Good Jibes #256: Gilles Combrisson on Full Boat Restorations and Carbon Fiber, With Host John Arndt
After an unexpected hiatus, we’re back! In this week’s episode of Good Jibes, we chat with Gilles Combrisson about every boat restoration imaginable and the pros and cons of carbon fiber. Gilles is a Bay Area sailor, rigger and carbon aficionado who just got back from sailing his restored Wylie 39 Lightspeed to second in class in the 2026 Pacific Cup.
Tune in as Gilles shares with Good Jibes host John Arndt the details of his restoration of Lightspeed, how to restore an old boat, whether carbon fiber is right for your boat, how to create memories cruising and even racing with your family, and how we can preserve sailing in the Bay.
Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:
- From Amazon rain forest nonprofit work to restaurant shifts to apprenticing under Scott Easom
- Where carbon makes sense
- Where the rigging world is heading
- What’s next for Lightspeed
- Honest advice on old-boat projects
Learn more about Gilles at GCMarine.net
Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and your other favorite podcast spots — follow and leave a 5-star review if you’re feeling the Good Jibes!
Check out the episode and show notes for much more detail.