Canopée - The Bio-climatic Sail

In the heat of summer or in the humidity of the tropics, trampolines and/or forward cockpits become off-limits when the sun nears its zenith, so everyone crowds together under the bimini... which becomes overheated due to insufficient ventilation. At least, that was the observation made in 2012 by the owner of an Alibi 54 sailing in Thailand. He shared his thoughts with his friend Michel Sauget, a master sailmaker in La Trinité sur Mer, Brittany, who is no stranger to innovative ideas, having already created the famous Storm-Bag. To shade the forward third of multihulls, the craftsman took inspiration from Bedouin tents...

The Canopée protects the entire forward area from the sun.

The crew stays cool during the day... and protected from humidity in the evening.

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Published 28/11/2025

By François Trégouë

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Issue: 205

Published: jan. / feb. 2026

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Nearly 1,000 shade sails later, it was time for us to test this product, called Canopée. So welcome aboard the beautiful ITA 15.49 Albatros, in the magnificent setting of the Ionian Sea, near Zakynthos, Greece. It was early summer, so the sun was going to be beating down hard, meaning it was time to install the shade sail. Eric Guégan, who took over from his friend Michel in 2022, promised us that it would take less than five minutes to set up, and indeed, the operation proved to be as simple as it was quick. First, we unrolled the Canopée on deck to port. The rear carabiner hooks onto the shroud, its strap bearing the unmistakable word Back on a red background. The front loop is passed around the bow cleat. Unfolding the Canopée sideways, we discovered the “abacus” roller that goes around the furled genoa, as well as the central point for attaching the halyard. The buckle is attached to the starboard forward cleat, which, as you may have guessed, is marked with the word “Front” on a green background. The carabiner is attached to its strap after taking a turn around the shroud, and that’s it. Actually, not quite – you still have to hoist it, using the staysail halyard, for example. We applied a bit of tension, without overdoing it (be careful if you’re using electric winches!), and it was perfect: not a single crease. The straps, thanks to the magic of 3D, have been pre- adjusted in the workshop, and only the height of the attachment to the shrouds may require some adjustment. According to the instructions, available in an online video via the dedicated app, they should be attached at “man height.” But to clear it without hindrance, depending on whether you are 5’7” or 6’7” tall, this may require a few small adjustments.
In the morning, the result looked very nice in our photos, but it was at midday that the benefits became even more obvious. The shade cast from the front of the coachroof as far as the bows was almost 375 square feet (35 m²), and after lunch, every- one took advantage of this new space. Thanks to the Venturi effect, the light breeze that accelerates under the canvas also benefits the interior via the open portholes at the front of the coachroof. Another very pleasant ...

This article was published in the issue 205. To read the full article, purchase this issue or subscribe from $3/month.