Nautix – a leading paint manufacturer in the yachting business based in south Brittany, that punches well above its weight in a sector dominated by multinational corporations and is often first choice for top teams around the globe – provides expert technical support to guide its customers and help them achieve optimal performance.
These are key reasons why Ambre Hasson, for instance, chose Nautix products for a big refit of her 20-year-old proto Mini 650 #618 ahead of this year’s Mini Transat, placing her trust in a wide range of Nautix products to deliver performance, durability and reliability under extreme conditions.
Her choice of Nautix was rooted in both proximity and reputation. Hasson, who lives in Lorient, was first introduced to Nautix while working with Benoit Marie and Caroline Boule on their supremely successful Sam Manuard-designed foiling Mini 650 Nicomatic. ‘
They were using Nautix products and spoke highly of the results,’ she says. That endorsement, combined with Nautix’s deep roots in the offshore racing community, made the decision an easy one.
By contrast, the choice for Spanish Class 40 sailor Aina Bauzà was driven more by timing and logistics. Her boat is a scow bow design launched three years ago and was already undergoing a winter refit with the rig and keel removed ahead of competing in the Transat Café L’OR race from Le Havre to Martinique later this year.
‘It was a rare window to paint the underwater sections and we had to act quickly,’ she says. ‘Nautix stepped in with both the speed and the technical support that was needed to make it happen on a tight schedule.’
Hasson’s refit of her older boat was far more comprehensive and she stripped it right back to the carbon shell. With guidance from Nautix she then used a full suite of their products including primers, fillers, lacquers, antifouling and non-slip systems to restore an as-new appearance, with a perfectly faired hull.
She selected a mix of Nautix blue filler that’s easy to fair, plus watertight fillers for ultimate protection, before using a combination of PE and HPE primers for optimal adhesion and water resistance.
Exposed carbon surfaces are protected with Nautix varnishes, while a bead-based non-slip system was specified to ensure a safe footing on deck. Every choice was a result of extensive consultations with Nautix. ‘I’m a sailor who decided to refit her boat, so I needed advice at every step,’ Hasson explains.
Being a much newer boat, Bauzà’s Class 40 required less work, but this had to be fitted into a tight window and required meticulous planning. Her boatyard applied A4 T.Speed antifouling for the hull and A9 T.Speed antifouling for keel and rudders, the latter in bright yellow for offshore safety. Given the scope and pressure of the timeline, Nautix’s responsiveness was key.
‘They helped us make quick, solid decisions to get the job done before relaunch,’ she says.
Ultimate performance is the sum of countless small decisions and Nautix helped ensure no detail was overlooked. Both sailors noted the help they received from Nautix in navigating what can appear to be complex choices.
‘Painters are artists with strong opinions,’ says Bauzà, ‘and having Nautix back me up gave me confidence to challenge certain assumptions and eliminate any guesswork.’
Hasson echoes that sentiment. With her boat now in regular use, the underwater finish has stood up well.
‘We only need a dive clean once a month when the boat is left afloat – that's how effective the antifouling is,’ she says. Her experience also highlighted the need to balance protection with performance. ‘We didn't want too many layers. More isn’t always better when every gram matters.’
Equally, an important takeaway from both sailors is the nature of the relationship they built with Nautix. ‘They're small enough to be personal, but you can speak with knowledgeable people to guide even complex projects,’ says Hasson. That spirit of cooperation extended to working with boatyards and third party painters. ‘It’s always a three-way dialogue between skipper, shipyard and paint supplier,’ says Nautix director Matthieu Taburet. ‘Our job is to help each party make informed choices.’
