The Yole, a question of balance

Mainly, two elements are constantly opposing each other on a yole. The first one is the wind captured by the sail which, by wanting to continue its course, drags the boat with it. The second is the crew, particularly the “coursiers” who, by lying down on the “bois dressés”, prevent the yole from capsizing. They are the most emblematic elements of the yole because they are visually impressive: the sails with their size and bright colors, and the “dresseurs” with their perpetual ballet, balancing above the waves on mysterious pieces of wood.

A wood like no other

Let’s focus on these pieces of wood called “bois dressés” or “Bwa dressé”. Historically, they were made from “Epinay Blanc” or “Bois côte” that had to be cut and soaked in seawater to allow the bark to swell and be removed. Then they were left to dry in the sun for several weeks. Today, the rarity of wood on the island has made it an assembly of several planks and carbon. This has still made it possible to lighten the equipment while gaining strength.

The “bois dressés” allow the crew to shift the weight of their bodies outside the boat. Together, they counterbalance the effects of the wind force on the sail. For this, the “yoleurs” will have to move back and forth on the wood throughout the course. When the wind increases, they move out of the boat, and vice versa, they come back inside when it decreases.

Ingenuity at the service of simplicity.

We often wonder how the bois dressés (upright wooden poles) don’t fall into the water at the first wave. The principle is simple but ingenious. At the end of each bois dressé, there is a notch. For the part inside the boat, it allows it to fit under the yole’s gunwale. On the other side, the weight of the coursier (crew member) acts as a counterweight, which allows the wood to remain in contact and ensures that it stays against the edge of the yole (well, “ensures” is a bit of a stretch 😊). Then, to prevent the wood from moving towards the rear, while in the boat, it is in contact with what is called a tolet.

A bois dressé can measure up to 4 meters long and between 10 and 15cm wide, making it a somewhat unwieldy element. However, depending on the maneuvers, the wind strength, or to avoid a collision with another yole, it is necessary to be able to lift and move it from starboard to port. Once again, the system is simple but requires quick and fluid execution. Here, the idea is to remove the wood from its position, then slide it along the yole’s edge so that it can fit back in at the opposite end.

An essential accessory and an iconic element, the bois dressé also has another meaning on the yole, but we will see that next time.