French Manu Wattecamps is 8th and youngest entry so far in the Global Solo Challenge 2023

by Global Solo Challenge 3 Feb 2021 07:33 PST

Manu Wattecamps-Etienne from Le Minihic Sur Rance, France © Global Solo Challenge

Manu Wattecamps-Etienne from le Minihic Sur Rance, France, at the age of 33, is a young but extremely experienced skipper.

Manu Wattecamps-Etienne has an incredible amount of experience on long distance single-handed passages on his faithful Céleste, a 1968 Jaguar 1199. At sea Manu has found his element, his place in the world, his harmony and peace. He wants to return to the Southern Sea which he defines as a personal trip to the moon. His words are moving and we can feel the depth of his soul.

Where does your passion for sailing come from?

Since childhood, becoming a sailor already seemed an obvious path for me. I left high school to buy my first boat. And off i went... I never really had my feet on the ground much since. The ocean has become my natural environment.

What are the lessons you learnt from sailing?

Nothing other than the evidence of having found my place in this world. At sea I feel at home and at peace. I love this life and sailing will always teach me a lot, but these are personal things that I do not wish to go into details here.

What brought you to like single-handed sailing?

It is quite simply who I am, nothing has led me to solo sailing, I was born a solitary sailor and live in harmony with it.

What prompted you to sign up for this event?

The challenge and the poetry of a trip to the moon specific to such an adventure. Obviously, I have to go back there, to the South Seas, to sail better and travel further than the previous time.

Céleste - Jaguar 1199 - Auzepy-Brenner - 1968 - photo © Global Solo Challenge

How do you plan to prepare for this event?

My boat has already proven herself on this kind of passage, so I am confident in her ability to sail in the South Seas. Now I have to replace whatever wears and tears, like the sails or the rigging. I also want to optimise its performance, by equipping her so that I can make the most of her capabilities. This time I would also like to go with the possibility download weather files at sea, in order to avoid sailing straight from one high pressure bubble to another!

What do you think will be the biggest challenge?

This whole adventure is a challenge. Finding the funds to set off with a satisfactory boat is just as difficult as reaching completion or even rounding the Horn.

Tell us about your boat or the boat you would like to have?

She's an old lady I know well, Celeste. Easy to manoeuvre single-handed but still powerful when wind strengthens. She is lazy in the light stuff, that we have to say! Little electronics, it is a simple and robust boat. I was able to adapt her based on my past experiences, my boat is constantly evolving according to my preferences at the time. Objectively: my boat is nice!

Do you intend to link this personal challenge with a social message?

I think the facts speak for themselves. It is enough to observe, to try to understand, why a man decides to put all his money, all his energy and all his faith in such an adventure to perceive the force of what pushes him in this direction. And see a message there.

Sailing experience

2008-09: Tour of the Atlantic, passing through the Amazon and the Labrador Sea. Solo.
2011-13: France-Hong Kong via Cape Horn and the Patagonian canals. Solo.
2014-15: Crossing to the West Indies then north west passages solo.
2016-17: Return trip from France to the Cape of Good Hope solo.
2018-19: Solo round the world trip via the three great Capes at the La Longue Route 2018.
2019-20: Partly solo round the Atlantic.
Numerous other voyages: Hong Kong-Philippines, Martinique-France, etc.
Around 105,000 miles as a skipper

About the boat