2009-2024
What a story!
I’m going to need a lot of hindsight - three months, probably more - to realize what a somewhat crazy journey this has been.
A whole lifetime for an object I could never have afforded when new.
All this happened in France.
This Freedom 33, which crossed the Atlantic in 2009 to reach my country, was in average to fair condition.
A lot of work awaited me, but I went much further than a standard refit.
Opening the transom.
Two lifting rudders, connected by ropes.
Addition of an aft platform, for windvane gear and access when the boat is at anchor.
Addition of a mini doghouse and a hybrid bimini.
These are the main works. Countless details are added to the list. Those familiar with the Freedom 33 will be able to see what’s changed from the original yacht.
A very imperfect estimate of work time is around 24,000 hours. Probably 18,000 for the interior.
The launch was preceded by a stripping down!
For a long time, Freedom was covered with a tarpaulin to protect it from dust. I was also looking forward to the surprise of finally seeing the whole thing repainted.
The interior
Many elements have been modified, improved and changed.
The list is enormous. I ended up making six new LED spotlights myself.
I wanted to brighten up the interior, give it a bit of lightness and cheerfulness, with colorful touches.
And then this interior contains a new feature that I hope will work: an anchor rope winder, separate from the chain locker.
In the end, the previous owner would be totally unable to recognize his sailboat.
The lift-up rudders required a lot of work. They are especially designed to lift up in the event of impact with floating objects.
The rope connection is obviously inspired by James Wharram’s designs.
The rear platform is very practical. I’m very pleased with this design. And since there’s a vertical part (which supports the windvane gear), you feel protected.
The anchor rope winder: I may be the only one with such a system.
I didn’t like the fact that the anchor line went around the foremast, via two hawsepipes. It causes water ingress. I also wanted the rope part of the anchor to be as long as possible. Only a furler could offer that, while taking up a minimum of space.
I can furl up to 500 feet!
So there are two anchor lockers: one on the starboard side contains the chain, from which a tube runs to the starboard locker containing the reel.
I haven’t tested this system yet.
Another curiosity: a photo of the chinese scull that will be used as a bow thruster.
I just have 1 question. Are there wash-boards to go into the transom opening? I would think that you’d need something to keep a following sea out of the cockpit.
Hi Lorenzo, what an amazing project, both the innovation and the level of detail shown is remarkable. I hope you will continue to keep us updated here on her sea trials. I am sure that you could write a book on this project, if you did I would read it
She is beautiful! You set the bar very very high when it comes to the interior finish. I like the combination of wood and paint, it makes for a brighter interior. I also like the solid bimini rails connecting to the dodger, nice safety feature. How did you make the hard dodger? Is it plywood, grp, alu?
And what’s the navigation program?
The mizzen sheet attaches to two stainless steel rings at the top of the rear small masts, which support the rear of the rigige bimini.
I’ll need to add two small shrouds to stiffen/reinforce the two small masts.
The hard dodger is pretty heavy in the end.
The roof is made using the strip-planking method. Basic spruce slats, glass/epoxy laminate.
The uprights are also in laminated spruce.
I’m planning a round-the-world trip.
Departure France.
Spain, Portugal, Mediterranean, Suez Canal, Indian Ocean, Asia, Polynesia, Panama Canal, Caribbean, France.
I’ve created a blog to show all the steps involved in restoration. The text is in French and it’s all pictures, so you won’t be able to use an automatic translator.
It starts in 2009. After the sale of my previous sailboat, a 25-foot Jeanneau, a Sangria, a very popular sailboat in France.
The latest images are from 2018.
Someday I’ll take the time to update this blog.
Hi Lorenzo,
Congratulations on Lotus, you have done a superb job and she looks beautiful. She will be a brilliant boat for a RTW voyage.
I see that you are planning a round the world trip going east-about via the med /suez / Indian Ocean/ Polynesia /Panama/carribbean/home.
Have you considered going west-about via the same route which would be predominantly downwind & which would suit Lotus’ best sailing points.?
We sailed a Fairways UK build Freedom 33/35 centreboard ‘Saoirse” two handed RTW in 1994 - 1998 . We sailed from Ireland via Spain /potugal/canaries/caribbean/panama/galapagos/polynesia/cooks/tonga/fiji/NZ/New Caledonia/australia/Indian Ocean/madagascar/South Africa/st Helena/caribbean/bermuda/azores home.
It was practically all off-wind sailing & the boat performed brilliantly averaging 140 mile days on long passages. She was also very comfortable downwind with minimal rolling when the mainsail was set forward of 90 degrees (wishbone rig ). We rarely used the Mizzen sail, usually the mainsail only or with a staysail or cruising chute.
Anyway I hope you have great fun in your beautiful boat.
Kind regards
Gar
Thanks for the feedback on your Freedom 33.
During the Atlantic crossing, orthodromic, from west to east, to bring Lotus to France, I found that the rolling was quite significant.
But in any case, only today’s hulls have very little rolling.
The Freedom behaves very well upwind. Only once did the boat start banging on the bow, but the sea was very rough, with crisscrossing waves.
Why circumnavigate the world from west to east?
It’s obvious to me that I should start with the Mediterranean, which represents the very old history of Europe, its antiquity, and then gradually move away from it.
Even if it means encountering more headwinds.
