The Marinervideo
Ready Sailor One...
February 6, 2026 · 17 min · 3K views · Cherbourg
Sailor gestures toward reefed mainsail in Cherbourg harbor dusk
What this video covers
A Farr 85 Kevlar monohull berthed in Cherbourg, France, is being prepared for a solo Atlantic crossing and ultimately the 2027 Global Solo Challenge.1:25 Chris, the host and co-owner, explains why he replaced his previous boat, an Open 60 named Falcon, whose carbon keel had aged past the point of safe removal, making the boat unviable beyond 2026–2027.4:37 The Farr 85 displaces about 25 tons with 12.5 tons of ballast on a swept-back keel sitting roughly four meters below the waterline; Chris argues the swept-back design outperforms T-keels for offshore reliability by shedding kelp and debris.2:26 The new mainsail, 200 square meters and 120% larger than the boat's original, was designed with Olympic Sails in Italy and engineered with five reefs so that the first reef converts the sail plan to Open 60 geometry, with each subsequent reef stepping down identically to Open 60 reef points.15:33 The rig is rod rigging on a four-spreader fractional mast.14:11 One prior Atlantic attempt was abandoned when a deepening low reached Force 11 near Brest.13:26 The marina is paid through February; a Caribbean appointment is set for April 1.11:12 Cherbourg's proximity to Facknor, multiple chandleries, and a maritime school makes it a practical refit base.10:29
More from The Mariner
From The Mariner — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.
The Sailing Directory Newsletter
One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.