 In July of 1983, Dorsey
bought her first boat, a Danish-built Bianca 27.
BON COPAIN was just that, a great friend for the 14
years Dorsey owned her. Together they sailed all
over southern New England, enjoying the cruising life
thoroughly.
Dorsey bought BON
COPAIN from naval architect Eric Sponberg and his wife
Arliss, who had sailed the boat (then named DUPRASS)
from the UK, into the Med, across the Atlantic, through
the Panama Canal, and up to San Francisco. From
there the Sponbergs had put her on a truck and brought
her to Bristol, RI, which is where Dorsey found her.
Having been looking for
the "right" boat for a couple of years, Dorsey new the
moment she stepped aboard that this was it!
On the right, BON
COPAIN lies in Newport Harbor, photographed for her
listing in Soundings when Dorsey, having marrried Bruce,
ESMERALDE and Smart Alec, found she needed to find a new
home for her small yacht.
BON COPAIN was built in
1968 by Bianca Yachts in Denmark. Her folk-boat
pedigree comes through in her long, high bow, stepped
cabin top, transom-hung rudder, and deep, full keel.
She was solidly built of some of the nicest looking
fiberglass work you would find anywhere. The
hull-deck joint, heavily tabbed bulkheads, and lovely
ribbon-ply mahogany carpentry were beautifully crafted,
meticulously cared for, and in lovely condition.
The comfortable cockpit
had teak seats and combing, and the decks had
well-executed, effective non-skid. True bulwarks
were capped with a nicely formed teak cap rail, and the
stanchions and lifelines were strong and secure.
She had a Hassler wind vane that kept her
nicely-balanced helm on track for easy shorthanded
sailing. Tanbark sails finished off the
traditional form.
Below, she had lots of
light from the large portlights, tremendous air flow
from the large forward hatch and companionway, and a
very warm, pleasant interior.
All around, Dorsey was
fortunate to have stumbled across such a well conceived,
nicely-built small boat, perfect for her single years,
right for the budget, a pleasure to sail, and, last but
not least, a joy to look at as well! It is no
surprise that several hundred (we're trying to find out
exactly how many) were built, and although they were
never imported into the US, you still find them
regularly sailing in European waters.
Sadly, Dorsey sold her to
someone who sank her off Cuttyhunk in his first season.
She was a total loss.
Here's to little BON
COPAIN!
Red sails
in the sunset off Quissett, on Buzzards Bay, BON
COPAIN's part-time home for six years. |
