Georges is surprising. He changes boat as one changes shirt (or almost). Provided that it is transportable, this sailor has owned many sailboats: Dufour T7, Blue Jet, Hobbie Cat 14, Twist, Corneel 18euros His last (but not the only one since he still owns 2 Belouga and a Virus Pluseuros) is a Mac Grégor 26 X on which he has made severe modifications
For those who don't know it, the Mac Gregor is a really atypical sailboat, a kind of 5-legged sheep of the nautical world. Indeed, built in the United States, this 7.70 m boat has a liquid ballast. Thus it can navigate quietly under sail (full ballast) or navigate under engine (empty ballast). In this case, motorized by a "big" outboard, it reaches improbable speeds for a traditional sailing boat.
Georges explains: " I bought this Mac Gregor thinking that my wife would sail with me. Indeed, it is a sailing boat with many assets: it is comfortable with a great habitality. It has 6 berths and 1.85 m of headroom. It also has a bathroom. And its big engine makes it possible to return quickly to the port if necessary. But in spite of all these qualities, we do not make more cruises together with my wifeeuros "
Living in the Paris region, Georges uses this boat for vacations. " After giving up sailing in 1976, I started again in 2003. I bought a liveaboard (a Blue Jet) to give me back the taste of cruising. But this sailboat is really small. And I discovered the Mac Gregor. "
The sailboat is bought second hand at the end of November 2011. It is a 2003 model with a Yamaha 50 hp 4 stroke engine of the same year. It has not been used for a long time. Its mast is in 2 parts sleeved to facilitate transport. " The first thing I did was fix the genoa (which I finally changed in 2013). "But the first sailings revealed that the boat was under-crewed. " After some summer sailing, I changed the mast in 2016. I put a mast of 9.60 m, 1 m more than the original one. The boom is also replaced by a classic boom. Originally, there is a very heavy furling boom. This time, the mainsail is more important and will seek the wind higher. This sailboat has a large wetted surface and remains heavy. It weighs around 2.2 T in running order (full ballast). It is true that I sail in cruising configuration with 2 batteries, 100 L of fresh water, a fridge, dishes, etc. Another advantage is that the new mast, despite its extra meter, is lighter. "
To fill the ballast and sail under sail, nothing could be easier. You open the hatch at the back, a big valve of 90 mm diameter and a vent under the front berth. In 5 to 6 minutes, you can see the water in the bow and you can close everything to sail. There is no risk of overflow in the boat. A pivoting daggerboard comes out under the boat which is controlled by 2 rudders that frame the engine. " I made some modifications to the rudders by lengthening them and adding compensation on the front. To do this, I glued a piece of cut pipe in front of it before laminating it all together. Now my boat has a better upwind course. "
The motor navigation is done by emptying the ballast: "You just have to sail at 7 knots. The boat rises and by opening the valve, the ballast is emptied." Thus lightened, the Mac Gregor sails easily at 14 - 15 knots (17 knots peak) in fine seas, provided you have not forgotten to raise the daggerboard and rudders. When there is too much chop, you have to slow down or you risk damaging the rigging.
When under sail, Georges raises the engine with the electric trim. But the weight of the engine continues to weigh on the helm: " I installed a hydraulic steering system so that the weight of the engine doesn't bother me anymore. It's a little less precise, but much more comfortable. "
Today Georges is very happy with his sailboat. He sails with it in Brittany. Every year, he participates in the Petit Cabotage cruise. And he also uses it on the lake of Serre-Ponçon on which he participates in the regattas of August 15.
Often denigrated, this Mac Gregor " with shapes cut with a serp ", as Georges says, " is often denigrated by those who don't know it. With my improvements, it is now very pleasant under sail and even makes a very good course. It is not a regatta boat, but it is a transportable, habitable boat of category C. It can be beached flat, and is well adapted to tidal waters. And as its big engine gives it wings, it is also pleasant to sail against the current "
