from United Kingdom , Watchet

Sailing to United Kingdom , Largs

Language spoke aboardEnglish

Boat description My current boat is *Skellig*, a 1976 Écume de Mer (*Foam of the Sea*) cruiser edition—a 26-foot French-designed yacht that balances character, capability, and speed in one remarkably efficient package. The Écume de Mer was penned by Michel Joubert as a competitive quarter-tonner under the IOR rule and quickly found acclaim as a versatile cruiser-racer. Over 1,300 were built between 1969 and 1979, and many served not only in club racing but also as support boats in major offshore events such as the **Tour de France à la Voile**. Built during the golden era of fiberglass construction, *Skellig* features the elegant lines, moderate displacement, and sturdy fin keel typical of French boatyards in the 1970s. As a cruiser edition, her interior reflects thoughtful modifications—more livable below deck without losing the agility that defines her design above the waterline. A true sailor’s boat, she is light on the helm, quick to accelerate, and reassuringly stable under pressure. Her manageable size makes her easy to handle solo or short-handed, while her build quality gives confidence in open water. In a recent refit, *Skellig* was carefully updated to blend her vintage soul with modern sailing sensibilities, preserving the charm while improving functionality. She’s also a continuous project. I’m constantly fixing, improving, and updating her systems—because keeping a classic seaworthy isn’t a one-time effort, it’s a way of life. Her sail wardrobe includes a dual track furling (for more fun) **storm jib**, a **125% genoa**, a **trysail**, ensuring she’s ready for both light-air sailing and heavy-weather scenarios. Onboard equipment includes all the essentials: **VHF**, **GPS**, and a growing suite of **B\&G sensors**. She carries a **Man Overboard system**, an **Ocean Safety liferaft**, flares, with more safety equipment being added to the list . The upgrades are ongoing—but they reflect the kind of preparation that offshore and coastal sailing demand. Not just a pretty hull, *Skellig* has a proven performance pedigree. In **spring 2005**, she took **first place in the PY 2 class at the Sussex Yacht Club Regatta**, sweeping the series with three consecutive wins. She has also participated in competed in regional ISORA series between approximately 2004 and 2008, holding her own in the variable and often testing conditions of the Irish Sea. While not a boat built for the limelight, her results tell the story of a yacht that continues to deliver, decades after she first launched. Today, *Skellig* represents the kind of sailing that is increasingly rare: direct, honest, and deeply connected to the sea. Whether beating into a breeze or lying quietly at anchor, she speaks to an era when thoughtful design, seaworthiness, and joy under sail mattered most—and still do.