Viviane

The Viviane, considered the oldest racing boat remaining in France, is a leisure dinghy made from riveted metal sheets. It was built in Nantes in the Dubigeon shipyard in 1860. The modern forms of Viviane are the result of a clever construction technique used for large commercial vessels in Nantes. Eight sheets of steel, assembled by 8,300 rivets, form its hull. The only wooden section, the cockpit, contains all the sail controls in the front section. Its enormous sails designed for calm inland waters allowed the vessel to be used in regattas. It was originally decorated with a prow figure.