THE STORY OF ALDEBARAN
Aldebaran’s story began as Pierre Honegger’s dream vessel. She was launched in 2003 from JFA Yachts in Brittany, France. She is a custom design, modeled after a classic 1930’s English Cutter. Designed by Barracuda Yachts, she is a combination of Classic lines, mixed with modern performance. Pierre wanted a beautiful boat capable of being sailed by himself. Comfortable in the open ocean and at anchor, Aldebaran’s result is a blend of form following function.
As for her name, Aldebaran is a Red Giant star that is the fiery bright eye in the constellation Taurus. If you look up into the sky and find Orion, follow his belt to the right, and you will find a bright reddish orange glow, that is Aldebaran!
There are many myths surrounding this star, across diverse cultures. The name translates to “The Follower” in Arabic for it follows the Pleiades star cluster, aka The Seven Sisters, across the sky. One myth describes Aldebaran as a guardian star, protecting the sisters on their cosmic journey.
My own journey with Aldebaran began in May of 2025. Before I was able to make this dream of sailing Aldebaran a reality, I was met with a large list of projects. After spending the entire winter in the boatyard, she has gone through a minor refit.
The vessel was in need of repair, after a few years out of the water. As any boat or house owner knows, as soon as you stop maintenance, everything piles up very quickly. Working through the cold New England winter, even shoveling feet of snow off the decks, I have restored her to her former beauty. With the help of many local shipwrights, captains, and friends, Aldebaran is back in the water for adventures ahead.
Sixteen years of working on boats helped me over my refit period of Aldebaran. Having extensive experience on wooden boats, it was interesting to learn more about an aluminum build. Some of the projects included removing and installing a new holding tank, hydraulic system overhaul, winch rebuilds, sanding, fairing, painting the bottom, and countless other projects. Varnish is a full time job by itself, and Aldebaran has plenty! I maintain all of the varnish myself, with the help of JJ Boat Work of Antigua and Newport, and with friends.
