The original and minimalist masterpiece of Robert Scharr, Global Solo Challenge skipper
by Margherita Pelaschier 12 Jun 2023 23:48 AEST
Yako - ULDB 39' © Robert Scharr
When a skipper chooses his boat, it mirrors his personality and sailing style. Robert Scharr and his Yako undoubtedly stand out for their originality and minimalism.
Robert did not purchase his boat, but personally built the vessel of his dreams which will see him attempt his grand project: the Global Solo Challenge, a solo and non-stop voyage around the world.
Yako, the name he chose for his vessel, echoes his maternal roots in Africa, in the Ivory Coast. "I spent my childhood with my maternal grandmothers who raised me. When I was hurt, they used to tell me 'Yako' which means 'I'm sorry', 'Excuse me', 'It's alright'. I decided to name my boat after this term. I dedicated a lot of energy into building it and now it's a part of me. For a sailor, the boat becomes a home, a shelter that protects us. When I face challenging conditions, I will say 'Yako', 'I'm sorry'. I attribute a great sentimental value to it, although the human aspect always remains central to my life vision and heart."
In the 80s and 90s, Robert spent a lot of time sailing on heavy aluminum boats, following the trend of the time. "At 30, I embarked on a journey to Africa, specifically the Ivory Coast, the home country of my maternal family. I stayed there for a few years and when it was time to return to France, I chose to make a solo crossing that kept me busy for two months. In 1989, I founded my bakery business and worked hard. During holidays, I rented a boat every year to sail with my children. For our cruises, I preferred less comfortable but sportier and faster vessels compared to classic cruise boats, for the fun of it.
In the early 2000s, in the magazine "Loisirs nautiques," I found various projects designed by the leading naval architects of the time, of their 'ideal boat'. I was captivated by the project of Patrick Balta, an atypical architect, and his equally original boat, the 'Enfant perdu', very narrow, light, and low in the water."
Architect Patrick Balta is an enthusiast of the sea and of wood. Having lived an adventure aboard "L'Aviateur", a 20-meter sail-driven tuna boat without an engine, with his parents in the 1950s, he developed a profound connection to the sea. Subsequently, he began designing and building boats, specializing in the use of wood, and studying different ways to utilize it rationally, paying significant attention to both aesthetics and mechanical qualities. His experience, combined with mathematical and computing skills, allowed him to accomplish ambitious projects, such as the study of a 50-foot vessel for Bob Escoffier, which participated in the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2001 and 2005, and the Route du Rhum in 2002, with its original gaff-rigged schooner configuration.
His passion and skill continue to leave their mark on the sailing industry. Balta's project name, "Enfant perdu," evokes deep meaning within the context of military slang, referring to units facing risky actions. This expression represents an upstream challenge, embodies audacity and courage, and invites one to reflect on life's challenges and to find the inner strength to overcome them.
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