October 2025, Indonesia

So here we are onboard SV Banana Split. We have been asked a few times now; What are you doing now? A boat? Why? How? Where? Well yes, a boat. A 12.5 m sailing catamaran, so how did this come about? Well, it all started in a castle in France in 2019.

There is a bit of history to Banana Split which is fascinating. She was built in 1989 by a French explorer/photographer/singer/sailor, Antoine. Following a career in Engineering, he embarked on a singing career. Apparently, Antoine was a bit of a Pop star back in the day. He sang all through Europe and America and recorded numerous albums. This was a great life. But for Antoine, something was still missing.

In 1974, quite by accident, Antoine discovered sailing. He promptly embarked on his first solo round-the-world voyage. This began a lifelong journey that continued for more than 45 years. For fifteen years, he first sailed on the oversized schooner, OM and then the too small sloop, Voyage.  In 1989 he returned to France and built Banana Split, the perfect travel companion. Banana Split became his home, mode of transport, and his workplace. In his own words “I began to practice the most wonderful job in the world: Traveling, discovering, meeting, feeling, loving…. And then telling stories.”

Antoine has published numerous books. Stories, autobiographies and photographic diaries. These have been translated into many languages and released all over the world giving inspiration to sailors and travellers alike. Following great success with books, Antoine progressed into film, a series of documentary films on travel and practical how-to-be-a-sailor. He continued to write music during this time and could be seen on TV preforming at times.

There are so many of his books, CD’s and DVDs here onboard. Sadly, for us, these are the one’s in French so makes reading a little difficult. Glossy hard cover coffee table books, novels of life sailing solo around the world, blue ray DVD series still in their wrappers. A life’s work and history of 1 man travelling the world. On this boat! Banana Split, the boat we now have the privilege to continue that work.

Google translating what I can from the covers of the books and researching this inspirational storyteller, has have given me so much respect for both him and his boat. Banana Split; she has done the hard yards. She has seen the sights and can tell the stories. Now she is looking after us, making new friends and creating new memories.

I have discovered all Antoine’s charts onboard. Nautical navigation is a bit of a passion and seeing these charts, with the courses and calculations, drawings and notes all over them is a real pleasure. There is a sextant onboard also, there were no chart plotters back when he began his journey.

So how did we end up here? This is a good question, and as I said, it all started in a castle in France.

In the fall of 2019, we are house sitting in the Loire Valley, France, for a wonderful couple Marie-Laure and Arnaud. We spent three months enjoying life in rural France. Working on the land, helping with the various ongoing projects which are necessary to keep an estate of that size functioning well and looking good – and, of course there was a puppy – Havane, Getting to know the amazing culture and people. It was a magical time.

Check out our stories from that time

https://kiwisdofly.blog/2019/11/15/our-fairy-tale-in-france/: The Story Of Banana Split

On several occasions during our time at the Chateau, Marie-Laure and Arnaud’s good friend Antoine and his sailing cat, Banana Split, where mentioned and discussed. The boat had been in New Zealand for some time, so we had a lot to talk about. Marie-Laure and Arnaud and their 2 children had spent many trips on Banana Split both with and without Antoine over the years.

A few years later, Banana Split got stuck in Australia, on the NSW coast. The call was made. Can we sail the boat back to New Zealand? Well, yes, we are boat people and would be willing to crew, but we do not know how to sail. The answer to this protest was – “you are Kiwi’s, of course you know how to sail!” Also, across the Tasman sea? That is a big piece of water! But with one thing and another, weather and COVID being some, Banana Split got stranded in Australia.

Then finally time came, Antoine decided it was time to lay down his sails and sell the boat. Who better to intrust her with than Marie-Laure and Arnaud. But she is still in Australia. Discussions were had and plans were made over the next few years to relocate her to Malaysia, or Fiji or Indonesia, where the change of ownership would take pace. Marie-Laure and Arnaud would buy Banana Split in syndicate with another friend, Lee, from Alaska.

During this process, we were asked if we would like to be part of the project.  We are so honoured to have been asked and here we are.

Banana Split was sailed up from Harvey Bay in Queensland, Australia to Sorong, West Papua, Indonesia. The hired skipper and crew got her there safely mid 2025. We arrived in Sorong in September for a month.

We are enjoying this bright yellow boat with a personality the size of her creator. We will help ready her for her new owners arriving in November. Chris has brought dive gear and is sourcing a compressor to be installed onboard. She is off to have the next few years discovering and enjoying Raja Ampat with her new family. Diving, sailing and meeting new friends. How lucky are we to be part of the team.

It hasnt been all work and no play! We spent 1 week sailing around some of the closer islands to Sorong. While anchored at Pulau Friwen we went ashore with an Australian couple who were anchored up at the same place. (More about that in our next story) On our walk around the island, we came across a French family who were holidaying in the little homestay on the island. The Dad of the family would have been about our age so I took a punt and asked him if he knew of Antoine.

As my research is proving, he is a very famous man in Europe. Oui! yes I do know of this man, he says. In fact he had several of his books as he is a sailor himself. He was so excited that we were on Banana Split and that she was anchored just around the corner. He would take photos to show his friends back home. He relayed to us that he thought Antoine was an incredible man, a very down to earth, real man with a fantastic sense of humour. He said he had seen Antoine recently on TV doing a travel show or something similar, which is so great to hear. Is this not just the smallest of worlds?

We are so very excited to be on this “world famous” boat

Thank you for reading our story