Eric Tabarly's Manoeuvre Guide illustrated by Titouan Lamazou

It is a reference work. Here it is re-edited by Gallimard for the greatest pleasure of the oldest who formed with this book and the youngest to understand Eric Tabarly's love for boats. The whole magnificently illustrated by the pencils of Titouan Lamazou

François-Xavier Ricardou Published on June 8, 2018

It is a kind of bible: the guide the manoeuvre written by Eric Tabarly and illustrated by Titouan Lamazou. These two sailed together on Pen Duick VI in his campaign in Polynesia. That's when skipper Eric Tabarly asked teammate artist Titouan Lamazou if he wanted to illustrate his work.

Guide manÅ“uvre d'Eric Tabarly illustrÃ© par Titouan Lamazou

And taking the time to look at drawing after drawing as the stopovers unfold, criticizing this detail, refining this perspective, Eric Tabarly validated Titouan's drawings. The first edition of this book was published in 1978, which is now completely unavailable. Gallimard proposes a new edition of this book, which is still a reference in this field. With for this edition a portrait of Eric Tabarly on the cover chewed by Lamazou and an editorial by the same hand.

In his Guide la Man?uvre, Eric Tabarly wanted to address boaters and not sailors. Even if the examples are drawn from situations experienced on his racing yachts (mainly Pen Duick II, III and VI), he tries to make the mechanisms of the manoeuvre well understood so that they can be applied to all boats.

The texts are precise with some theoretical and physical reflections, but each time, the image setting facilitates comprehension. Of course, the evolution of sailing will make some chapters obsolete, such as the choice of rigging, Tabarly preferring schooners whereas today 2-masted sailboats are rare. But it is interesting to discover the sailor's love for his Pen Duick III boat, probably the one he most often refers to with praise.

Port manoeuvres by motor or sail, makeshift manoeuvres such as stranding or navigation in bad weather, adjustments and seamanship... all situations are described in the 200 pages of this book. It is amusing to discover through the drawings the different boats crossed at the time and some famous characters who sailed on Pen Duick VI are also sometimes identifiable.

Although this "Manoeuvre Guide" is not mandatory in a sailboat's library, it will still be a rich source of reading showing one aspect of the illustrious Eric Tabarly: the desire to share his knowledge of the boat.