He is the first "pledge" to have completed his solo, non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the world. Eric Bellion, who has always sailed with a crew, emphasises the mix and richness of the difference, and in particular the handicap. For his first Vendée Globe - and therefore his first solo experience - he will have completed the loop in less than 100 days. He arrived in Les Sables-d'Olonne on Monday 13th February at 17 hours 58 minutes and 20 seconds after 99 days 04 hours 56 minutes and 20 seconds on his Imoca of the 2008 generation - the former DCNS -.
A journey of initiation
For this first single-handed voyage - for which he prepared himself within Michel Desjoyeaux's "Mer Agitée" team - Eric Bellion decided to carry a message about the richness of difference. This initiatory voyage also enabled him to produce a number of onboard videos, which bear witness to this personal journey of three months. "I'll go and see if I can do it, I'll have an answer when I try. The most difficult thing is to develop self-confidence, but that's the key... This adventure is the fusion of experimenting to know my limits and participating in society as I see it." said Eric Bellion before departure.
A lack of self-confidence
Doubting his skills and those of his boat, Eric Bellion set off down the Atlantic in the group that closes the gap. In the Doldrums, he met Romain Attanasio (Mary-Etamine du Lys family), who became his travelling companion. Sailing together, they set a southerly course while maintaining VHF contact, which is important for Eric Bellion, who is not yet totally confident. It was then that he discovered that his boat had better potential than his 22nd place e which is still holding him back a little bit "I'm trying to slow the boat down a bit, but all he wants to do is go for it."
Big gales and a newfound confidence
A big gust of wind sets his boat down and causes the rudder stock to break, while he is in the Indian Ocean. This breakage, which will force him to carry out almost 12 hours of repairs, will also give him confidence.
Once again, in order to avoid a big storm, Eric Bellion is sailing in slow motion and meets up with the Swiss Alan Roura and the Irish Enda O'Coineen. The trio then took advantage of the situation to videos and shots that will make race history. Then the skipper of Comme Un Seul Homme stepped up the pace in the Pacific, overtaking the small group formed by Fabrice Amédéo, Arnaud Boissières, Rich Wilson, before also overtaking New Zealand's Conrad Colman.
He's rounding Cape Horn in nine e position - like his general ranking - on 11 January, nineteen days after Armel le Cléach, and savour his adventure "I'm not the same man anymore. There's been a radical change. Depressions used to scare me, but now I love fighting them!"
A gruelling Atlantic ascent
After rounding Cape Horn, the climb up the Brazilian coast was made at the cost of some tiring manoeuvres. Eric had to patiently get rid of the algae caught in the keel and extract himself from infernal zones of calm interspersed with unpredictable and violent gusts. Then, like the others, he must then face the train of North Atlantic lows "I'm going through hell, this last part of the Vendée Globe is the hardest, I wasn't prepared for it."
The last few days have been particularly trying, with an engine which refuses to start, forcing him to save energy on board or with the watermaker which he has to repair as he approaches Cape Finistère. With 48 hours to go before arrival, encountering dantesque conditions and winds of 70 knots ...Eric learns the dismasting of his pursuer Conrad Colman. It was at this point that the mainsail track slackened on CommeUnUnHomme, forcing the sailor to finish his race under reduced sail.
