Episode 22: a cathedral

As the famous french song claims: "C’était un fameux 2-mâts fin comme un oiseau, hissez haut, Va de Bon Cœur ! 16,7m de long (55 pieds), 4,85 de large, 20 tonnes et 19 m de grand mât, nous sommes fières d’y être matelotes."

The Bonita2025 project is the perfect training ground for finding the balance between letting go, trusting in life and our lucky stars, whilst holding the helm steady and staying on course. After searching for and finding a standard 40-foot boat to continue our 2025 cruise, we decided against the easy option in favour of a vessel more faithful to the story of the five heroines we are honouring. And life placed a first lucky star in our path: Alain Linder, a passionate sailor from Geneva, who guided us to Va de Bon Cœur and its owner, Raymond Jaunin – our second lucky star.

Do you know the story of Va de Bon Cœur? Va de Bon Cœur is the boat of a lifetime; it took 40 years to build it with his own hands; it is a dream made reality. This story set on Lake Geneva is so incredible that RTS has dedicated several documentaries to it.

Le bateau d'une vie - Sur les Docs - Play RTS

A small group of us travelled down to Port-Saint-Louis-du-Rhône with Alain to meet Raymond and see this famous boat. Let's meet at the end of the lane to the left of the shipyard! Va de Bon Cœur stood proudly on his cradle [1], upright and majestic, looking immense. Raymond waved to us from the deck: “Come aboard!”

We spent the weekend getting to know one another, sharing our adventures at sea, and gaining a better understanding of the spirit of the boat and its creator. We explored every nook and cranny. We examined the engine and the batteries, switched on the navigation instruments, discussed the windlass [2] and, above all, marvelled at the beauty of the woodwork. This boat is both sturdy and beautiful. I particularly love the quarterdeck ceiling [3] with all its slender wooden slats, and Dyna is in awe of the sturdy mounting of the rudder. We’re impressed by the sheer amount of work that all this has required and continues to demand.

Raymond, with his usual generosity and spontaneity, asks us: “So, do you like my boat?” The answer comes straight away. “Yes!” exclaims our skipper. The pressure of finding a boat, which had been weighing on my shoulders for several months, lifts. A new story is being written – or rather, several stories are continuing to unfold, intertwining with one another.

Esther Challandes-Stamm, Raymond Jaunin, Dyna Mlotkowski, Alain Linder, Valérie Bauwens

We come back from this weekend with stars in our eyes, and feeling incredibly privileged. However, there’s still a niggling worry in the back of our minds. This boat will be demanding. Dyna: ‘It’s a cathedral. The dimensions give an idea of the forces at play and the effort required. It’s absolutely fantastic to spend time on board, and very impressive too. It will take total commitment and a great deal of preparation – whether mooring at anchor or alongside a pontoon. There are 15 metres between the helmswoman and the bow …” A major challenge awaits us, both literally and figuratively.

Valérie Bauwens

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[1] A cradle is a wooden structure that supports a ship and slides with it during launching.

[2] The windlass is a winch used on ships to haul up the anchor.

[3] On a boat, the quarterdeck is a place where the crew gathers and eats. It is a sort of dining room.