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Heritage listed yacht broken up
The heritage-listed Belgian Whitbread racer "Tomidi" (formerly "Rucanor Tristar") has been cut apart by its new owner in August 2026. Images of the mutilated hull, published by the former owner Dirk Gunst, have sparked a heated debate in Belgium regarding the effectiveness of Flemish heritage protections for mobile cultural assets. The sailing yacht was built for the 1985 edition of the Whitbread Round the World Race, won class D, 5th Overall. She was designed by G. Ribadeau Dumas and built in the Netherlands of Balsa/Kevlar/Epoxy Composites. Dirk Gunst has sailed the vessel—christened "Tomidi" in 1991—since 1990. Over the course of 36 years, he has covered approximately 300,000 nautical miles (roughly twelve circumnavigations of the globe) and participated in four editions of the Fastnet Race (1985, 1989, 1997, 2005), several Tall Ships Races, the AZAB solo regatta in 1995, and the OSTAR transatlantic races in 1996 and 2000. It is the only Belgian yacht to have competed in the Whitbread twice. Historic monument protection on paper – deterioration in reality On Sep 17, 2009, the "Tomidi" was officially designated as "protected mobile heritage" due to its innovative design and exceptional racing success. Since June 16, 2017, it has also been classified as "recognized mobile heritage" (classified nautical heritage). These two classifications represent the highest levels of protection under Flemish legislation regarding historic monuments. This protection proved ineffective. Since early 2017, the vessel had been laid up on land, first in the port of Ostend, then at a storage site on Vismijnlaan, from which the Coast Guard eventually ordered its removal. The boat was moved 3ß meters to a "tolerated" zone, yet it never found a permanent mooring place. In March 2024, the Bredene municipal council agreed to accept the boat as a donation from Gunst, on the condition that it be permanently exhibited. The plan envisioned a monument dedicated to Staf Versluys on the roof of a building along the coastal road, with an exhibition space for school groups and tourists underneath. However, the project never materialised. For over nine years, Gunst lobbied various bodies to find a home for the vessel that befitted its status as a land-based historic monument, but to no avail. He was ultimately forced to sell it to ayoung Dutchman. Report with photos: https://www.yacht.de/fr/yachts/yachts-de-regate/demoli-le-rucanor-tristar-un-voilier-de-course-whitbread-classe-monument-historique-originaire-de-belgique-a-ete-scie-en-morceaux/
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