BICHE, The last sailing tuna boat on the island of Groix
Biche is the last dundee in the Atlantic, a fishing boat built in hundreds until the eve of the last world war.
Its image remains associated with the heyday of Atlantic sail fishing, from Sables d'Olonne and Ile d'Yeu to Etel, Groix, Concarneau or Douarnenez...
After the terrible storm of 1930, the structure and forms of the dundries reached their balance. The well-distributed sail plan and the elegant, robust hull achieved a harmony that struck countless sailors and artists.
Biche was built in Les Sables d'Olonne in 1934 by Aimé Chauffeteau's shipyard, for the owner Ange Stéphan from the island of Groix, nicknamed "Ange-Biche".
80 years after her launch in Les Sables, Biche benefited from a complete restoration, from 2009 to 2012: the hull refurbished by the Chantiers du Guip, the rigging redesigned and implemented by the Friends of Biche association after a research work, without forgetting the sails cut by Burgaud under the supervision of the naval architect François Vivier.
Launched on 22 June 2012, Biche can now be sailed in complete safety, for trips of one to several days. She can accommodate 16 people for multi-day sailing, 30 for day sailing, and 70 for dockside reception (including crew).
Biche is now motorised, with two 90 hp Perkins engines. The accommodation consists of a functional kitchen, 2 toilets, a shower, 16 very comfortable berths. Her water capacity is 1400 litres, 1400 litres of diesel also. All these facilities allow the greatest number of people to sail on the last Atlantic tuna dinghy in optimal conditions of comfort and safety.
On Tuna Boat Biche: Become the crew, Get on board!