December 2025. First proper sea trial offshore from Marseille. Wind 18–22 knots, short chop in the Gulf of Lion. The kind of conditions that are uncomfortable enough to be useful but forgiving enough to learn from.
The goal wasn't speed. It was to watch what the boat does — what creaks, what chafes, what works exactly as expected and what needs another look before August.
ARION handled it well. The autohelm held course without complaint. The rigging was quiet. A few minor items flagged for the workshop: nothing critical, nothing unexpected. That's a good sea trial.
The next ones will push harder.