Multihull world banana
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BANANA 43 the 'no limits’ multihull In just two examples, this Marc Fazilleau-designed catamaran has already made an impression on the little world of multihulls, through its happy owners’ long-term voyages. So when, in a market which is highly formatted by the major productions, this atypical design fell into the hands of a French builder which had forged its reputation over 40 years, building aluminium blue-water boats, our curiosity, already aroused, reached fever pitch. A test of Garcia’s Banana 43 in the Channel, at the end of June, in the warm sunshine of Cherbourg... Photos: Antoine Soubigou It's the trick question at any self-respecting boat show for the permanent staff of the essential Multihulls World stand. ‘What is the ideal catamaran to sail round the world in?’ Everyone has their tactics for avoiding the danger of a certainly legitimate interrogation, but one to which there is no absolute answer, or to which there are a hundred different answers. Personally, I like to give them the metaphor of the original Paris-Dakar, in the real African desert. We saw everything and anything arrive on the banks of Lac Rose: from 4Ls to Rolls Royces. We even saw some Porsches excel there! Which just goes to show, anything can make the crossing... ...of the desert, or the Atlantic. It’s just a case of knowing what the driver wants. But what is really worthwhile, is to find out what vehicle the person who lives all the year round in the desert or the brush uses: at that time (and here I’m talking about a time that those of you under 40 will not have known) the famous ‘Land Rover’ was The Banana 43 by Garcia is a solid boat, capable of tackling all the world's seas... the ‘must’. However, I don’t think I remember it ever having excelled in the event created by Thierry Sabine. And this is how I see the Marc Fazilleau-designed Banana 43: it’s the ‘Land Rover of the Oceans’. Not built to appeal, to follow the fashion(s), excel, play the tough guy, be chartered for a week in an exotic paradise... No, the Banana 43 has an air of authenticity, simplicity, reliability, unfailing strength, whilst doing its best to avoid the anachronism of rusticity. Accommodating the family and/or friends, sheltered in all weathers, flirting with Polynesian coral or the Cape Horn williwaws, in slippers by the fireside, a free spirit, enjoying the exceptional environment, without worrying about an accident, damage or even the slightest little incident. For this, the first version of the Banana, built by Prometa, showed the way. It’s called ‘Mowgli’, and after having sailed half-way round the world with the family, it sailed to Tierra del Fuego from Australia, a world first for a

catamaran sailed singlehanded (see Multihulls World n° 121). An ease of handling singlehanded, which we immediately rediscovered aboard ‘Mandala’, the Banana 43 we were testing. On first contact, from the pontoon close to the boatyard, its silhouette seemed really quite bulky. Forty three feet; here we really are at the bottom of the range of sizes suitable for longterm cruising on two hulls, and you need a bit of volume when you want to live aboard with no time limit. But the Land Rover wouldn’t win any prizes for beauty either. It’s the practical nature which has made it a myth, not only...

A comfortable saloon, and above all, a real chart table with a panoramic view which is ideal for night watches. The Banana’s foredeck is an encouragement to be idle. become the owner, very kindly welcomed us aboard. If he seemed to have lost his voice a little, it was through the emotions of the first outings, the completion of a carefully thought-out project, which took nearly two years to take shape. Because otherwise, visibly, he seems absolutely delighted with the services supplied and the boat's overall coherence. Garcia has visibly hung on to its precious expertise, and the quality of...

We are aboard a blue-water catamaran, hence the many stowage areas available to the owners. on the port aft side of the coachroof, is huge and particularly well equipped, with notably two huge drawer-type fridges. We were just a little surprised at the material chosen for the work surface - as much from an aesthetic point of view (taste and colours...) as from a practical one (heat resistance?), we were not sure about the relevance of the choice made on this boat. The advantage of madetomeasure construction - a future customer could opt for another finish. On the other hand, we had no...