Alain Poiraud, RIP?

[Kettlewell]

Didn't know the man, and didn't always agree with his posts, but he was one of the prime instigators of the development of the "new generation" anchors with his development of the Spade. I read on some other forums that he is now deceased. Does anyone know if that is true?

[s/v 'Faith']

I hear that also, went to Wiki and found no update to the entry on him.

[gettinthere]

kettle

where did you read this?

[s/v 'Faith']

Can't speak for him, but I read it on another forum.

[sailorF54]

Alain Poiraud died in mid-february 2011
Friends of his announced it on French STW forum
Bateaux autour du monde - Sail The World - L'Univers de la grande croisière en voilier - STW

Here is a short bio from the blurb of the English translation of his book on mooring (co- authored with Achim and Erika Ginsberg-Klemmt)
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Ancho.../dp/0071475087

[gettinthere]

Back to Alain; did I read somewhere that he had an anchor design with a hoop on it that was the precursor to the Manson/rocna?

[Maine Sail]

Originally Posted by gettinthere

Back to Alain; did I read somewhere that he had an anchor design with a hoop on it that was the precursor to the Manson/rocna?

He invented the Spade anchor as well as the Oceane, Sword and reportedly the Raya. He affectionately referred to the hoop as a "BSH" when posting as Ancora Latina. He was quite a character and is perhaps responsible for the current "new gen" anchors.

[GMac]

Yes sad isn't it. He was a smart dude indeed and I liked our chats about anchoring, I learnt a lot.

Alain was the instigator of the 'new gen' anchors. All of the others are just clones of the Spade.

[craigsmith]

Alain denied to the last any involvement in the Raya anchor. The online persona João Nodari to my knowledge never publicly betrayed any connection.

[SA/USA]

Rest in Peace, Alain.

[Hydra]

Alain Poiraud wasn't the designer of the first "new gen" anchor: the Wasi/Bügel existed before the Spade. However, he was convincing enough to make people buy an expensive and strange-looking anchor. This makes him the initiator of a revolution.

I met him at the 1999 (probably) Paris boat show, the first year that the Spade was offered. I was surprised by the differences with previous anchors: the weighted tip, the concave fluke, the yellow color, the hollow shank, all was different. I had no yacht at the time, so no need for a high-tech anchor.

I have had an occasion to talk with the people at Sea Tech & Fun (the present makers of Spade anchors). They were convinced that Alain Poiraud was the designer of the Raya.

Alain (not Poiraud)

[Kettlewell]

I think it is debatable whether or not the Bugel is "new generation." I look at it more like the missing link between man and monkey--some of the characteristics of both with its flat blade (old school), small surface area (old school), yet also having a roll bar, etc. Not an important point though, as Poiraud's promotion and success with the Spade certainly seemed to kick off a new wave in anchor designing and retailing. Here in the U.S.A. Bugel's are even rarer than Spades.

[dpons]

I'm saddened by the news. I briefly met the guy when he spend some time in Piriápolis. He sold his boat there to cruise South America by land. Or so was the gossip at the time.

I drink to him.

[SA/USA]

Originally Posted by Kettlewell

I think it is debatable whether or not the Bugel is "new generation." I look at it more like the missing link between man and monkey--some of the characteristics of both with its flat blade (old school), small surface area (old school), yet also having a roll bar, etc. Not an important point though, as Poiraud's promotion and success with the Spade certainly seemed to kick off a new wave in anchor designing and retailing. Here in the U.S.A. Bugel's are even rarer than Spades.

The Spade anchor is no longer a rare find in the USA. We are carring on the tradition that Alain started so many years ago, by providing one of the best anchors on the market today. We have and will continue to promote the benefits of the new generation of anchors in his memory.

[Kettlewell]

The Spade anchor is no longer a rare find in the USA.

Much less so than even a few years ago, but still more than 90% of the anchors I see on the bows of cruising boats are "old school" designs. It is now a few years ago, but in 2006 I walked the docks at Shelter Bay Marina near the mouth of the Panama Canal and out of 54 anchors on the bow there were only 2 Spades, both on the same boat, and 2 Buegels. The vast majority of the anchors on these world cruisers were either CQRs (the majority) or Bruce's, with a fair number of Deltas and Fortresses. I'm sure the numbers today are shifting, but most of the anchors in daily use around the world are still old school.