Aile VIBy: John Lammerts van BuerenFor most people Aile VI is synonymous for the legendary Virginie Hériot.To me, personally, Aile VI is equally synonymous for Alain Dominique Perrin. If I recall correct it was back in 1994 when he discovered Aile VI in St. Malo and decided to restore her faithfully & respectfully, aiming to bring her back her original purpose in life: Racing ! At that time I was executive secretary of the International Eight Metre Association and on August 27th 1996, through the kind help of Clément Brunet-Moret, I contacted Mr. Perrin to compliment and commend him for taking up Aile VI and restoring her so authentically. The contact remained and when in 1998, we organized the 8-Metre World Cup in Geneva, I asked him if the House of Cartier would be willing to put up a trophy for the vintage 8-Metres. He invited me over to Paris, we met, discussed and agreed; La Coupe Cartier was born! The story would not be complete without giving Clément Brunet-Moret every bit of credit for making it happen, he guided me through the proces with a focus and queit determination. The following 6 years Cartier supported the 8-Metre Class and in those years the warm partnership played a pivotal role in the development, revival and growth of the 8-Metre Class. Sailors wanted to be part of it all, found other old boats, restored them authentically following the example set by Aile VI. The numbers, enthousiasm and passion was simply staggering as 6 years later more than 30 boats had been restored and brought back to life. So Aile VI is not just about the fame and admiration for Virginie Hériot or the genius of her designer Pierre Arbaut. To my mind Aile VI is just as much about the vision and leadership of Alain Dominique Perrin who, through the House of Cartier, played a pivotal role in the appreciation and revival of The Int. 8-Metre Class and the classic sailing community as a whole. So a grand merci beaucoup to Aile VI , Pierre Lefèvre and the wonderful long time crew of friends for touching the heart of so many.With every good wish and my apologies for not writing this in French.Aile VI, 1928MARCONI OR BERMUDIAN SLOOPAile VI, 1928paneraiclassicyachtschallenge.com and Nautica Report06/03/2023 11:20In the year of its launch, 1928, the 8 Meter S.I. (International tonnage) Aile VI won the Amsterdam Olympics and the Italian Cup.In 1929 he won the French Cup.The winning crew of the Aile VI at the 1928 Amsterdam OlympicsDuring the war she was a refugee in Algeria, then she became the boat of the Nautical Club of the Toulon Navy.In 1991 she was classified as a French historical monument and four years later she underwent a complete restoration carried out by Les Charpentiers Réunis of Cancale.In 1998, in Geneva, she was vice world champion in the 8 Meters racing for the Coupe Cartier; she took part in the World Championships in La Trinité sur Mer in 1999 and 2003.World class champion in the Vintage category in 2000, she belongs to a syndicate of 10 owners from the Noirmoutier region of France, who receive state subsidies for the restoration.CharacteristicsYEAR 1928CHANTIER DE LA HÈVE SITE (LE HAVRE – FRANCE)PIERRE ARBAUT PROJECT (FRANCE)F.T. LENGTH 14.40mLENGTH FLOAT 9.66 mWIDTH 2.74mDRAFT 1.90 mDISPLACEMENT 8.87 tonsSAIL AREA 118 m²------Human testimony:Aile VI entered the legend with its victory at the Amsterdam Olympic Games in 1928 with Virginie Herriot. Through tenacity, Virginie Herriot, heiress to the Magasins du Louvre, established herself as the great lady of yachting. From 1912 to 1932, she competed in an average of 90 races per year, had eleven regatta sailboats built with the same legendary name and which achieved numerous successes, including the Amsterdam Olympics, the Italian Cup, the Cup of France (with Aile VI), the Mediterranean Cup, the King of Spain Cup with its 8mJITechnical or conceptual testimony:Testimony of an event or a past activity:August 9, 1928: winner of the Amsterdam Olympic Games 1928: winner of the Italian Cup 1929: winner of the French Cup – the Spanish King's Cup – the Italian Cup 1935: winner of the cup Thalassa 1961: participation in the Giraglia where it suffered a terrible storm (broken boom and mast) Since 1996: Aile VI regularly participates in Mediterranean regattas (Imperia, Monaco Classic Week, Régates Royales de Cannes, Voiles de St Tropez) and regattas Atlantic (Bénodet, La Trinité, La Baule, Noirmoutier)Other notable elements:Classified as a historic monument since 05/07/1991Chronology:1928-1931: Virginie Herriot 1931-1934: Maritime and Colonial League (LMC) of Le Havre (the pilotins of Le Havre) 1934-1956: R. Revillon then General Antonat 1956-1973: Nautical Club of the Navy of Toulon Renamed Virginie, it underwent significant modifications to be transformed into a cruising sailboat. In 1972, the boat was scrapped, which was equivalent to a conviction 1973-1980: Saved by François Turlan, the boat took back its name Aile VI and entered into restoration 1980-1984: Hubert Allard de Grandmaison 1984-1989: Dominique Rostini 1989-1994: Philippe Briand Since 1994: joint venture company Aile VI (SVL6) Restoration to the united carpenters of Cancale (4200 hours) based on period photos and marks found on the boat, the plans having been burned during the bombings of Le Havre during the Second World War.