Please select your home edition
Edition
A+T Instruments 2024 Leaderboard

Yassine Darkaoui and the ‘Natural High’

by Sail-World Asia, Phuket Gazette, Phuket News on 2 Jun 2014
Andaman Laser Challenge. Yassine Darkaoui Yassine Darkaoui
77 hours is a damn long time to spend perched on a Laser. It may not earn Yassine Darkaoui any massive fame or fortune, or even a Guinness Record, but it certainly earns him a huge amount of respect from fellow sailors.

At 1720 last Saturday 31st May Yassine finished his Andaman Laser Challenge – standing up. By then he had sailed 211.85 nautical miles between Phuket, Koh Phi Phi and Koh Racha. Not a distance record beater, but a considerable achievement in its own right. 'It was always all about testing my own limits', said Darkaoui, 'and I exceeded my own expectations both mentally and physically. This is the end of one adventure, and the start of a new one.'

Yassine Darkaoui is a passionate sailor today, but he has a darker story to tell. Back in his native Morocco he was a drug-user from the age of 19 and eventually became a heroin addict. Now, he is a man who has been given a fresh start in life. 'To break a habit you have to be positive that the mind can be conditioned to new things. It is indeed possible to change the way your mind works.'




Before he started using drugs, Darkaoui was a member of the Moroccan National Laser Team. In Phuket he has rekindled his love affair with sailing, and says that spending time on the water is a form of therapy that helps keep his mind balanced.

He is now actively involved in warning children in Phuket about the dangers of drug addiction, and recently shared his experiences with pupils at HeadStart School, where he gave a brutally honest account of his life with drugs. 'The solution is not to put the addict in prison. The solution is to teach young people that there are other ways to feel high,' says Yassine. And one way for Darkaoui to ‘feel high’ is to go sailing.

He may have been feeling more weary than anything else after 77 hours of continuous day and night sailing in a Laser, but as Merle Haggard (almost) sang back in 1985, 'I’ll take to the sea on a natural high'. Official celebrations will take place at La Boucherie Chalong on its Opening Day, 5th June, attended by the Governor of Phuket, the French Consul-General and members of the media.

And why was Darkaoui standing up for the last 11nm? Because he had chafed all the way through his shorts and his skin… well, you get the picture. Ouch.


Rooster 2025Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERSwitch One Design

Related Articles

Foiling Sport Congress gathers global players
To shape the Future of Foiling Last week, Malcesine hosted the first-ever Foiling Sport Congress — a by-invitation event organised to foster an in-depth discussion on the current state and future developments of foiling across all disciplines.
Posted today at 5:59 am
OK Dinghy Europeans at Warnemünde day 2
Charlie Cumbley leads at the half-way stage Britain's Charlie Cumbley holds a two-point lead at the half-way stage of the 2025 OK Dinghy European Championship in Warnemünde, Germany, after two more races were held on Monday.
Posted today at 4:14 am
Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup Day 3
The best female wave sailors in the world showcase their skills on the global stage After the men had taken centre stage for the opening two days of the 2025 Gran Canaria Gloria Windsurf World Cup, today was the day for the best female wave sailors in the world to showcase their skills on the global stage.
Posted today at 4:11 am
Transpac Onboard Episode 4
Anything Can Happen at Sea All Transpac 2025 competitors are now at sea and actively racing to Hawaii. We take a look at the Pasha Live Race Tracker and talk about the significant wind hole confronting a contingent of competitors.
Posted today at 3:06 am
Stops & re-starts in first two legs of AEGEAN 600
A tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades After a beautiful breezy start yesterday, but a tough first night and early morning spent fighting zephyrs getting through the Cyclades, at the end of today's daylight the AEGEAN 600 fleet is back on the move.
Posted on 7 Jul
British Classic Week Day 1
Northerly winds gusting 22 knots make for a brisk start Day one at British Classic Week in Cowes saw fast-paced racing around the cans sponsored by Spirit Yachts for over 50 classic and modern classic yachts.
Posted on 7 Jul
International Moth Worlds Opening Ceremony
137 sailors from 25 nations have gathered, featuring some of the biggest names in sailing After weeks of preparation and an intense lead-up, the 2025 Moth World Championship is ready to get under way. Official racing begins tomorrow, 8 July, on the waters of Lake Garda, with the event hosted by Fraglia Vela Malcesine.
Posted on 7 Jul
iQFOiL Worlds a Aarhus day 2
No racing, but spirits stay high in Aarhus Day 2 of the iQFOiL World Championship in Aarhus tested the patience of sailors, coaches, and the Race Committee alike, as the wind refused to settle across the bay.
Posted on 7 Jul
Foiling Frenzy at Fraglia Vela Malcesine
The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! The Moth Worlds at Lake Garda are something else! Regardless of where sailors are in their careers, or the reputation they have, everyone wants to be there and have a tilt at the title.
Posted on 7 Jul
GWA Youth Wingfoil World Championship overall
The Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom action rwaps up in Costa Brava The Surf-Freestyle and FreeFly-Slalom action at the the GWA 2025 Youth Worlds wrapped up after a week of intense action at San Pere Pescador, Spain, with the teenage champions chosen in the U14, U16 and U19 age groups.
Posted on 7 Jul