Half Ton owners and their crew are not only world famous for their sailing skills. It happens to be that they are keen DIY guys too. Sometimes it even starts when they are merely nine. Here is how Brice VILLION, owner and skipper of Cardiac Blues fell in love with the formula.  

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She’s a 1978 Berret Half Tonner, built in Kevlar/Epoxy, a new way of building boat in these years. She came out first with a mobile lest but was soon changed into a normal one.

She used to be my dad’s boat, he bought her around 1981. I was 9 years old at this time and I discovered sailing on Cardiac Blues with him, he learned me how to helm and years after years how to sail and all he knew about it. I really was in love with this boat and the sensations she gave me.

In 1989 my dad had to sell her because even if they were three co-owners, they couldn’t keep her. That was heart breaking for me and I swore to myself  “when I grow up I will find her and get her back in the family !!”

I had to wait until 2011!

I was surfing on the net and came to visit the Histoire des Halfs website. So I checked the Cardiac Blues file and found she was on sale! Excitement, heart beating fast, dream becoming true… it took at least 6 months before I reached the owner, another 6 months before I could sign the selling agreement, because he was overseas most part of the year.

I was flying!! So happy !!

I took my time to rebuilt her.
First because I never thought about how I could pay for a refit, secondly because I discover she needed a big one and finally because I did it depending on time and money I could involve in this refit.

Ten years later she was back into the water, the same ones I saw her the last time, in La Trinité-sur-mer, Baie de Quiberon, Bretagne.

Since then, the dream continues: I organised a crew around friends, we sail every race we can and I finally get to participate in the HTCC, which I raced in 2003 with my dad on his second Half  Toner called Diablesse.

This is the accomplishment of a kid’s dream, I’m so happy and proud of that !

As the majority of the usual crew couldn’t come to Nieuwpoort, I created with the help of Marc Strickman a French/Belgian crew for the HTCC, with local and experimented sailors.

I hope to learn as much as I can about Cardiac Blues and the way she needs to be managed. Those boats are very special and I’m sure I will enjoy the crew skills about Half Toners !!

Editor: we’re looking forward to meet Brice, his crew and have a closer look at Cardiac Blues.