A new life begins for the Oxygen sailboat. Built in 1994 in Tourlaville, this Imoca ship was famous for having won, with Christophe Auguin, the Vendée Globe from 1996-1997. After a busy career, and having known several identities including the names Sceta-Calberson and Géodis, the boat changed owners several times. Problem: it was abandoned for more than 12 years by a Hungarian in the port of Cherbourg. The ship was auctioned on May 12, 2025, to reimburse the €50,000 in unpaid shipping costs. It was acquired by Antoine Brunet and Caroline Da Silva for 15,684 euros.
Since then, the new owners have redoubled their efforts to refurbish the Oxygen: overhauling the sails, major cleaning, updating the equipment… After several months of hard work, the ship can start its new life in Marseille.
From Normandy to the South Sea
On December 21, Antoine Brunet recounts his journey from Cherbourg to the Marseille city on social networks. “A quiet start, the textile standing rigging is still 15 years old. The goal is to bring the boat back to port, located more than 2,000 nautical miles (3,704 kilometers) away.“. After 12 days of navigation, the Oxygen has arrived in Marseille. What is the rest of the program? “Navigate”responds in comment Antoine Brunet. The restoration of the sailboat will continue, with the changing of the portholes and the standing rigging. The new owners plan to participate in regattas starting in June.
