Famous Boats: Pen Duick

We will talk about Pen Duick, the boat of the famous ocean racer Eric Tabarly, which is at least as famous as he is. In 1938, his father bought Pen Duick, an 1898 William Fife design, a gaff-rigged cutter, for Tabarly, who had been sailing since childhood. Tabarly learned to sail on the Pen Duick, whose name means “shorebird.” During World War II, Tabarly enlisted in the navy as a volunteer, leaving the Pen Duick somewhat neglected. After the war, he restored the deteriorating boat and set sail again. From that point on, he named all the boats he used in ocean races “Pen Duick.” While there are now subsequent versions like Pen Duick II, III, and IV, the original Pen Duick has been entrusted to the Eric Tabarly Association by the family.

Our Tabarly is Sadun Boro; our Pen Duick is the “Kısmet” boat. Perhaps we will also have the fortune to see Kısmet on the seas?