Classic_Boat_2016-03

HENRI THIBAULT

C/O BEDS ON BOARD

FRANCE

Boat collector

opens museum

Boat and car collector Jean-Pierre Osenat has fulfilled

a dream and opened his private classic speedboat

museum to visitors. Located in La Teste, a small

oyster-farming harbour on the scenic and romantic

Bassin d’Arcachon, the Centre Français du Canot

Automobile displays much more than French-only boats.

In fact, the still-growing Osenat collection is

international and currently comprises more than 30

boats, each of them representing a pivotal moment in

motorboating’s evolution, from displacement to planing

hulls and even racing three-point hydroplanes.

As an auctioneer world-famous for his Napoleonic

sales in the Chateau de Fontainebleau where

Bonaparte spent his last moments in France, Jean-Pierre

Osenat knows what history is all about and each boat

here is described in detail.

Among the collection are some very rare boats such

as the stunning 1947 Portier 'Glisseur' runabout with

sliding side windows like a Limousine, from Switzerland;

or a unique 1924 Excelsior’s launch from Geneva Lake; a

very nice American 1927 Gar Wood and a fine set of

boats from Italy’s Rio boatyard, Riva’s direct competitor

in its homewaters of Sarnico. Gérald Guetat

Q& A

TIM LUDLOW of Beds on Board

Where did the idea come from?

Sir Peter Ogden and Jason Ludlow

were racing at Palma Vela in 2014.

Accommodation was scarce yet the

marinas were full of empty yachts

and the question of how we could

solve this was asked, and the answer

was ‘beds’ – bedsonboard.com was

launched at London Boat Show 2015.

What’s been the reaction so far?

It’s been amazing. One year in and we

have met hundreds of boat owners

and organisations and have had

positive feedback. Articles in the

Telegraph, Sunday Times and

Huffington Post helped our growth.

Are most customers boaters already

or looking for a new experience?

It’s been about 50/50 since taking

our first booking in May. The answer

rarely affects the owner decision – it

just helps them frame the experience

and expectations. Part of our vision is

to offer easy access to the boating

lifestyle to help grow the boating

economy so we very much welcome

those seeking a new experience.

How do you guarantee

a boat’s safety?

We can’t offer guarantees but we

certainly offer tools and advice to help

with owner confidence. Guests must

have verified email accounts and

mobile numbers and we pre- authorise

credit cards before a booking request

is made. The owner then has 48

hours to communicate and

decide as to whether to accept

or decline the booking.

Have you had issues with novices

with unrealistic expectations?

Not so far. We work closely with our

owners to ensure the listings are as

accurate as possible.

What’s the appeal of a boat over

a warm hotel room?

Apart from the sound of the sea, fresh

air, the sense of freedom and well-

being? Perhaps just doing something

different or a first step into boating.

What are you plans for the future?

We aim to be the go-to destination

for global boat rental accommodation

and to grow what we call the ‘three

economies’: the sharing economy, the

boating economy and economies

around the marinas and waterways.

We will also continue our work

with British Marine, The Yacht

Harbour Association and the UK

government to help align the sharing

economy and the marine industry.

Are there any classic boats

onyour books?

Yes, quite a few now and all over the

world including a former flagship for

the Royal New Zealand Yacht

Squadron once crewed by a Sir Peter

Blake; a 62-footer in the BVIs and a

classic schooner in Southampton.

Are you looking forward

to the CB Awards?

Of course, we’re proud to be

supporting the awards and

look forward to seeing the

results. We’d like to wish all

AwardsIN ASSOCIATION WITH entrants the best of luck.

WORD OF

THE MONTH

Artificer

One who works

by hand in

wood or metal;

generally

termed an ‘idler

on board’, from

his not keeping

night-watch,

and only

appearing on

deck duty

when the hands

are turned up.

The Sailor’s

Word Book of

1867

AUSTRALIA

Sailing in

the desert

Hopes are high that forecast rains

will completely fill Lake Eyre,

Australia’s ‘inland sea’ and one of

the largest inland bodies of water

in the world, for the first time since

1974. If that happens, the Lake Eyre
      YC will hold a dinghy regatta there
      for the first time in four years,
      when the lake part filled.
      CANADA/UK
      Pilot returns
      The 1899-built pilot cutter Carlotta
      that has been in Canada since the
      1970s has been sold to a British
      owner and is coming home.
      She is one of the 18 original
      PCs known still to exist.