Episode 6: The Ship

1925. A 51-year-old classic: Bonita, launched in 1873

Bonita was an old yawl with a solid reputation among seasoned sailors — a reliable long-distance cruiser known for its steady performance. Weighing in at 14 tons, Bonita was built at the Mallard shipyard in Saint-Servan. It first made a name for itself racing off the coast of Saint-Malo, before making its way to Marseille in plain winter — a 31-day voyage with a 70-year-old English captain, his dog, and a very young deckhand aboard!

By the time Miette de Saussure bought Bonita in 1925, the boat had already passed through the hands of around thirty owners in the Mediterranean. Her plan was to resell it in Greece, and she negotiated the price down to 12'000 francs — a great deal, especially since she opted to remove the engine. For these young women, sailing was all about simplicity and freedom. Why bother with a motor when the wind in the sails was all they needed?

Yawl, le Bonita

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A modern boat: Marco Polo III

We had long dreamed of sailing aboard a contemporary Bonita. While old sailing boats have undeniable charm, they’re increasingly hard to find — and we must admit, it’s tough to resist the comfort and safety of today’s sailing vessels!

Gone are the heavy cotton sails to hoist and the long hours spent caulking the hull before departure. So we chose to charter a modern, practical, and elegant sailboat:

• Brand/Model: Bavaria 40

• Type: Cruising sailboat

• Category: Semi-offshore

• Max capacity: 6 people

A huge thank you to Ingrid and Loïc Deferne from Gestiboat for entrusting us with their boat and organizing the return delivery. Thanks to them, our adventure is setting sail under the best possible conditions!

Bavaria, Marco Polo III