Bernard Baclet & the Calisto Challenge: a final leg for a sailor's life

Bernard Baclet has spent his life at sea. At 80 years old, he is embarking on a new challenge: sailing from Alaska to Canet-en-Roussillon, France, aboard his sailboat Calisto V.

This "return journey" will mark the end of a long adventure at sea that began over 60 years ago, in 1961.

Since 1961, when he first set sail as a cabin boy, Bernard has never left the sea. For decades, he sailed all the oceans. Cabin boy, Merchant Marine Captain, Deep-Sea Fisherman, then Skipper of his own boat, he explored the English Channel, sailed the Atlantic, visited the Pacific archipelagos and crisscrossed the coasts of America.

In 2008, Calisto V – a traditional steel sailboat, built to the plans of a classic 1931 ketch – became his companion. He sailed aboard her for over 15 years, between Alaska and Oregon, and even made her his home.

"Built on Weston Farmer's 1931 designs, Calisto V is an elegant, robust **ketch** with undeniable heritage value," explains Bernard. "It's a sailboat with sleek lines. The **gaff rig** and solid wood interior, among other things, make it a rare piece! It's also a sailboat full of stories: those of years spent at sea, and of all the great crossings made."

Recently, Bernard spent many months meticulously restoring **Calisto V** in a shipyard in the **United States**. "The hull was stripped bare, treated, and repainted. The interior was redesigned: new galley, bathroom, engine compartment, storage, electrical circuits... Everything was redone. Modern instruments were also installed, such as **radar**, **autopilot**, and **anemometer**."

Today, the boat is ready for a final voyage: Bernard will return to **France** – a country he left when he was only 15 and which, according to him, has changed a lot since then. "After a 64-year wake across worlds I saw disappear one after another, the need to return home inevitably arose."

In France, the future home port was not chosen at random: Bernard is keen to join the Association des Vieux Gréements de Canet-en-Roussillon to pass on the legacy of Calisto V to “sailors who will know how to maintain it properly, and allow it to continue its history.”

The last solo crossing Bernard dreams of will be long and difficult:

Departure from Alaska is scheduled for autumn 2025. The navigator will have to avoid cyclones in the Pacific and storms in the Atlantic, manage navigation and stopovers according to weather conditions, while making sure not to fall behind schedule.

As if that weren't enough, Bernard faces another significant difficulty he hadn't anticipated: as a permanent resident French citizen, he will not be able to benefit from the temporary admission regime for his boat upon his arrival in France.

“I had not planned for the approximately €15,000 in taxes – customs duties and VAT, editor's note – that await me upon arrival! I could have been exempt from these taxes if I had been a foreigner, thanks to the temporary admission regime for Calisto. Unfortunately, that is not the case, and this exorbitant amount requested threatens the balance of my project.”

Faced with this new obstacle, Bernard looked for solutions: he explored forums and specialized websites, seeking advice and reliable people to work with. This is how he came across the team at Bateau-immatriculation.com and Raphael: “someone who finally knows their subject!”

“We took the time to explain the intricacies of French maritime law to Bernard. Our team dispelled his doubts and, together with him, proceeded with the flag change for Calisto V. However, for customs duties and VAT fees to be paid upon entry into French territory, there is no solution: they will have to be paid. Bernard inevitably needs to revise his budget if he wishes to continue his project,” explains Raphael.

To raise the necessary funds, Bernard plans to republish three of his novels, some of which were written aboard Calisto V. He also wishes to take passengers on cruises on his boat during his next Caribbean stopovers.

Finally, through this article on our site, Bernard hopes to find support: any help will be welcome for the realization of his ambitious project and his "grand return" sailing to France.

To contact Bernard: bvbconsultant@hotmail.com.