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Speaking of offshore racing and cruising experiences in far-flung
islands and harbors across the Pacific, ever hear of renowned
French offshore sailor/cruiser Jean Rheault? Jean is yet another
J/41 aficionado, sharing a love for the beautiful, rakishly ended IOR J/41 along with other notable sailors you may know like
Ken Read of PUMA and Scot Tempesta of Sailing Anarchy
infamy. Jean has loved the J/41 for years, sailing it across the
Pacific and continues to do so today sailing in the fabulous waters off
Malaysian and Indonesia and Thailand. He bought his first J-41 in 1997,
MERRIMAC, which he lost on the Sable Island sand bank on a trip from
Newport, RI across the Atlantic to the Azores Islands (note- it was the
same MERRIMAC sailed by Bob and Stu Johnstone in the 1985 Admiral's Cup
trials in Newport). Jean then bought his current J/41, now called SOUAY
I, in Newport Beach CA when it was named SEQUOIA. He then
single-handed the J/41 across the Pacific to Thailand where it got a
brand new teak deck with a bimini salon cockpit and a V-berth.
After
sailing in December in the Kings Cup (Phuket, Thailand), winning Modern
Classic Class BTW, Jean says, "I am sailing solo from Phuket-Thailand
to Pattaya-Thailand, via Singapore. I bring SOUAY I in the Indian Ocean
to do the area regattas. Now I am sailing back to China Sea, there are 2
regattas this spring-- Top Of The Gulf in Pattaya and the Samui
Regatta." After that, SOUAY I heads back to Ocean Marina near Pattaya
are south of Bangkok. Jean encourages any J lovers to visit him in
Thailand, SOUAY is available for day and event charters- he says "the
wind is 10 to 12 knots 80% of the time, weather is 28C to 32C all year
long and the ocean is at 30C.
It's
simply spectacular sailing. Plus, SOUAY I charms everyone who's seen
and sailed her with her beauty and her grace-- everyone loves her- from
Olympic sailors who appreciate the J-Boat helm sensation, to very famous
TV and Movie Stars in Thailand, they lay back in the big cockpit bed
under the bimini, relax and drink a glass of cool white wine, and then
they want to stay for a life-time..... not joking!" No worries there
Jean, we believe you based on these beautiful and amazing pictures of
your experiences with many new-found sailing friends!