The Paimpol-Brehat Tidal Farm is being constructed off the coast of Paimpol-Brehat in North Brittany The Paimpol-Brehat Tidal Farm was constructed off the coast of Paimpol-Brehat in North Brittany It was the first grid-connected tidal array in the world The power generated from the farm is capable of serving 4,000 households The idea to build the facility was first brought up by Electricite de France (EDF) in 2004 Construction work at the tidal farm began in 2008 Sea testing of the two turbines was completed in 2014 The installation of two turbines was completed by May 2016 The cost of constructing the offshore tidal farm is €40m ($49m) The project provides employment opportunities for the neighbouring areas was tested at the site from December 2013 to April 2014 comprising two tidal turbines at the same site installing and testing the two turbines in partnership with EDF The pilot project is expected to pave the way for the pre-commercialisation of tidal farms from 2018 OpenHydro’s turbines were selected for the Paimpol-Brehat tidal power project due to their low cost and ease of installation The laying of the turbines underwater requires no drilling or excavation work Each of the four turbines will measure 22m in height Each of the two turbines has a generating capacity of 2MW each and was laid 35m-deep into the seabed A specially designed barge named OpenHydro Triskell is used for the installation of the turbines The turbines were laid on top of a three-legged structure acting as the subsea base for the turbines The subsea base for supporting the turbines was laid 4.8m above the seabed The turbines are specially designed with an opening in the middle which provides safety and easy access for fish and other sea creatures The project received support for construction from the Brittany region the French Government and Europe for prioritising the safety of the marine environment The turbines laid in the sea are out of sight from the surface The noise generated by the turbines has also been kept in check and it will have minimal effects The turbines have the capability of functioning without the use of oil The first turbine of Paimpol-Brehat Wind Farm assembled at Port Brest was transported to the island of Brehat The turbine and the subsea base were installed using the barge OpenHydro Triskell The sea testing process went on for two months as part of the preparation to present the world’s largest tidal array by 2012 and study its impacts on the marine environment The turbine was lifted to the surface for examination after the testing process was completed The tidal farm was connected to the French grid in mid-2016 becoming the first large-scale tidal power project in the world to be connected to the grid A new substation was built to transfer the power from the tidal farm to the national grid With EDF acting as the developer of the project the construction work was carried out by OpenHydro Group developed and supplied the turbines for the project The barge used for the project was built by STX (Lorient) under the supervision of DCNS DCNS was also responsible for assembling the turbines and subsea base for the tidal farm Converteam provided assistance during the testing of the first turbine Give your business an edge with our leading industry insights View all newsletters from across the GlobalData Media network The Paimpol-Bréhat tidal energy test site has been upgraded with a reconfigured subsea link which is expected to facilitate the demonstrations of tidal turbine technologies offshore Brittany region in France Thanks to the recent reconfiguration of the subsea link the site now benefits from a three-phase alternating current connection The works on the site were completed in mid-September with an ultimate aim of making the test site more attractive for tidal energy developers Aside from a three-phase alternating current socket the connections can now be made using a terminal plug which simplifies the marine operations eliminating the need for underwater connections using divers The reconfiguration work was carried out as part of the European TIGER project under the sponsorship of the Brittany region and EDF and with co-funding from the INTERREG Channel program The TIGER project – the largest Interreg project ever launched with €45.5 million budget – aims to demonstrate that tidal energy is a mature industry capable of achieving an accelerated cost reduction path Connected to the French national power grid and is located in the north-east of the island of Bréhat in Brittany It is operated by EDF and SEENEOH Bretagne with the support of the Brittany region and Brittany Ocean Power industry association The site has also recently welcomed several environmental measurement kits installed to improve the environmental characterization of the demonstration area and collect various types of data all with the joint aim of accelerating the development of tidal energy industry Daily news and in-depth stories in your inbox Ingersoll Rand Engineering Project Solutions At Ingersoll Rand’s Engineering Project Solutions we have been managing and implementing engineered to-order air packages for complex technical requirements for over 60 years We provide specialized custom compressed air and gas compressors as well as nitrogen generation packages to international EPC contractors and engineering companies across a range of […] The biennial international Classic Channel Regatta is back in Dartmouth from July 17 to 20. The first four days are a long regatta for classic yachts then races to Guernsey and on to Paimpol in Brittany. This year will see over 75 classic yachts from Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland gathering in Dartmouth for two days of racing in Start Bay. This racing called ‘Dartmouth Classics’, will be followed by the start of the ‘Classic Channel Race’ in Start Bay on July 20. The race will take the yachts to St Peter Port in Guernsey for a one-day break there before racing on to Paimpol where the regatta will end on July 25. The regatta is organising an afternoon of fun watersports in the river off Dartmouth Yacht Club on Wednesday 17 starting at 2pm. All are welcome to join in the fun either as spectators or participants. A Parade of Sail of all the fleet will take place in the river Dart on the morning of Thursday July 18 at approximately 10.30am before they go out into Start Bay for the first day of racing. The Parade will start near the Higher Ferry passing close to the Dartmouth side of the river and then past the Lower Ferry and all the way out past the castles. A strolling jazz band will entertain around the embankment from about 4pm. The following day will see the second day of racing off Dartmouth with the ‘Salcombe Gin Start Bay Race’ taking a longer course around the bay and, winds permitting, may also include a course up the coast to Torbay. In the evening there will be a prize giving at the Royal Dart Yacht Club for these Dartmouth Classics Races. Saturday 20 will see the start of the first stage of the Classic Channel Race to St Peter Port. It will begin from Start Bay in the afternoon. It will be an overnight race with the boats arriving in Guernsey the following day where there will be an evening reception in the grounds of Castle Cornet overlooking St Peter Port harbour. The following morning of the 22 will see the fleet start the second stage of the Classic Channel Race to Paimpol. The fleet will arrive off Paimpol in the early evening that day and will form a Parade of Sail along the entrance channel and through the lock into the port. Paimpol is a delightful port almost due south of Dartmouth, right in the centre of town surrounded by quayside cafés and restaurants. The last race is around the Île de Bréhat off Paimpol, followed by a picnic while moored off the island, and then ‘La Danse des Classiques’ where the boats sail around a circular course off Paimpol with the boats and crews decked out in fancy dress. The day finishes with a Parade of Sail back into Paimpol harbour. The mayor of Paimpol has sent this message of friendship to Dartmouth: “The bonds of fraternity between our two communities, English and Breton, are strong and historic. Our shared history, our cultural exchanges and emblematic events such as the Classic Channel Regatta serve to only strengthen this precious relationship.” Bruce Thorogood created the regatta back in 2005 and is still its chair and lead organiser. He said: “The Classic Channel Regatta has built up an enviable reputation for being a highly enjoyable and well run regatta. “One French competitor called it “La Plus Belle Régate du Monde.” Comments Tel: 01548 853101[email protected]Follow us Further Links Owned or licensed to Tindle Newspapers Ltd | Independent Family-Owned Newspapers | Copyright & Trade Mark Notice & 2013 - 2025 Sign up for our daily Newsletter and stay up to date with all the latest news You are receiving this pop-up because this is the first time you are visiting our site You are using software which is blocking our advertisements (adblocker) we are relying on revenues from our banners So please disable your adblocker and reload the page to continue using this site.Thanks The harvest of the Coco de Paimpol PDO started a few weeks ago which is now much anticipated by consumers has been part of the French production history for decades “The history of this bean began in the 1920-30s when a sailor of the French Navy brought some seeds from South America back to his region of Paimpol He planted them and saw that the bean adapted perfectly to this environment He then planted seeds he was keeping from one year to the next and this is how the crop started to take root in the area people used to let it dry since there was no other way to preserve it.” the planting areas grew well during the war because it is a very interesting vegetable from a nutritional point of view the market became more complicated for beans and the idea of selling it fresh emerged in order to boost consumption again All the qualities of the product were then recognized and much effort was put into obtaining a PDO in 1997 and 1999 The Coco de Paimpol was actually the first vegetable to obtain a PDO,” explains Pierre Gélébart the Coco de Paimpol PDO is cultivated in a defined area in the Côtes d’Armor “The bean cannot tolerate very high temperatures or too much rain It is therefore very well suited for the climate in Brittany it is harvested from mid-July to the end of October The particularity of this bean is that it is sold only fresh and up until last year Consumers were then buying pods in 10kg bags The main advantage of the Coco de Paimpol PDO compared to dry beans is that it can be cooked quickly once shelled It can also be frozen very easily while keeping all its qualities in terms of taste and nutrition.” Another particularity of this product is found in the way it is harvested “While many beans are harvested with machines the entire Coco de Paimpol production is harvested by hand the plants are uprooted and arranged into piles the pods are plucked from each plant with a particular gesture reminiscent of poultry plucking.” now also available already shelledAs a 2020 novelty in order to reach the young adult generation Prince de Bretagne decided to offer the bean in trays of 220g or 400g we went from a plastic tray to a tray mostly made of cardboard in order to fit our environmental policy mostly intended for restaurants in packages of 1 kg and 450g The product is indeed very well known among chefs.” Another development of 2020 concerns the fresh pods which still make 99% of the market of Prince de Bretagne “We will propose bags of 8kg instead of 10kg to our clients and consumers the sales in stores drop significantly; the 8kg bag should allow us to offer a more attractive face price to consumers.” The Coco de Paimpol is mostly sold in France but it can also be found on the menu of high-end restaurants on the other side of the world “The main marketing areas are in western France with a lot of our Cocos de Paimpol PDO in Rungis being shipped all over the world to great chefs but it is difficult to get exact figures on these volumes.” Volumes are slightly below average as the season startsThe peculiar weather conditions of this year have slightly impacted the first volumes harvested the Coco de Paimpol PDO does not tolerate high temperatures very well so the growth of the product accelerated in the past few days and producers are finding it difficult to keep up with the pace These weather conditions have put a lot of pressure on the plant FreshPublishers © 2005-2025 FreshPlaza.com We have the address for the funeral home & the family on file If you're not happy with your card we'll send a replacement or refund your money North Augusta, SC—Funeral Services for Mrs. Simone Pilvin Marshall, 95, who entered into rest January 11, 2020, will be conducted Wednesday morning at 11 o’clock from the Langley Bible Church. 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View Obituary & Service Information The family of Simone Pilvin Marshall created this Life Tributes page to make it easy to share your memories Made with love by funeralOne May 31 (UPI) -- A French energy company is a step closer to bringing the world's first grid-­connected tidal array online The Paimpol-Bréhat tidal array project and the energy it generates is owned by EDF but the turbines are being built and installed by OpenHydro DCNS is a naval defense and energy firm in France "OpenHydro, DCNS and EDF have worked hand in hand to deliver this milestone for the tidal energy industry," James Ives, CEO of OpenHydro, said in a news release "Paimpol-Bréhat is a global industry first; giving us key insights into the operation of our turbines at array scale." and the array will be linked to a power converter designed by General Electric The converter will run a single cable to the coast which will deliver 1 megawatt of power to the French electrical grid It took a day for the turbine to be towed from the French port of Brest to the tidal array where a purpose-built barge deployed the turbine within an hour it will help us prepare for delivery of EDF Energies Nouvelles' Normandie Hydro project - a 14 MW array set to be deployed in 2018," Ives said You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience The Showcasing Hydrokinetic energy Innovations for Northwest European Energy Sovereignty (SHINES) project has launched Co-financed by Interreg North-West Europe under the 4th call for projects SHINES is set to unlock the potential of tidal and river energy systems an opportunity still largely untapped in the region this project led by OPEN-C Foundation will span from January 2025 to December 2028 North-western Europe is a prime location for tidal and river energy development thanks to its unique natural features and spots along large rivers – offer promising conditions tidal and river energy in the region requires further investment to overcome political SHINES will address these challenges by replicating and scaling up three solutions (HydroWing and TidalKite) through grid connections and real sea deployments in France and the Netherlands Some of the most promising sites across the region will be developed engaging 100 organisations in the adoption of tidal and river energy systems and install a grid-connected 600 kW tidal energy turbine on the Paimpol-Bréhat test site in France then operate and monitor the device throughout the test period Inyanga will install and maintain the SeaQurrent TidalKite device at Paimpol-Bréhat North-western Europe's wealth of expertise in water management SHINES will catalyse transnational collaboration enabling the region to consolidate efforts and drive investments to achieve generation capacity targets The project is aligned with Europe’s Net-Zero Strategy and the Critical Raw Materials Act contributing to the goals of 1 GW of ocean energy capacity by 2030 and 40 GW by 2050 Ocean energy holds the promise of creating 400 000 high-value jobs by 2050 revitalising coastal communities with histories rooted in shipbuilding Don’t miss out on our last issue of the year The Winter issue of Energy Global is out now; this issue kicks off with a guest comment from Veronica Maxted Director of Renewables at RS Group before moving on to a regional report on the current state of the renewables industry in North America This edition of the magazine also explores key topics such as inspection and maintenance With contributions from key industry leaders such as Viridien dive into the issue and see what you could learn Read the article online at: https://www.energyglobal.com/other-renewables/14032025/shines-project-launches-to-harness-tidal-and-river-energy-potential-in-north-western-europe/ Lantana Capital Ltd has been appointed as the mandated sell-side advisor for the public auction of Heliosphera SA's bankrupt solar panel factory in Tripoli Embed article link: (copy the HTML code below): Already a member? Sign in here HydroQuest and CMN have been developing an innovative demonstration project since 2016 for the marine turbine sector Selected following the “Renewable energies at sea and pilot river turbine farms” call-for-projects funded by the French government as part of its Investments in the Future Program and operated by Ademe this project is expected to confirm the performance of the “HydroQuest Ocean” tidal turbine generator under real operating conditions Currently being assembled at CMN workshops in Cherbourg the “HydroQuest Ocean” marine turbine is 25 meters wide and 11 meters tall with technology featuring two vertical axes and generators outside the production flow The dual vertical axis means there is no need to orient the unit to capture the current stream The turbine offers efficient hydrodynamic output with nominal power of 1 MW The turbine will be completed by CMN workshops before the end of 2018 with installation scheduled to begin in April 2019 Commissioning of the turbine at EDF’s Paimpol-Bréhat site is scheduled for the spring of 2019 for an initial period of 12 months we are awaiting for the Ministry of the Ecological and Solidarity Transition to launch the first commercial turbine farm call-for-tender in Raz-Blanchard These projects will accelerate cost reductions across the industry,” said Jean-François Simon Our contributors reveal their favourite summer cruising grounds from West Sweden and North Brittany to the Isles of Scilly Author and journalist Peter Cumberlidge picks his favourite cruising ground… Surely a slice of paradise: St Peter Port on the east coast of Guernsey Herm and Jethou – the exquisite smaller Channel Islands across the water was moored here en route for North Brittany this place gives a first taste of the Breton experience and I were in the cockpit sipping tea as the harbour slowly woke up Through the pierheads we watched the island silhouettes take shape across the glittering Little Russel channel St Peter Port is a natural jumping-off base for a North Brittany cruise only 70 miles from our homeport of Dartmouth But yachts from all over Europe gather too with the same plan in mind There were Dutch and German ensigns nearby White colonial villas mingle with Normandy-style houses and the ornate belfry of St James could almost be a minaret the ebb sluicing us down the Russel and a flukey north-westerly starting the day gently Splashing through overfalls off St Martin’s Point we turned more westerly and were off Next stop: Île de Bréhat and the Trieux River The low coast between Paimpol and Les Héaux lighthouse is one of my favourite corners of Brittany The landfall is out of this world as you converge with Île de Bréhat’s pink granite shores This idyllic island is scattered with neat Breton cottages and fringed with islets A direct line from St Martin’s Point to the Trieux is 35 miles south-south-west but with Roches Douvres and Plateau de Barnouic in the way you have to dog-leg one side or the other It’s important to pass these dangers downtide in case you snag a crab-pot line or pick up some drifting fishing net As Guernsey dropped astern we soon spotted the slim finger of Roches Douvres lighthouse and gradually the jagged fangs lifted above the horizon this elegant 65m tower is a stylish outpost of the Côte de Granit Rose You need to watch for cross-tide when approaching the Trieux but today clear visibility was making things easy with Bréhat as its picturesque centrepiece you feel far from the sea and can potter for days so you can tack fairly close when sailing about La Croix lighthouse is almost a logo for this estuary white on its seaward side with a red castellated top The Lézardrieux River has wooded banks reminiscent of the West Country but with shuttered Breton cottages amongst the trees A couple of miles upstream you’ll find cosy marinas a classic Trieux anchorage on Bréhat’s west side You enter between a green and two red spars and at Springs deeper draught yachts fetch up just beyond these beacons to stay afloat Bilge-keelers can continue well into the inlet and settle on golden sand as the tide seeps away we anchored off Bréhat’s south-east corner and cut through Chenal de la Trinité into the glorious Anse de Paimpol where acres of oyster bed withies emerge on the ebb we followed the sheltered Moisie Passage at high water cutting inside Les Héaux lighthouse to reach the Tréguier River first between mud-banks and then woods and lush farmland to the medieval cité of Tréguier As the town’s soaring cathedral spire appeared we heard its great bell tolling in the evening calm It makes you feel you want to stay all summer Leave your boat or change crew: Lézardrieux inner marina Don’t forget: Fisherman’s anchor for weedy bottoms Best adventure: If you are cruising east-about Roches Douvres You can lie alongside here briefly and wander around one of the English Channel’s most dangerous reefs Spring tides and neaps each have advantages for cruising: At Springs: You savour the full dramatic character of this coast Fascinating short cuts are possible around high water many pool anchorages are virtually landlocked by exposed reefs At Neaps: Passages are simpler and you can push a foul tide if necessary You can find secret anchorages with safe low water depths Eerie tidal overfalls are less worrying for family crews Rathlin island off the West coast of Northern Ireland Columnist Matt Sheahan on the allure of Ireland’s wild west coast exposed scenery of the west and north-west coasts of Ireland and the Atlantic swell that bounces back off the shore and runs a couple of miles back out to sea at times to produce an unusual and sometimes tricky sea state leaves you in no doubt that you are on the edge of the Atlantic It’s not quite a wilderness but you’re acutely aware that you are somewhere different unspoilt and a complete contrast to the more developed harbours of the south and eastern coasts There are many more places to visit than we had time for in two weeks sailing from Kinsale westabout Ireland to Scotland A particular highlight were the Aran Islands Then to Ballynakill Harbour and Broad Haven in Mayo where we had the anchorage all to ourselves before rounding Malin Head to Portrush and Rathlin in Northern Ireland Make sure you’re prepared to fend for yourself for the trip You don’t just pop into town to get a meal at the local pub – the best bits are often pretty remote But it is absolutely beautiful and part of its charm is that there is barely anybody there at all The June 2025 issue of Yachting World is out now Several environmental measurement stations have been installed at the Paimpol-Bréhat site to improve the environmental characterization of the test site dedicated to the demonstration and optimization of tidal energy technology The environmental characterization kits have been installed by Inyanga Maritime’s dedicated tidal energy multi-purpose installation and O&M vessel Inyanga Entsha and Energie de la Lune as part of the EU-backed €45.4 million TIGER project an Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) has been installed on a three month-long campaign to measure tides and collect data that will form part of a large-scale numerical model of the University of Caen Two other measuring stations have also been launched to measure the ambient noise and to record the presence of marine mammals in the area The teams from Energie de la Lune’s research department will be able to use the data acquired over several months to characterize the noise level in the environment and the origin of these emissions – physical “Passive underwater acoustics is increasingly used in the field of marine renewable energies associated with such a scientific protocol is a first for the tidal stream industry in France,” the project partners said an underwater test kit containing samples of composite materials has been retrieved from the site The objective was to assess the effects of aging and the behavior of these materials in the ocean environment with very high current speeds These materials are expected to be the main building component of tidal turbine blades in the coming years The Paimpol-Bréhat site served to test various bonding solutions for composite materials as well as their recyclability in open sea environment. This research was conducted in partnership with Le Havre Normandy University was established in 2009 with the financial support from the Brittany region and the French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) Paimpol-Bréhat represents one of the key tidal test sites of TIGER project as it is located at the heart of the France Channel Manche England (FCE) area and plays a pivotal role for advancing the tidal stream energy sector in France The Pioneers of Offshore Engineering GustoMSC part of NOV’s Marine and Construction business is recognized for providing advanced design & engineering consultancy for mobile offshore units and reliable equipment and technical knowledge into realistic & innovative ideas The performance of new and existing jack-ups The season of PDO Coco de Paimpol has just started and should last until the beginning of November “Volumes will probably increase from next week we will have the production peaks around September 15th and October 10th although there are still uncertainties due to the weather forecast,” explains Pierre Gélébart product manager Coco de Paimpol at Prince de Bretagne Coco de Paimpol is marketed in bags of 8kg “1kg of fresh Coco gives approximately 400/450g of beans The Armor producers also offer bags of Coco beans of 1kg and 450g collectivities or the supermarket’s frozen aisles Coco de Paimpol is a fresh legume that provides all the benefits without the need for soaking.” For the consumers that are in a hurry Prince de Bretagne also offers trays of Coco de Paimpol beans practical and quick solution for consumers who do not have time to spend shelling beans.” Note that Coco de Paimpol beans can easily be frozen and therefore consumed all year round For more information:Pierre GélébartPrince de BretagnePhone: +33 2 98 69 38 71Mobile: +33 6 62 92 64 74[email protected]  https://princedebretagne.com/fr  French tidal energy developer HydroQuest has obtained certification for its 1MW tidal turbine’s power curve from classification society Bureau Veritas meets the requirements of the IEC 62600-200 standard evaluating the performance of the measurement of the power of tidal energy converters HydroQuest marked the first anniversary of OceanQuest immersion off the coast of Bréhat Island the the turbine was still fully operational and started its second year of operations The OceanQuest tidal turbine landed at EDF’s Paimpol-Bréhat site in France in the spring of 2019 Specifically the demonstration is part of French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) call for projects This 1MW machine has been manufactured and fully assembled by CMN’s (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie) teams in Cherbourg HydroQuest designed the OceanQuest around its proprietary turbine technology which inherits from over a decade of expertise the new generation of HydroQuest tidal turbines will be one of the most powerful with a nominal power of 2.5MW They will first feature in a 10MW pilot farm in Le Raz-Blanchard The Grenoble-based firm also aims to deploy its 1MW tidal turbine in North Wales at the Morlais tidal energy project HydroQuest is developing hydrokinetic technology for both river and ocean application. The company installed its first river tidal turbine at the SEENEOH test site in Bordeaux in January 2018 and launched the device at the inauguration of the test site in March French marine energy company HydroQuest has unveiled plans to develop a 17.5MW tidal energy farm at Raz Blanchard site following the takeover of the concession for the site from its former operator EDF Renewables The pilot tidal energy farm is planned to feature seven HydroQuest new generation tidal energy turbines The tidal turbines will be manufactured and assembled near the Raz Blanchard site in Cherbourg in the workshops of HydroQuest’s industrial partner and main shareholder CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie) The pilot is expected to pave the way for the industrialisation of tidal energy sector in France and abroad The news follows the successful demonstration of HydroQuest’s 1MW OceanQuest tidal turbine which spent two years in operation at Paimpol-Bréhat test site in Brittany The two years of testing under real sea conditions have in addition to verifying the device’s power curve also proved its robustness with recorded availability of close to 90% Thanks to the thousands of hours of operation clocked by the demonstrator HydroQuest has designed an even more efficient tidal turbine said to be lighter and cheaper than the prototype as well said: “We would like to warmly thank the EDF Group which after helping us develop our technology and making its Paimpol-Bréhat test site available is now enabling us to take a new step towards the commercialisation of our tidal turbines by providing us the concession for seven machines at Raz-Blanchard “We are resuming the project carried out in perfect consultation with all the stakeholders “This pilot farm will allow us to demonstrate the value of tidal energy in the French and European electricity mix by providing completely predictable and carbon-free renewable energy” The Raz Blanchard is one of the most energetic tidal stream sites in the world with a potential for extraction of 3GW of energy out of the 3.5GW of total potential available in France HydroQuest and its equity partner CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie) have informed that they will install and commission the HydroQuest Ocean 1MW tidal turbine at EDF’s Paimpol-Bréhat site in France in the spring of 2019 The tidal turbine is currently being assembled at CMN workshops in Cherbourg and will be completed before the end of 2018 The installation at the Paimpol-Bréhat site with the commissioning of the turbine scheduled for the spring of 2019 for an initial period of 12 months The demonstration project, selected by French Agency for Environment and Energy Management (ADEME) through the government-funded ‘Marine renewable energies and pilot river turbine farms’ call for projects aims to confirm the performance of the HydroQuest Ocean 1MW tidal turbine generator under real operating conditions we would like to implement commercial farms at high-potential sites in France and elsewhere around the world Our goal is to reduce costs over the medium-term to reach a levelized cost of electricity (LCOE) well under 100 €/MWh thus making tidal turbines an effective alternative supporting the energy transition,” Jean-François Simon they were awaiting the government’s launch of call for tenders for the first commercial tidal turbine arrays at Raz-Blanchard and Fromveur – the projects said to accelerate cost reductions across the industry HydroQuest is developing hydrokinetic technology for both river and ocean application. The company installed its first river tidal turbine at the SEENEOH test site in Bordeaux in January 2018 and launched the device at the inauguration of the test site in March The developers of FloWatt tidal energy project – Qair and Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) – have hailed the French government’s investment in what is to become the world’s largest tidal energy farm The government of France recently committed to provide at least €65 million of funding and dedicated revenue support for the pioneering tidal energy farm FloWatt being developed at Raz Blanchard in the English Channel The move aims to bring France at the forefront of tidal energy development The partners will on a 0.28 km2 concession install seven HydroQuest tidal turbines of 2.5MW each Thanks to the support from the French government the FloWatt pilot farm should be operational by 2026 who added that 70-80% of the value of the project will be allocated to French companies the industrialization of the sector could create 6,000 jobs by 2030 said: “This project demonstrates an ambitious and responsible vision for France’s energy future tidal power represents a major opportunity for our country both in terms of renewable energy and job creation “We are enthusiastic about the idea of actively contributing to France’s innovation and leadership in the field of marine renewable energies This marks an important milestone in the revival of tidal power in France anticipating a significant development of this sector within the framework of the next Multi-year Energy Program (PPE).” noted: “This new commitment from the French state following 15 years of R&D already supported by France and the European Union will allow HydroQuest and its partners to industrialize this technology specially designed for the most powerful ocean sites in the world “Following the Paimpol-Bréhat demonstration we look forward to deploying our tidal turbines in the heart of the Raz Blanchard Thank you to the French state for giving us this wonderful opportunity to become the world leader in the development of tidal turbines.” added: “The co-financing by the state of the FloWatt project is an essential milestone for the success of our growth strategy in tidal energy “The construction of the seven tidal turbines is only a step towards a large-scale commercial development in France and internationally which will allow us to build here Tidal technology developer OpenHydro has deployed the second of two turbines making up EDF’s landmark 4MW Paimpol-Bréhat array off the coast of western France which like its mate - installed in January - flies a 16-metre-diameter rotor in an 'open-centred' design It was installed by OpenHydro, a subsidiary of French naval giant DCNS, using its purpose-build deployment barge. “OpenHydro, DCNS and EDF have worked hand-in-hand to deliver this milestone for the tidal energy industry," states OpenHydro chief executive James Ives. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Your data on Recharge Recharge is part of DN Media Group AS From November 1st DN Media Group is responsible for controlling your data on Recharge We use your data to ensure you have a secure and enjoyable user experience when visiting our site. You can read more about how we handle your information in our privacy policy DN Media Group is the leading news provider in the shipping, seafood, and energy industries, with a number of English- and Norwegian-language news publications across a variety of sectors. Read more about DN Media Group here Recharge is part of NHST Global Publications AS and we are responsible for the data that you register with us and the data we collect when you visit our websites We use cookies in a variety of ways to improve your experience such as keeping NHST websites reliable and secure personalising content and ads and to analyse how our sites are being used For more information and how to manage your privacy settings please refer to our privacy and cookie policies French marine energy company HydroQuest has retrieved its 1MW tidal energy turbine after two years of being submerged and operating at the Paimpol-Bréhat site in the French province of Brittany the 1MW tidal turbine – designed by HydroQuest and built by the Cherbourg-based shipyard CMN (Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie) – was disconnected from the power grid during several operations carried out between April and early September 2021 The operation to remove the turbine and its foundation from the waters offshore Brittany was completed at the end of September the 1MW turbine – dubbed OceanQuest – was transported to the Port of Cherbourg for the assessment that will be performed in the coming months Originally scheduled for a period of one year the tidal turbine tests were extended for another year to get the most out of the trial campaign In the meantime, the OceanQuest turbine had been validated by Bureau Veritas which issued a power curve certification to the developer in 2020 The second year of testing was funded within the framework of the €45.4 million EU-backed TIGER project which aims to accelerate the growth of tidal stream energy at sites in and around the English Channel region The two years of continuous operation on the very demanding site of Paimpol-Bréhat made it possible to certify the power curve of the machine and to prove its robustness the characterization of the marine tidal resource and the understanding of associated natural phenomena have been significantly improved during the trials along with the obtained technical and environmental measurements Thanks to the thousands of hours of operation accumulated on its demonstrator, HydroQuest has designed a new generation of tidal turbines that are said to be even more efficient while also being lighter to increase their competitiveness These new tidal turbines will equip the FloWatt project a pilot farm of seven machines each rated at 2.5MW of unit power at Raz Blanchard The 17.5MW tidal energy farm will be developed in partnership with Qair Marine a subsidiary of a French independent renewable power producer Qair The Raz Blanchard tidal energy farm will be operated over a period of 20 years and is expected to produce 40 million kWh/year which is equivalent to the electricity consumption of 20,000 people Invited by Le Meaux to the territory of the northern region of Brittany the diplomat heard details about the request to have Cuban doctors and the desire to strengthen ties with the Antillean nation on various issues of mutual benefit the Cuban ambassador specified that his country would be willing to respond to the request generated by the lack of doctors in various specialties if the French government agrees to sign an agreement In an atmosphere of friendship and widespread interest from the press Vaillant shared aspects of the reality of Cuba and the impact on its people and its development by the economic commercial and financial blockade that the United States has imposed on it for more than 60 years he thanked the solidarity that the island receives from authorities unions and citizens of Brittany in the fight against this hostile policy and recognized its concrete actions of support and website in this browser for the next time I comment Photographed in Brest is OpenHydro's latest 16m tidal turbine being placed on to OpenHydro's custom designed installation barge the 'OpenHydro Triskell,'  as part of final preparations in advance of deployment off the coast of Brittany French utility giant EDF is divining into the tidal energy expertise of Irish firm OpenHydro to create a 16m offshore tidal installation off the coast of Paimpol-Bréhat it will be the world’s largest tidal array generating power for the French electricity grid also signals France’s foray into offshore tidal installation Tidal technology specialist OpenHydro and EDF said today that the project to deploy the first of four 16m tidal turbines off the coast of Paimpol-Bréhat is now in the final stages of preparation The project is unique in the world and carries a budget in the order of €40m the French State and Europe are all supporting the project in order to achieve for a better knowledge of the marine environment and also in respect of providing regional employment Irish company OpenHydro will supply the turbines each of which has the capacity to generate over 2MW of energy Yesterday (31 August 2011) the first turbine assembled at DCNS’ shipyard in Brest was towed from the harbour to commence a series of commissioning tests at sea prior to installation OpenHydro and its partner DCNS – naval defence and green energy player DCNS took an 8pc stake in OpenHydro in January 2011 – have now completed the assembly of the first turbine for the Paimpol-Bréhat project In June 2011, OpenHydro itself announced plans to to hire 20 new people over the next 12–18 months in line with its plans to scale up production of its tidal turbines The assembly in Paimpol-Bréha will be a fusion of the turbine and the subsea base which holds the turbine in position on the seabed The installation will be achieved using the custom designed installation barge The barge was constructed in France by STX (Lorient) under supervision by DCNS The turbine will now be towed to the deployment site off the island of Bréhat where it will be deployed on the seabed at a depth of 35 metres For two months the turbine and subsea base which have a combined weight of 850 tonnes and a height of 22 metres The objective of the test is to prepare for the implementation of array which is scheduled for installation in 2012 the electrical output of the completed tidal farm will power 4,000 homes in France The Paimpol-Bréhat tidal farm project was initiated by EDF in 2004 and work began in 2008 with the support of local stakeholders DCNS has also supported the project by supplying components for the turbine and by providing the Brest facility as a base of operations Commenting on this latest development for OpenHydro which already has an impressive project portfolio spanning the US Scotland and the UK’s Channel Islands with utility partners including EDF CEO James Ives today spoke about the upcoming offshore tidal installation off the French coastline “We are delighted to be working with EDF on what is set to be the world’s first large-scale grid-connected tidal energy farm and France’s first offshore tidal installation EDF’s vision to develop this exciting project places France and EDF at the forefront of this new form of renewable energy generation.” Ives said the project confirms the pioneering role EDF is playing in the use of marine and renewable energy and the group’s commitment to sustainable development OpenHydro and EDF also pointed out the benefits of tidal power which they said has the advantage of being invisible with a low environmental impact and does not disturb other marine activities OpenHydro has received support from Ireland’s Ocean Energy Development Unit which has supported the turbine system design The EDF Group is an integrated energy company active in all areas of the business generation A leading electricity producer in Europe it has mainly nuclear and hydraulic production facilities in France where 95pc of its electricity output is CO2-free EDF’s transmission and distribution subsidiaries in France operate 1,285,000km of ward medium voltage overhead and underground electricity lines and around 100,000 km of high and very high voltage networks The group is involved in supplying energy and services to approximately 28 million customers in France The Group generated consolidated sales of €65.2bn in 2010 of which 44,5pc was achieved outside of France EDF is listed on the Paris Stock Exchange and is member of the CAC 40 Irish tidal energy technology company OpenHydro operates in the design and manufacture of marine turbines for generating renewable energy from tidal streams The company’s vision is to deploy arrays of tidal turbines under the world’s oceans silently and invisibly generating electricity at no cost to the environment OpenHydro has achieved a number of industry firsts including being the first to deploy a tidal turbine at the European Marine Energy Centre (EMEC) the first to connect to and generate electricity from tidal streams onto the UK national grid and the first to successfully demonstrate a method of safely and economically deploying and recovering turbines directly on the seabed The deployment and recovery method delivers a step change in the economics of tidal energy DCNS is a world leader in naval defence and an innovative player in energy builds and supports submarines and other naval defence vessels as well as associated systems and infrastructure The group provides services for naval shipyards and bases It also develops solutions in civil nuclear engineering and marine renewable energy it employs 12,000 people and generates annual revenues of around €2.4bn editorial@siliconrepublic.com The government of France has committed to provide at least €65 million of funding and dedicated revenue support for the pioneering tidal energy farm FloWatt in an effort to support the commercialization of tidal energy industry Announced by the French minister for energy transition the move signals a huge step forward for the tidal energy sector in France and lights the way for other EU member states to follow Flowatt will be the biggest tidal farm in the world with the most turbines and largest capacity – a true flagship project France’s first tidal pilot farm will meet the electricity needs of 20,000 people for 20 years FloWatt is a strategic collaboration between project developer Qair technology developer HydroQuest and industrial partner Constructions Mécaniques de Normandie (CMN) Agnès Pannier-Runacher said: “Renewable marine energies are a pillar of our energy strategy but we must also develop other marine sectors in the context of diversification and decarbonization of our energy mix as two thirds of our energy is still of fossil origin “This is what we are doing today by supporting the FloWatt tidal turbine pilot farm a key project to consolidate our tidal turbine industry This support is also in line with the objective that we share with the President of the Republic: to reindustrialize the country and support emerging sectors as we did with offshore wind power 15 years ago and as we are doing today with tidal energy.” an industry association for European ocean energy sector has hailed the French government’s announcement stating it demonstrates the country’s trust in tidal energy as both an industrial opportunity and a key part of the energy transition It is a timely response to increased activity and investment in ocean energy in the United States and China and part of a broader push that needs to happen at EU level to secure Europe’s electricity supply with more indigenous production said: “This is of huge significance: we have been waiting for revenue support for new pilot farms since the first were put in the water in 2016 but the lack of market visibility – provided by targets and finance – kept pushing them away “This commitment by the French government brings the number of countries supporting tidal energy revenues and installations to three Other EU member states need to take heed if Europe is to secure its supply of indigenous low-cost electricity and avoid further energy crises.” With an EU objective of 40GW of ocean energy by 2050, a new target for innovative renewables in the 2023 EU Renewable Energy Directive and the inclusion of ocean energy as a strategic net-zero technology the past few years have seen an increase in political momentum This must now be translated into concrete action by member states who have the power to roll out ocean energy on a large scale and reap the rewards French president Emmanuel Macron has announced commercial tenders for tidal stream as part of the French energy strategy update (PPE) saying ‘we have to be at the top of our game in tidal stream’ The news follows a recent announcement by the French minister of the energy transition of at least €65 million of funding, plus dedicated revenue support for the pioneering tidal energy pilot farm project FloWatt Both announcements demonstrate that France is ready to make the most out of the industrial opportunities associated with the commercialization of the technology and recognizes its key role in the energy transition a Brussels-based organization dedicated to marine renewable energies “This is excellent news for tidal stream and for France It will enable large projects attract private investments and French technology – among the world’s best – to industrialize “It brings long-awaited market visibility to the sector and it is a great step toward commercialization It also reflects a growing momentum for tidal stream in Europe which has contracted 93MW of tidal stream capacity via its contract for difference (CfD) scheme France is the second country to deliver strong support and market visibility to boost tidal development We look forward to working with/alongside the French government to make this new sector a reality,” said Rémi Gruet in the cockpit of my friend James Stock’s beautiful Stephen Jones-designed Mystery 35 I pondered on the eclectic fleet of elegant flag-bedecked classic cruiser boats that surrounded us in Paimpol Harbour on the North Brittany coast These ranged from elderly wooden yachts to early GRP classics such as Swans Originally known as the Classic Regatta Anglo-Breton (CRAB to its friends) I was lucky enough to be participating in the renamed Classic Channel Regatta 2022 race round the Île de Bréhat I’d crewed on James’s previous classic – a Twister 28 – in the 2013 and 2015 editions of the race But purists might ask what any GRP yacht was doing in a fleet of classic cruiser boats Due to family commitments I found myself having to move to Wolverhampton late last year from West Sussex Sailing in the 1970s was characterised by innovation was deemed to be a ‘modern classic’ – along with the Spirit range – by the organisers of the event While the British Classic Yacht Club (BCYC) restricts membership to owners of wood or steel yachts above 30ft and designed before 1970 Classic Channel Regatta chairman Bruce Thorogood told me that its doors were open to two groups of classics of wood These comprise designs from before the end of 1968 and later yachts designed before the end of 1974 He said: “Boats built as one-offs or in limited series are considered classic unless there’s a reason to exclude them the design needs to be approved by the organisers Many GRP yachts were still traditional looking being derivatives of designs that could have been built in wood.” Bruce added: “To my mind it’s absurd to reject all GRP boats when it has been the major boatbuilding material for over half a century and many very fine designs have been built in GRP I think hull material is irrelevant; it is all about style and quality.” A large modern Spirit beside an S&S 30 designed 50 years ago the Classic Channel Regatta organisers accept a minimum length of 7.5m for cross-Channel events and 5.4m for inshore regattas – so boats like Vertues Twisters and Contessa 26s can join the fun I started sailing and racing in wooden yachts These were the norm in the post war years up to the late 1960s; and would now all be termed as classics First up came a beautiful Robert Clark designed 60-footer called Lara; my grandfather’s pride and joy Then I graduated to prancing precariously on the narrow and unfenced foredeck of a Solent Sunbeam closely followed by an International One Design (IOD) A bit later, I turned to cruiser-racing on a South Coast One Design (SCOD) then my father’s Sandy Balfour-designed and Berthon-built 36-footer Matchless Shortly after, I horrified my parents by setting off, aged 22, to sail across the Atlantic in a 25ft Buchanan-designed Wind Elf Mk2. Despite our ineptitude with a plastic sextant my friend and I made it to Barbados in one piece and discovered the joys of Mount Gay rum Those were halcyon days and I was fortunate to have sailed such a wide variety of splendid wooden yachts But when I came back down to UK earth and took up boatbuilding Everything was changing and fleets of new production boats were flooding the market; many of which are now old enough to be found at Classic Channel Regattas Pen Duick V leads a gaggle of classic cruiser boats So why should today’s sailors with a yen to sail a classic consider a GRP yacht rather than a wooden one And why should they buy a GRP classic rather than a far beamier If you are considering which model might appeal you can do a lot worse than look at its displacement/length ratio This is a reliable indication of a yacht’s character as designer Ted Brewer succinctly explained: “The D/L ratio [DLR] is a non-dimensional figure derived from the displacement in tons [measured in lb] divided by .01 LWL [in feet] cubed It allows us to compare the displacement of boats of widely different LWLs.” As DLR examples Brewer puts a light cruiser/racer at 150-200; light cruising auxiliary 200-250; average cruising auxiliary 250-300; heavy cruising auxiliary 300-350; very heavy cruising auxiliary 350-400.” A Nordic Folkboat pitches in with a DLR of 249 The most obvious reason for choosing a classic is its special charm and handling It looks and sails very differently to a modern lightweight cruiser And a GRP classic is likely to cost far less to restore (if this is indeed necessary) and maintain than a wooden one rig and electrics might need replacing at some stage; so seek out a re-engined example Then its topsides may need cutting back and polishing or painting Swan 55 Lulotte’s crew don Ukrainian colours for the fancy dress sail-past But these expenses tend to be one-offs compared to the annual rituals on a wooden yacht An onset of osmotic blisters is normally less onerous than the cost of a yard’s labour replacing planking and deck beams should a wooden hull become structurally unsound or rotten Of course purists who have the wherewithal or who are skilled DIY chippies won’t be put off by this cost An owner of a GRP Twister once told me “Beware the danger of being ruled by your emotions and optimism A classic in sound condition is a beautiful thing A ‘dog’ will cost you a shed load of money Does the cost of the work and equipment needed make sense when added to the purchase price Doing it yourself – if you have the skills and can spare the time – gives you huge leeway A graceful Holman-designed Centurion 32 glides into Paimpol saying: “I favour GRP for a classic yacht – but with lots of wood embellishment – on the grounds of managing maintenance and cost “But thankfully there are still those with deep pockets sailing classics constructed in wood who are the custodians of these fine boats.” He admitted to enjoying the comments of passers-by who paused to admire his Twister’s sheerline elegant proportions and varnished bright work saying: “It makes the hard work with a varnish brush worthwhile.” Now his Mystery 35 receives even more admiring looks He even gets requests for trial sails from people interested in buying their own ‘modern classic’ Mystery 35 designed by Stephen Jones and built by Cornish Crabbers So if you fancy joining the fray in a GRP classic The likely candidates cover two types of yacht: the long-keel developments of earlier cruisers and of the bionic Nordic Folkboat; then the later and sportier fin and skeg yachts Scampi etc that came to the fore in the late 1960s and early 70s The most influential design that spawned countless GRP long-keelers is the Folkboat the Swedes launched an international competition challenging designers to come up with a new sailboat class attractive and seaworthy racer that could also double up as a capable family cruiser no single design was considered ‘right’ enough to be an outright winner So the organisers asked designer Tord Sunden to combine the best aspects of the final favourites into one yacht Originally the design featured a counter stern so Sunden removed it; replacing it with a jaunty transom Bow and stern overhangs balanced sweetly and a keel ‘cutaway’ forward reduced wetted surface while a rounded underbody and slackish bilge produced a hull that stiffened up dramatically in a breeze The 1963 Charm of Rhu hailed from the Fife Yard DLR of 249 and lovely lines helped the Folkboat sail and handle beautifully under full sail while many modern cruisers are reefing to retain control Initially Nordic Folkboats were built of wood with clinker planking the class allowed GRP as an alternative construction Around 1,000 of these have been built (and are still in production) However even its greatest fans will concede that this delightful and potent little package leaves much to be desired when it comes to comfortable accommodation Modified versions such as Jester and Eira completed the first ever OSTAR and many others have crossed oceans; but the standard Folkboat is hardly a palace… even by 25-footer standards designing one of the most successful Folkboat developments; a beautiful boat that will grace any classic yacht gathering The International Folkboat (IF Boat for short) is longer overall (7.87m) and on the waterline (6.04m) and heavier (2,150kg) compared to the Nordic Folkboat It also has a higher ballast ratio and a higher Sail area/Displacement ratio to boost performance Add a self-draining cockpit and an outboard well or small inboard engine and you have a far more versatile yacht the IF Boat offers far more usable space than its Nordic ancestor a rudimentary galley and improved stowage space all add up to a feasible family cruiser; even if headroom is only 4ft 8in ‘The Folkboat was an influential design that spawned countless GRP long-keelers’ seaworthiness and easy handling make the IF Boat as accomplished on a race course as it is on lengthy cruises telling me: “I have owned my boat for 17 years I was invited to crew on one and allowed to helm; and from that moment I was smitten “She sails easily in very light winds and doesn’t really need to reef until Force 6 The helm is beautifully balanced throughout… I’ve yet to meet a sailor who didn’t appreciate sailing one The IF Boat has low freeboard and a long keel which means she makes virtually no leeway even in strong winds “The trade-off is that she is a wet boat in a swell and does not have standing headroom below decks However I am 6ft 2in tall and am quite comfortable in her Much the same applies to van de Stadt’s Folkboat derivation; his GRP Invicta 26 this sweet-hulled long-keeler probably influenced the Contessa 26 that hit the scene two years later great Jeremy Rogers admitted to me that he liked the keyhole companionway detail However he didn’t replicate the Invicta’s split level roof so the Contessa 26 missed out on a bit of extra headroom Van de Stadt also flattened off the Folkboat’s keel base so the Invicta dries out on the level Instead of shoehorning two berths into a small forepeak van de Stadt designed saloon settee berths that extend into trotter boxes the forepeak is given over to a WC and stowage Two quarterberths aft make for comfortable sleeping while the galley and chart table areas amidships are practical and easy to use at sea Given the modest volume inside any Folkboat derivative There were two versions of the Invicta; the Mk1 and Mk2 The latter has a slightly raised deck line which increases interior space It also has a little less sail area than the Mk1 the Invicta is a lovely little yacht and would grace any classic gathering was the first GRP cruiser-racer built by Jeremy Rogers and – like its Contessa 32 sister – is an active One Design class and successful club racer to this day Meanwhile Lymington-based Jeremy Rogers was hatching a plot to make his own long keel GRP cruiser-racer He was already building successful cold-moulded wooden Folkboats and – together with the owner of one of these – he decided to take the GRP route and produce a modernised variation Rogers told me he butchered one of his cold-moulded Folkboat hulls to make the plug inserting wedges into the open hull and pushing the sides outwards It creaked and got wider until it looked right allowing for the addition of small moulded bulwarks This raised the freeboard and increased the overall length adding a low profile and attractive roof (with a keyhole companionway) and straightening the keel base So in 1966 the mighty Contessa 26 was born David Sadler took No5 while Vernon Sainsbury (the business angel who funded the project) bought No6 The Contessa was an instant hit and orders flooded in. The final total of boats built exceeds 750, including the Taylor-built versions in Canada. Then as now, the Contessa 26 has wide appeal. Some win races such as the Round the Island while others voyage across oceans it was a shame that when I tested a Contessa 26 I had to make do with a wet windy and cold winter’s day on the Solent rather than sliding into a palm-fringed bay in the Caribbean seaworthy (with a DLR of 301 and ballast ratio of 42.6%) and offers easy handling the space and headroom down below are less than on similar length long-keeled yachts that I have sailed Nicholson 26 and Wind Elf (that carted me across the pond); but everything is there and works Fans of classic cruiser boats may dream of a gleaming wooden hull but prefer the convenience and relative economy of GRP British designer Kim Holman also joined the early charge into GRP long-keeled cruisers ballast ratio 43%) and Twister 28 (DLR 447 ballast ratio 46%) designs both ruled the roost in Junior Offshore Group (JOG) cross Channel races in the 1960s and now join the fun in today’s classic events that allow GRP yachts to rub shoulders with the wooden fraternity And when it comes to sweet lines and elegant profiles Unlike many Folkboat-style long-keelers of the day Holman ignored the functional transom stern Instead he gave her a graceful counter (hence the extra 3ft of length) and this balances perfectly with her bow overhang which increases headroom at the aft end of the saloon she has the looks of a classic; albeit a GRP one Down below there’s enough space for an enclosed heads amidships with settee berths in the saloon and twin berths in the forepeak The galley and chart table are aft at the foot of the companionway it is a practical layout and comfortable at sea I spent many happy days (and nights) as a junior crew member thrashing a Liz 29 around the Channel on JOG races in the 1960s her interior finish is functional rather than fancy Twister 28 Crionna goose-wings her way past some Breton rocks Holman’s Twister 28 is equally desirable as a GRP classic yacht When I was crewing on the Liz back in the 60s We could usually outsail them on a reach or a run; but when it came to a beat – especially in heavy weather – it was a different story draught and weight gave her power that we could not match but we got fed up with watching her less refined transom Holman designed and built the first wooden Twister for himself in 1964 Then Tylers built GRP hulls and various yards finished these off Tylers developed an all-GRP version that sold in large numbers The Twister I sailed on regularly was one of these – beautifully finished by Universal Shipyard on the Hamble ‘It’s hard to quantify the joy of steering the Twister 28’ Her owner James Stock told me: “If you want a Twister The wood deck on GRP hull versions can involve a lot of maintenance work.” It’s hard to quantify the joy of steering this boat The helm is relatively firm but you don’t need to do a lot with it A Twister knows where to go and sailing upwind is a finger and thumb job It naturally follows the wind and if you wrench the helm too much There’s nothing unusual about the layout (which offers standing headroom) spacious navigation area (standing room only) and galley aft The overall ambience is snug and comfortable; mainly because the bilge is deep so you step down into the interior especially if you are in a well finished example with plenty of woodwork Combine the Twister’s comfort with its easy but fast sailing qualities and lovely looks and you have the near perfect small GRP classic yacht If a similar sized but less pricey GRP long-keeler appeals the Alan-Hill-designed Cutlass 27 is worth a look it sold in good numbers and has achieved favourable boat test reviews; although it never acquired the Twister’s star status The accommodation is conventional for its era although finish varies because several were home-completed by DIY builders it will give you classic long keel sailing and a steady motion at sea on a modest budget The 60ft Laurent Giles-designed Lutine of Helford Perhaps the most iconic long keel classic cruiser of this size is the Vertue when I was planning my 1968 Transatlantic jaunt this little beauty was at the top of my list I had read epic tales of ocean crossing adventures in books such as Humphrey Barton’s Vertue XXXV Second-hand Vertues cost a lot in those days However if you now like the idea of joining the classic circuit in one of these tough little Giles-designed masterpieces Several of the GRP Vertue 2 class were built by Bossoms Boatyard An extra plank had already been added to earlier wooden models’ topsides to provide more room down below and there were a few small changes to facilitate GRP construction sharing its legendary sea-keeping qualities It would not look amiss in a classic fleet A Nicholson 32 takes Breton waves in its stride After Camper & Nicholson entered the word of GRP production yachts in the early 60s with the successful Nicholson 36 and 32 they decided a smaller sister would complement the range The Nicholson 26 (introduced in 1968) is in many ways very similar to the Nicholson-designed SCOD At 26ft 7in it’s around 8in longer; yet its more rakish bow overhang means its LWL is a foot shorter It draws 3in less and is 3in narrower than the SCOD yet Its cut-away forefoot helps reduce wetted area yet its deep and heavily ballasted keel gives stability galore And its deep transom-hung rudder provides plenty of bite I spent a couple of enjoyable seasons racing on a Nicholson 26 on the JOG circuit and we were often among the leaders the fancy fin keelers had not really appeared on the scene yet but there was still plenty of keen competition She was fast to windward and no slouch downwind under a large masthead spinnaker The 26 not only had a comfortable motion; it also offered living comfort down below the Nicholson 26 has a raised doghouse section to the coachroof There’s also space to put the weight of the water tank amidships contributing to stability and a pleasing motion The Nicholson 36 is an enjoyable ‘classic’ for cruising or racing A galley (to port) and chart table are at the bottom of the companionway steps the saloon offers two good settee berths and plenty of locker space and the twin berth forepeak lives ahead of an amidships heads area All in all this practical and pleasing layout combined with Folkboat-style weatherliness and performance make the Nicholson 26 a delightful all-rounder – provided you can live without today’s aft double cabin and heads/shower compartment With his popular Hurley 22 design already selling in large numbers Ian Anderson was asked by West Country-based Normand Boatyard to re-work his earlier wood-built Sirius design for GRP construction Several boats were built by the Normand Boatyard before the rights were sold to Emsworth Marine Sales who commissioned the Emsworth Shipyard to handle the manufacturing The Bowman 26 is yet another example of how elegant the transom-sterned and long keeled Folkboat style can look And – being the true artist that he was – Anderson gave his design an attractive doghouse-style coachroof Sparkman & Stephens-designed Cervantes lV won the 1971 Fastnet and more recent ‘classic’ races combined with a lovely sheer and deep bilge enables the Bowman 26 to look attractive yet still fit good headroom and comfortable accommodation into just 26ft 8ft beam and 4in draught are typical of the type Her all-up weight of 5,062lb (with around 50% ballast ratio) is moderate rather than heavy for a long-keeler But although the turn of her bilge is relatively firm and high (hence the lighter displacement) there’s room to squeeze one of her tanks under the cabin sole The Bowman’s interior layout is almost identical to the Nicholson 26 (galley and chart table aft Little surprise then that Anderson’s elegant creation performs well His Hurley 27 was a later development and had a longer coachroof Picture credit: David Harding/ www.sailingscenes.co.uk Two other popular Folkboat developments of a similar size came from the pen of Alan Buchanan: the Diamond 27 built by Thames Marine and the Halcyon 27 by Offshore Yachts and large numbers were built before production ceased in 1975 So she’s very similar in terms of dimensions to many other enlarged Folkboat derivations She weighs 6,720lb and – as is usual with these long-keelers – has a healthy ballast ratio thanks to a 3,000lb keel the Halcyon boasts a chunky little doghouse on top of a longish coachroof The Halcyon was competitively priced and offered a compact masthead rig above average performance and an undoubted ability to stand up to a strong wind in a seaway So it’s easy to see why she appealed to sea schools as much as to private owners Several Services sailing clubs bought Halcyons for sail training and many are still out there – with thousands of miles under their keels – doing the same job today So make sure you find out where your prospective purchase has been before signing the cheque Some Halcyon 27s have had harder lives than others Wild Rival (a Rival 34) glides past a dramatic lighthouse during the 2013 classic race from Paimpol Another desirable but often overlooked Folkboat descendant that hit the scene in the 1960s was Fred Parker’s Folkdancer design Having started life as the Hamble One Design then the Warsash One Design this attractive yacht’s name was changed to the more self-explanatory Folkdancer when Russell Marine took over the marketing In those days Des Pollard’s firm (famous for numerous Alacrities and Vivacities) held a prominent position in the small production cruiser world so its involvement gave this successful Parker design a welcome shot in the arm ‘The Folkdancer is the unsung hero of the Folkboat dynasty – well worth a look’ Parker gave his Folkboat derivative a short counter And he came up with an interesting split sheer for the Russell Marine boats which increased accommodation space in the forward part of the hull yet kept the cockpit at a comfortable lower level to give a better handicap in the RORC rule era into which the boat was born Parker’s own boat Norsue picked up a lot of pots The experience gained from these campaigns was analysed and incorporated into the GRP production design that followed So I suspect that anyone who buys an old Folkdancer improves its deck gear and treats it to a suit of modern sails could have some fun in club or classic regattas the 27ft Folkdancer is longer than a Nordic Folkboat beam of 7ft 6in and draught of 4ft are similar Its all up weight of 5,040lb and ballast ratio of 55% puts it in the Nordic Folkboat’s moderate displacement camp the Nicholson 26 the lighter Folkdancer has sleeker underwater lines the Folkdancer is surprisingly spacious below The attractive and short roof combined with the forward raised sheer gives reasonable headroom and two accommodation plans were offered five berths and a loo between the forward V-berths The other sacrifices one berth but gains an amidships WC compartment and larger galley aft Over the years some owners will have added modifications of their own So a close inspection (and survey) is needed before buying I reckon that the Folkdancer is the unsung hero of the Folkboat dynasty – well worth a look The restored Contessa 32 Bugler of Hor (PBO the Contessa 32 (designed in 1972) is another superstar DLR of 306 and comfort ratio of 27.7 make it a well-balanced yacht and its seaworthiness is well proven It made me feel my age when the class recently celebrated its 50th anniversary There were several Contessa 32s in the Classic Channel Regatta’s 2022 race round the Île de Bréhat and we saw rather too much of them from our Mystery 35 Our excuse was that we were not carrying a broad-shouldered symmetric spinnaker Two class winners in the 2022 Classic Channel Regatta are also excellent all-round classic GRP cruiser racers – a Norlin 37 won class C (followed by a Comfort 34) and an Albin Ballad 30 won class D (followed by an Armagnac and a Contessa 32) The Classic Channel Regatta fleet departs for a race from Paimpol harbour in Brittany So if you want to enjoy your own classic cruiser boat – whether wood or GRP – firstly you need to accept that you will not be getting a wide-bodied hull with a spacious aft heads and you won’t be able to enjoy a secluded stern cabin But many people have sailed enough to realise that they don’t spend half their life in the loo and that secure single berths are best for sound sleeping on a yacht at sea And maybe you enjoy sailing a fairly heavy long-keeled yacht with a moderate beam and relish the sensation of guiding a well-balanced and stable hull on its way through the waves rather than fighting the helm or recovering from broaches In which case a modern wide beam lightweight probably won’t be for you All boats siphon cash from a sailor’s pocket and by and large the older ones are the greediest In the field of classic cruiser boats a GRP yacht offers the best of many worlds Of course it will still cost money to run and keep up to scratch Yet you still have the satisfaction of owning a yacht that sails like a classic and attracts many admiring glances And now – thanks to the Classic Channel Regatta and other similar events – you can sample the unique atmosphere and camaraderie of classic yacht gatherings and regattas As modern volume production designs continue on their remorseless way towards plumb ends I foresee a rosy future for classic cruiser boats and the lucky sailors who love them This feature appeared in the January 2023 edition of Practical Boat Owner expert tips and ways to improve your boat’s performance take out a magazine subscription to Britain’s best-selling boating magazine and you’ll always save at least 30% compared to newsstand prices See the latest PBO subscription deals on magazinesdirect.com Look at the other options when making your plan https://www.dundalkdemocrat.ie/section/1234/advertise-with-us All the latest breaking local news from Dundalk and Louth County Keep up to date with the latest sports news Read the 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Ireland's best local journalism Greenore company OpenHydro is to supply two new tidal turbines for installation at Paimpol-Bréhat EDF has announced the development of the pilot farm comprising two tidal turbines at Paimpol-Bréhat in Brittany (France) will supply two new turbines which will be operational from 2015 This new project is a fundamental step in the development of tidal energy in France It follows on from the successful testing of the tidal turbine L’Arcouest in real conditions between December 2013 and April 2014 at the Paimpol-Bréhat site These conclusive tests demonstrated the performance of the tidal turbine developed by Louth-based OpenHydro and validated the principle of the 16-metre diameter prototype an essential step before the deployment of pilot farms The two turbines to be installed on the Paimpol-Bréhat site from 2015 will benefit from the feedback of studies conducted on components of the prototype L’Arcouest will then be adapted for series production to support future calls for tenders for commercial farms essential step before commercial deployment The development of the Paimpol-Bréhat pilot farm together with other pilot farm projects which OpenHydro is progressing in France and Canada economic and environmental feasibility of tidal energy sector OpenHydro and EDF are going to test the operation of two turbines connected to the grid The two partners will demonstrate the long-term reliability of a totally innovative technology under real conditions This pilot phase will pave the way for the deployment from 2016 of pre-commercial farms and the development of a tidal energy industrial sector in France executive chairman of OpenHydro and director of DCNS Marine Energy and Infrastructure Division: “We are pleased with this announcement which confirms the performance of the innovative tidal turbine technology developed by OpenHydro “We are eager to begin this new phase of our collaboration with EDF in order to contribute to the development of the tidal energy industry.” manufacture and installation of marine turbines generating renewable energy from tidal streams The company vision is to deploy marine turbine farms under the surface of the oceans to produce energy silently invisibly and with no impact on the environment " + $(".testo_articolo").html().replace(//g please subscribe and support local journalism Subscribing will allow you access to all of our premium content and archived articles To continue reading this article for FREE,please kindly register and/or log in Registration is absolutely 100% FREE and will help us personalise your experience on our sites You can also sign up to our carefully curated newsletter(s) to keep up to date with your latest local news Ronan Brennan with his wife Siobhan and son Kai at Breathe Sauna in Magheroarty A day in the life of a children’s residential care worker at Ashdale Care Did you know you can save up to 75% on your electricity bills with Activ8 Solar Energies Arthur's Sporting Archives | Take a trip down memory lane GALLERY: Louth advance to Leinster MFC semi-final with victory over Westmeath There’s something for everyone in Louth Life - on sale now The Spring issue of Louth's number one glossy magazine is on sale now Subscribe or register today to discover more from DonegalLive.ie Donegal Post and Inish Times here for instant access to Donegal's premier news titles Keep up with the latest news from Donegal with our daily newsletter featuring the most important stories of the day delivered to your inbox every evening at 5pm This publication supports the work of the Press Council of Ireland and Office of the Press Ombudsman and our staff operate within the Code of Practice of the Press Council Lo-call 1800 208 080 or email: info@presscouncil.ie Last Updated on 2nd July 2023 by Sophie Nadeau A delightful fishing village in the Côtes-d’Armor region of Brittany and is well worth exploring over the course of a few hours Here’s a guide to the best things to do in Paimpol The town’s history is particularly rich and Paimpol rose to true prominence in the local area from the 15th to 19th-centuries when it became integral to the cod fishing industry in Brittany often for many months at a time (and sometimes as long as eight months!) Paimpol is located on the fringes of the water in Northern Brittany, a French region known as Bretagne (which has its own language, that of Breton). Located between Ploubazlanec and Plourivo, the Breton town is also not far from Tréguier If you’re in the Northern part of Brittany and you’re looking for something cultural to do then you need to look no further than Beauport Abbey the stunning former ecclesiastical building dates back to the beginning of the 13th-century and has seen plenty of history over the ages visitors of all ages will enjoy meandering through the grounds and enjoying various year ’round events which take place at the cultural hub The abbey is best accessed if you have a car as it is on the fringes of Paimpol One of the most historic points in town will be immediately apparent to those who arrive in Paimpol by car The old tower is located in the main car park in Paimpol and is all that remains of a church dating back to the 14th-century The tower itself was actually constructed in the 16th-century and the spire was only added in the latter half of the 18th-century Those looking for vintage and unique finds in Paimpol need simply to head to Mic Mac The name itself actually means a bit of a mess and gives visitors an idea of what to expect once inside the former warehouse turned clothing and brocante shop Heading inside Mic Mac is like looking for curated treasure and you’ll have to peruse through the wares to find pieces which match your style (not to mention are your size) there’s a number of antique furniture pieces and other memorabilia for sale Yet another historic location in Paimpol is La Halle which is a building that was constructed in 1864 on the former Place du Lavoir La Halle was originally constructed to serve as a place to live for women who had lost their sailor husbands at sea the building has since become a cultural institution and hosts regular exhibitions to do with art and the like no post about Brittany would be complete without at least a quick mention of the many delectable foodstuffs on offer Brittany is best known for its salted butter, an abundance of crêpes If you have a particularly sweet tooth, then be sure to try the Kouign-Amann should you get the chance This mainly butter and sugar patisserie is simply mouthwatering and originates from Brittany Of course; no fishing town would be complete without a port and that of Paimpol is particularly well appointed The port is around which the rest of the village is built and was once the lifeblood of Paimpol (historically residents of the town would have made their livelihoods thanks to fishing) The first quay at the port was built as early as 1762 and measured 78 metres in length wandering to the end of the port to enjoy the view out to sea remains one of the best things to do in Paimpol the Tour de Kerroc’h is located just across the water on the other side of the Baie de Paimpol (Paimpol Bay) and is so iconic that it has since become a symbol for Ploubazlanec The tower dates back to 1873 on a mound named ‘Krec’h Mahaf’ or ‘Mazé’ (which is Mathew in Breton) There is a sandy beach in Paimpol which draws visitors on an annual basis (particularly during sunny days during the summer months The main beach of Paimpol is Plage De La Tossen which is simply wonderful to stroll along no matter the time of the year Once you’ve wandered the length of the sandy stretch that is the beach of Paimpol you’ll come across the natural swimming pool the pool is obviously not heated and so is intended for summertime use only (and even then you have to be lucky with the temperature and weather) Set against the backdrop of a building which was once used to dry cod visitors to the town can learn all about Paimpol’s past as the Brittany hive of the cod fishing industry The town’s main church replaced the one that was where the Vieille Tour was located Notre Dame de Bonne Nouvelle was built between 1910 and 1914 (with the first cornerstone of the church laid in the Spring of 1910.) Please note that while the interior of the church is quite pretty it’s unfortunately often closed and seems to be a lit of a luck of the draw whether or not you’ll manage to enter the ecclesiastical building Like many places in Brittany, Paimpol is not greatly served by public transportation and so the easiest way to visit is with your own four wheels. This will also give you the freedom to access and explore the surrounding area at your own pace. Check car rental prices here. Enjoyed reading about the best things to do in Paimpol Sophie Nadeau is a full time travel writer and photographer focused on cultural experiences in Europe and beyond When she's not chasing after the sunset (or cute dogs she sees on her travels) she can be found reading Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. 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