THE FRENCH FISHING CONNECTION
The bloody sun was shining. Again.
Port Philip Bay shimmered enticingly like some sort of salty wet emerald and the photographer was all smiles.
Ideal conditions for shooting photos — no one could argue with that.
But for testing a European-built fishing boat with a reputation for handling itself in the rough stuff ? Perhaps less than optimal…
At a glance, the Beneteau Barracuda 9 bobbing sedately in its pen looks ready to set off across the Bay, out through The Rip and point its nose for Flinders Island at the very least. Maybe even Tassie.
“For those with a predilection for wetting a line, the Barracuda boats are certainly the most interesting of the bunch”
The upright wheelhouse brings to mind rugged North Sea trawlers, contrasting sharply with a very modern hull shape – deep vee and pronounced strakes set below sweeping moulded chines.
And did we mention the pair of 200hp Suzukis sitting on the back?
What this boat test required was whitewater crashing off that vertical glass and the
