Open the practice of dinghy sailing to all
L' ePoH pronounced "epo" and meaning exponential pleasure, zero hassles, looks like a trimaran, but it is not. It is a dinghy, directly inspired by Australian skiffs, which has stabilizing skids to limit capsizing but which are not used for sailing. It is a bridge between a classic dinghy (4.20) and an extreme sailing boat.
As on Australian skiffs, it is equipped with ladders which are used for abseiling and which must not touch the water, otherwise the boat will spin and be stopped.
Installed on the fenders, the skids rest on the water and prevent the boat from heeling but do not reduce the speed of the boat. The result is a boat that is as fast as a skiff, but no longer capsizes.
The skids make learning faster. Once finished, the skates can be removed, but the ladders remain in place. It is then back to a traditional skiff.
The genesis of the project
The basic idea is that the practice of skiff is reserved for advanced boaters. However, in 2008, Yannick created a prototype to replace a 4.70, which would be suitable for both older and younger people. He adapted all the pleasant elements of the dinghy and the skiff on his first boat by removing the unpleasant sides. And he added skids to make it more stable. Thus was born a boat that can suit two generations.
And then, everything went crazy! His boat, which he had designed for his family, caught the attention of the Glénans sailing school, which found the idea very good. Several other schools showed interest and this is how Yannick became aware of the potential of his boat. So was born the company Transsonique, which produces and distributes the ePoH directly, for a French construction at an affordable price.
Now in mass production
To create the ePoH, Yannick d'Armancourt, the designer and creator of the Transsonique company, joined the naval architects Frédéric Neuman, Kévin Brin and the technical team of Roland Jourdain (Kaïros). And it took more than a year to go from the prototype to the first production models, which came out of the shipyard in Concarn.
The infusion construction was developed by the Kaïros racing yard, which contributed its expertise in building state-of-the-art yachts. The result is a lighter, stiffer and more resistant boat. But it is a Breton builder specialized in high level composite parts, which will take over.
For transport, the ladders can be easily removed and stored to make the boat go from 3.60 m to 2.02 m when stored. It is also sold with a trailer to transport it and put it in the water.
Two models available
Two models of ePoH are available for sale. The first one is the club version, with moderate sails for learning. It is lighter, with a simple deck plan, Dacron sails with reefing band, a constant section mast and an aluminium rudder.
The second model is an owner or performance version with a gauge sail plan, composite rudder, regatta deck plan, stepped mast and mylar sails.
The sails are interchangeable, from one model to another.
Already 4 units of this biocomposite racing boat left the yard on August 15. The first one was exhibited at the Grand Pavois, two will be delivered to the nautical center of Sainte-Marie, near Bénodet and the last one will be delivered to a private individual.
Technical specifications
| Overall length | 4,91 m |
| Width | 3.62 m (2.02 m stored) |
| Draft | 0,16 m / 1,20 m |
| Air draft | 7,22 m |
| Weight | 165 kg (148 kg without skates) |
Price
Boat club 18,600 euros
Performance boat 21,000 euros
