Georges and Michèle on their yacht Antares, Southern Indian Ocean 1986.

For 30 years Georges has been living and sailing the world's oceans. Visiting more than one hundred nations and many world's end, written books and produced video tape, see bookshop.

Born in France, Australian citizen for over 20 years.

Georges, Sebastien,Oscar, Fabian, Lélia, Michèle. Hobart1998

Family on Antares first yacht home for ten years, one and half around the world, with first two children, Sébastien and Lélia, are now aged 36 and 33.

Georges and Michèle later adopted two other children in Patagonia, Chile. Oscar now 18 and Fabian 16.

Metapassion antarctic peninsula 1994

"Metapassion" 12 m boat was sold in Australia december 2001.

"Antarctic" , a 20m sloop was sold in New Zeland october 2005

Jean, Gérard and Anette with Georges, Michèle and Oscar in Patagonia 1996

To share their enthusiasm, Georges and Michèle have taken many visitors to the most beautiful corners of Earth, from tropical paradise to freezing ice.

Contact them if you are interested in joining one of their adventures.

Turtle Bay, great Barrier reef 2001

We have been building Metapassion (under Australian flag) at Tarare in France near Lyon at a boat yard called Meta specialized in thick aluminium hulls since thirty years. The director is a strong-minded person and an outstanding builder far from the serial production: Beneteau, Jeanneau etc. His father was before him a steel boat builder. Meta has been building boats of all types and most of the French " Bateaux de grand voyage".

After building "Joshua" steel double ender ketch for Bernard Moitessier (they built about one hundred of the same type) they produced amongst other boat: "Damien 2" for Jerome and Sally Poncet (first yacht to winter in Antarctica 30 years ago). About sixty of their round bilge retractable keel world cruiser have been build there.
Later the boatyard started building "Dalu" series, the "Damien 2" style in aluminium. From 10 to 25 meters long. Drop, swing or fixed keel. Metapassion was the first to be build with a dagger board angled at 30°.
At the time of the construction 1992, Meta clients were well off people and were ordering very complicated units. Meta was more than happy to build us a new simplified version of the Dalu. Michel JoubertHistory:
-Bernard Nivelt offered the design (Called Logique de mer 43) and Meta provided us with the opportunity of working on our project at the factory. Since they have sold many copies of the Metapassion design .

After bringing up our two own children for ten years non stop on our first yacht ("Antares" wooden sloop double ender )and some other ventures, we build Metapassion sailed to Antarctica and adopted two young boys while in Patagonia
Lately, our main income has been charter (Mediterranea, Brasil, Patagonia, Polynesia, Tasmania, North Queensland) . we became by the years "professional" sea going creatures…
.Metapassion has been designed for the most adverse condition from Antarctica to the Red Sea. Strong and simple but equipped with some of the latest navigational aid: Efficient and reliable Autopilot, (with four 100 Amps batteries and three solar panels above the Coach house and wind generator , (wind wane ready in a locker seldom used), Radar, two GPS. On the deck, the setting and adjustments of the sails is perfectly tuned to our extended cruises.
On Metapassion life can continue while cruising. The Jib furling gear can receive two jibs simultaneously (one poled to the wind), main sail in spectra, three slabs with fast an easy reefing. Strong and relatively short mast 14,5m filled with polystyrene, five lower shroud, two running backstay for the worst conditions. Motor BMW 50cv is spotless and work like a clock cruising 1600 rpm, three self priming fuel pumps one for each injector, fresh water cooled trough heat-exchanger, capacity of fuel tank 800 litres (consumption as low as 3L an hour,). Propeller shaft will withstand any rope or cable jamming. Fresh water capacity about five hundred litres, can be increased easily. Going to Antarctica, plastic 44 gallons drum have been entered by the front hatch Goiot 60x60.
With three cabins separated with real doors and the couch in the galley, it is possible to accommodate 8 persons for the night but 6 are more appropriate for long cruising. The layout originally design to wintering in cold country, closing front and aft cabin and living in the center, turned to be perfect to accommodate confortably our later children and guest. It give the possibility to isolate properly "souls" at will.
Our family of four is not missing space. Galley with house size sinks two bowl (resin) booth fresh and seawater foot pumps, gas cylinders in outside locker under cockpit). Stainless steel, beloved heating stove burning same fuel than motor or kero, self-filling tank from engine return. Insulation is 60 mm of foam and 10 mm of Baltic pine. Lavac toilet with idiot proof system, pump to empty, another for flushing. Y valve installed on oulet but no holding tank installed, space for it under toilet floor. Hand basin in bathroom with own fresh water foot pump and tank. Shower in the sugarscoop aft 200 litres reserved tank.
The boat condition is very good as we had done a complete refurbishing . New paint,varnishes, carpet, fabrics etc…
The most outstanding item is the hull. Deepest draft is 1 m under rudder protection, 0.8m at the center of the hull. 15 mm thick, 12 m and 10 mm of aluminium for the thinnest plate on deck. Enough to remove the worries of any unwanted mishap. It is no drama dragging anchor, kissing coral head, hugging mud flat or jumping sand bar… and meeting the strayed floating teak log or submerged lost container who are waiting you (and your family) in the night far offshore.
Access to the most sheltered anchorage at the corner of the beach or up the river, there is always a place reserved for Metapassion as no other will go so far or so close. Not just a shallow draft but also a strong thick hull to enjoy the most beautiful and interesting part of the world’s oceans: The shore!

We have been writing, four books covering our 25 cruising years, another photo book (for international dreamers) "Oscar in Antarctica", a (French) "cooking at sea book" and a video tape called "Two Angels in paradise" (English version).
If you wish, we can forward you , the photo book "Oscar in Antarctica" 32 colour pages 320x240mm, and the 53 minutes video tape, Australian version with yank speaker, which will give you a much better idea of Metapassion, history and possibilities.

Report on Inspection of Yacht Metapassion at Margate Marina Tasmania

On Thursday 28/6/2001 at about 1.00pm I met the owners of the above vessel, with the intention of inspecting the hull for any noticeable corrosion as the hull was constructed from aluminium.

The above waterline paint and hull was in very good condition and there was no point or mounting corrosion areas that were evident. There had been every effort made to reduce the likelihood of dissimilar metal corrosion on rigging and other external fittings.

An inspection beneath the floor space showed no obvious water ingress, no aluminium hydroxide powder build-up and the quality of the observed welding was of a high standard.
All areas were very dry and clean.
The engine compartment was of the same standard and had obviously been cared for in the same clean and dry state. No obvious signs of asbestos or other insulation was observed. No oil or grease deposits were evident around the gearbox and shaft tube.
No telltale watermarks were evident in any of the floor spaces inspected.

Externally, the hull was measured to a standard Silver Chloride Test cell and returned a reading of -980mVolts. (For corrosion purposes a reading higher than -900mV is
considered good and to current British Standards for cathodic protection of aluminium)
The underwater hull has been treated in a Zinc based type covering that effectively makes the hull a giant piece of Zinc. I have heard of this type of protection but not seen it done before. (Normally zinc anodes would be externally mounted somewhere on the hull) That is why there is no anti-fouling paint below the waterline
There were two small Zinc berthing anodes, which are set over each side as added protection while berthed.

All painted external areas looked to be in exceptionally good condition and no loss of adhesion was seen. (This is a common fault with aluminium hulls that undercoat preparation is not always done to the best standard)

From my present knowledge of cathodic protection and corrosion of aluminium ships
built up over 10 years with Incat in Hobart, I would have to say that the hull has been well looked after, has everything done to minimise any likely corrosion of the hull and provided the exterior Zinc coating is maintained in its present good condition should not present any problems.

The onboard information sheet from the original builder is a comprehensive list on how to maintain and control the present system, which seems to be working exceptionally well.

Some pictures shown to me when the hull was dry-docked showed that most underwater fixtures are of aluminium, thereby reducing the likely effects of dissimilar metal corrosion in areas that are not easily visible.

I would have to say that the original builder has a wealth of knowledge about aluminium welding, and corrosion and has done an exceptional job in the construction of the vessel.

It would be advisable to periodically check the hull potential, be aware of the effects that metal wharfs and jetties may have on the metal hull and seek cathodic protection advice if any shore power was to be used on the hull.

David R Harcourt 28/08/2001