Flying boat's restoration sparks dispute between former skipper and restorer
The 'hydroptère,' a flying trimaran conceived by the late French yachtsman Éric Tabarly, is at the center of a peculiar dispute ahead of its planned relaunch in Nantes in September 2026. Gabriel Terrasse, who is painstakingly restoring the vessel, faces opposition from Alain Thébault, the boat's former skipper. Thébault, who previously sailed the hydroptère before reportedly abandoning it in Hawaii, claims the restoration is a "sham" and intends to build his own version to donate to a museum. The conflict involves a Geneva-based patron who has broken their silence, legal documents, and significant animosity between the parties. The hydroptère, designed to 'fly' over the water, represents a significant innovation in sailing technology, making its future and legacy a point of contention.
The dispute over the hydroptère highlights the complex interplay between a visionary design's legacy, intellectual property, and the practicalities of preservation and future development. The differing perspectives of the restorer and the former skipper, each with a claim to the vessel's history and potential, underscore the challenges in managing shared heritage projects. Future governance models for such iconic, yet singular, technological artifacts might benefit from clearer frameworks for stewardship, dispute resolution, and the equitable recognition of contributions, ensuring that technological innovation is preserved and advanced without becoming a source of protracted conflict.
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