The Atlantic Tour: Louis Robein's qualification for the Global Solo Challenge
by Margherita Pelaschier 31 May 2023 04:45 PDT
Atlantic Ocean map © Global Solo Challenge
To participate in the Global Solo Challenge, along with many other requirements, all skippers must demonstrate that they have completed a 2000-mile qualifying passage on board the boat they will sail in the event. A small dress rehearsal before the big show to test the boat and their preparation.
Louis Robein, who for the Global Solo Challenge chose the reliability of his X-37, Le souffle de la mer III, sailed a triangle tour of the northern Atlantic in stages, some with crew, others solo. The best training is certainly to navigate.
"I find the qualification essential. The distance is fair and involves about three weeks of navigation, where problems must be solved as they arise. Participants understand well what awaits them during the circumnavigation, but sailing trains us to be reactive and attentive. During the 2000 miles at sea, the issues to be improved emerge, and we can test the new equipment we have installed for the race."
Louis planned his departure for January 2022, expecting about six months of navigation. He began making some modifications and improvements to Le Souffle de la Mer III, though the boat was already quite well equipped. He added water and diesel tanks. He purchased additional safety equipment, such as the Silzig buoy, a man-overboard recovery device. He acquired a satellite phone and a second VHF antenna. To optimise energy production on board, he purchased a hydrogenerator and solar panels. With safety as his first priority, he participated with all his crew in a sea safety course so that everyone could cope with any emergency that might arise at sea.
In the dead of the French winter, on January 10, Le souffle de la mer III cast off and found its true dimension, which, as its name says, is between wind and sea, immersed in nature. The first planned stop was at the Canary Islands. Robein has been a volunteer for UNADEV (the National Union of the Blind and Visually Impaired) for four years and helps visually impaired people practise sailing. On his journey, he took some visually impaired members of the association with him to share his adventure and live unique moments together. In eighteen days, with short stops to rest and to visit some significant ports, they reached Lanzarote, where Louis Robein was joined by four friends, his technical team for the GSC: Jean-Claude, Lionel, Régis, and Thierry (Jean-Pierre, also part of the team, would later join him in Mallorca on his return). They accompanied him on the Atlantic crossing to Guadeloupe.
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