Scott and Mary Flanders, friends of ours cruising the Chilean Channels at the bottom of the world, encountered a 90-foot power trimaran a few days ago. Ocean Alchemist is owned by sailing legend Olivier de Kersauson. Carrying a French film crew, he was on a fast trip from Brest in France to Brazil and Cape Horn, then taking the southern sailboat route on to New Zealand by April
or so. De Kersauson said he averages 14 knots at sea taking it easy, 18 knots in
a hurry and 22 knots flat out. Ocean Alchemist has small amas near midships, weighs 13 tons dry and carries 9 tons of fuel.
The Flanderses invited de Kersauson aboard Egret, their Nordhavn 46, for cocktails and had an interesting few hours listening to his sea stories.
De Kersauson told them he eventually plans to sell Ocean Alchemist and build a smaller version, in the 60- to 70-foot range, that he can cruise without crew.
