“Launched in July 2013 at Saint Malo, France, the Etoile 65 motor catamaran made her first trip in April 2014 as the media boat for the transatlantic AG2R race from Concarneau in Brittany to St.Barts in the Caribbean. We were then immediately back to France for the Figaro 2014 race as media boat. After some local cruising, we followed the departure of the Route du Rhum race in 2014, before getting involved in towing the former Enza 30 meter catamaran from Lorient to St.Malo, then Groupe Olmix, Pierre Antoine’s 50 foot trimaran from La Corunna to Lorient following damage during the Route du Rhum. Next, towing the 60 foot Imoca, Bureau Vallée, from Lorient to St.Malo. In July 2015 we followed the Figaro race as media boat.
In August 2015, Etoile slipped the lines bound for a trip around the world, which was interrupted in Brazil by events beyond either our or Etoile’s control. So we are now in the process of heading up to the West Indies, with the intention of returning to France in April 2016. However, a new departure is planned for early 2017. The catamaran has currently logged 26,000 miles without any problems. We’ve seen heavy weather (several times over 50 knots). On most of our passages, average fuel consumption has been around 6 liters per motor per hour for an average speed of 8 knots, making 12 litres an hour or 1.5 liters per mile, with a well-laden boat, like most blue water cruisers (3 dinghies, etc). There’s just Françoise and I, and we are delighted with our home on the water. Patrick Balta designed a vessel which corresponds to every aspect of our dreams and our requirements…”
Françoise & Bob Escoffier, on board L’Etoile.
www.cataetoile.com
