Arkéa Ultim Challenge: in Brest, encouragement, goodbyes and tears from sailors at the start

Special envoy to Brest

It was 10:00 a.m. on Sunday when the 32-meter sea giant Adagio, moored for several days at the Quai du Commandant Malbert in Brest, cast off under a bright sun. Eric Peron received a standing ovation from the thousands of people gathered at the start village. Others stormed the dike to see the heroes of the Arkea Ultim Challenge pass a little further. The sailor dressed all in red, cap on his head and misty eyes, greets the audience with his arms raised. A few moments before, he took full advantage of the presence of his wife Bérénice for whom the departure was a heartbreak. The couple remained isolated, embracing at the front of the boat while their 19-month-old baby Capucine, carefree, frolicked, bouncing on the nets of the Ultim trimaran. The Breton was the first to leave the port, three and a half hours before the cannon fired to start 45 days at sea, if forecasts are respected.

A few moments later, Charles Caudrelier left in turn. He got off his machine to greet his loved ones one last time under the gaze of Olivier de Kersauson, on the pontoon, and his dad. Few words are exchanged but the looks speak for themselves. There is joy to see the son leave but also a little worry. “I hope to see him again as soon as possible in forty days,” smiles the father who will take a boat for a final goodbye on the line before the real departure.

The skipper of the trimaran Edmond de Rothschild was followed by Anthony Marchand, wedged at the back of the trimaran Actual, also warmly applauded by the crowd. Fourth to set off, Tom Laperche was unable to hide his flood of emotions, overwhelmed by tears like the day before when he arrived at the port of Brest in the afternoon, after having repaired his boat at the last minute. at the Lorient base. The youngest competitor in this world tour (26 years old) smiles but his eyes are red. François Gabart, former skipper of the trimaran, is behind him to organize the departure to sea of ​​SVR Lazartigue and ensure that the maneuvers go smoothly. A few minutes earlier, Laperche had gone to greet his competitors to wish them good luck and, above all, good luck. Thomas Coville, the oldest sailor at the start (55 years old) took him in his arms and hugged him tightly. They will be adversaries around the globe but the two men are very close on land. When Coville had whispered a few words in his ear and Laperche had broken down. A moving scene, one more for these adventurers throwing themselves into the unknown.

Also read: Arkéa Ultim Challenge: meet in the unknown sea!

Communicative and as demonstrative as ever, Coville took the time to say a few words before Sodebo left his location. “It’s the big day but there’s going to be 45 of them! “, he said, laughing. “It’s nervous,” he adds, his face beaming with joy. He has eight world tours on his CV. The sailor is therefore used to departures but each flight remains a special moment. A deliverance somewhere. Denis Brogniart, his friend, is there too, in the front row on the pontoon. The facilitator willingly participates in the clapping initiated and succeeded by the navigator whose emotion radiates through the pontoon.

Also read: Arkéa Ultim Challenge: start, route, competitors and reward, what you need to know about the event race

Armel Le Cléac’h closed the departures after strolling on the pontoon at 10:27 a.m. He took a few steps for a TV shoot before boarding his flying machine. “He’s an absolute perfectionist, everything has to be timed down to the second but everything went well this morning,” his entourage tells us. The winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre last November is one of the big favorites for the race. He joked one last time with his loved ones, clapped a few hands and walked away in turn to thunderous applause and raised arms, like all the sailing friends before him. With the hope, no doubt, of replaying the scene as a winner, at the end of February, still in Brest.

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