Kokachin, originally named Matahina, started her life on a farm in Bussieres, a little village 70km NE from Paris. Her hull and deck and some of the interior were built by Mr Jossete, a professional carpenter. He started building her in 2009 and spent two years building the hull alone plus many more on the rest of the boat. Last work he did was in 2016 . He moved away from the area, realising that he would not be able to complete her. Via a grapevine we heard about her being for sale on LeBonCoin in France.
In no time we booked flights, hired a car and went to see her. Our first encounter with this bizarre looking structure surrounded with a vast expanse of French countryside was filled with intense excitement. Having previously decided to build a catamaran, here we were signing a contract for her purchase over glasses of champagne! What one does during infatuation. But why not!?
The drive back to the airport, surrounded by monstrously big fast approaching lorries on busy airport roundabouts, was more terrifying than being in a gale.
Organising her transport was a feat in itself and it cost a fortune. Coordinating the transport, crane and paperwork was critical, our nerves in the UK were frail. Miraculously everything fell into place: Mr Josset drove in time from Dieppe, the Bour crane made it to the little village and so did the Southern Transport lorry from the UK, not to mention our paperwork arrived at the very last minute.
She made it safely to Southdown and champagne flew once again in August 2019. We were elated and are in anticipation of another celebration soon.
A Google search of her original name listed a power station in New Zealand. A new name was needed also because of SSR documents and customs forms. Having just recently named “Blossom” our pool of names was exhausted. I flippantly suggested to Pete: “How about Marko Polo’s mistress, he must have had one!?”. Because it is common knowledge on Korcula that Marko Polo comes from there, my birthplace too. I liked the idea of my boat being likened to him. To my surprise, shortly Pete exclaimed: “Kokachin”! How funny, who would have thought that google could find Marko Polo’s “mistress”. Probably those watching Netflix would have not been so surprised as were we.
Apparently Kokachin was a Mongolian princess who was betrothed to the Persian prince Arghun by Kublai Khan who entrusted Marko Polo to take her to Persia. During their 9 year journey to get there (why so long?) something must have happened…. We hope not to take as long a time to get anywhere/somewhere. It’s not surprising that Kokachin’s dinghy is “Marko” – an appropriate hierarchy.
It seems her name might be translated as “Dark Complexion” and by sheer coincidence (and a lot of persuasion) “Kokachin’s” hull is dark too.
As well as giving us the photographs and permission to use them this is what Mr Josset sent us when asked to comment :
“At the age of 43, I decided to build a boat a bit off the beaten track and as a carpenter to do a different kind of work. During her construction, I met several extraordinary people in the world of the boat building. Although life does not always grant us success, I am delighted to have sold it to Linda and Peter because in their hands Kokachin will be able to live. While waiting for her to be launched, I can’t wait to be able to walk up her deck, no doubt, filled with real emotions.”
