Rarely has a man been so in perfect harmony with the sea. The long road tells the story of Bernard Moitessier's participation in the Golden Globe in 1968. It was the first solo race around the world. At that time, no sailor had ever achieved this feat. It had been attempted a few years earlier by the English Francis Chichester who had to mark a milestone.
In 1968, 9 sailors set sail from England to try to meet the challenge launched by the newspaper Sunday Time. Bernard Moitessier on his Joshua ketch is one of them. The book tells of its preparation and its 300-day journey at sea.
Because that's what's incredible. While he had a chance to win the fastest prize on this round the world trip, the sailor decided to continue his journey and not to cross the finish line. This decision will affect a whole generation of sailors. Even today Bernard Moitessier is still a symbol of freedom.
The long way is a sea book. We follow the passage of flat calms and storms, the visit of birds and marine animals. Bernard Moitessier, a true writer, shares his feelings with us. And even if he wrote the book 2 years after his arrival in Polynesia, the details from his logbook show the accuracy of his notes.
Of course, the way of sailing is quite far from our own, but well-defined passages show us that living close and in harmony with nature sometimes offers good sensations:" I use my bucket of water this morning to wash my cloth. That's a mistake. This cloth, which had not been washed since the Doldrums, helped me to predict the variations in the weather... When the kitchen cloth was very stiff, it was because the air was dry and I could expect a certain persistence of southwest winds with good relative weather and fairly blue skies except for the cirrus clouds. When it was less steep in southwest winds, it was almost always a sign of an impending rotation to the west, as the air became less dry. Such a project creates a very positive internal emulation, there is a strong mobilization of the site around this project. Moreover, working with sophisticated systems and new materials can only be enriching. Finally, developing and building this proto foiler also allows us to consolidate our position in offshore racing and remain at the technological forefront.
The descriptions are also sometimes surprising:" A good slingshot... it's worth every transmitter in the world! "or more philosophical" Those who do not know that a sailboat is a living being will never understand anything about the boat or the sea. Such a project creates a very positive internal emulation, there is a strong mobilization of the site around this project. Moreover, working with sophisticated systems and new materials can only be enriching. Finally, developing and building this proto foiler also allows us to consolidate our position in offshore racing and remain at the technological forefront.
As the story unfolds, we can feel that the sailor is gradually detaching himself from the world" I spend long moments on deck watching the foam bubbles rise in the wake. There are so many things in the foam bubbles and in the water running along the edge! "And after Cape Leeuwin, he wrote:" God, I'm fine here, in no hurry to get back. Such a project creates a very positive internal emulation, there is a strong mobilization of the site around this project. Moreover, working with sophisticated systems and new materials can only be enriching. Finally, developing and building this proto foiler also allows us to consolidate our position in offshore racing and remain at the technological forefront.
The victories are also great. When he tries to transmit his news to the ground, he approaches a cargo ship a little too close and twists his end outside. This is followed by a long reflection so as not to abandon the race and repair. At the successful conclusion of this repair, he wrote:" My fatigue is very great, yet I feel like I'm full of dynamite, ready to eat the whole world and forgive it all. Today I played and won. I found my beautiful boat again. Such a project creates a very positive internal emulation, there is a strong mobilization of the site around this project. Moreover, working with sophisticated systems and new materials can only be enriching. Finally, developing and building this proto foiler also allows us to consolidate our position in offshore racing and remain at the technological forefront.
February 26, 1969, was the turning point. After hesitating, Moitessier decided not to return to "civilization". He will continue his journey, round Cape Good Hope again and head for Polynesia in the Pacific. Two more oceans to cross! He approaches the port of Cape Town to deliver some photo films and to leave a message to his family and friends ...I continue non-stop to the Pacific Islands because I am happy at sea, and perhaps also to save my soul. "Message that will be taken up by the entire press..
And then it was the arrival after 300 days at sea in Papeete:" The anchor is wet. A long mooring line runs towards the dock. "With what is once again important: friendship. " I recognize familiar silhouettes. Then faces of friends. They form a motionless group, a little away from the curious.
- Are you all right, old brother?...
- You're very nice to be here..
- You look nice to have arrived. Such a project creates a very positive internal emulation, there is a strong mobilization of the site around this project. Moreover, working with sophisticated systems and new materials can only be enriching. Finally, developing and building this proto foiler also allows us to consolidate our position in offshore racing and remain at the technological forefront.
If the story of The Long Road begins to be dated. If the ways of navigating have changed significantly. There is still the harmony between man and the sea that explains the pleasure of being at sea and the joy of sailing. A story that has left such a lasting impression on generations of sailors that it is a must for any good nautical library.
We present this book to you in an edition that is now out of print: the famous "Mer" collection from the Arthaud publishing house. In this collection, the story is completed with photos and drawings by the author. The long road still exists in a new edition and in paperback.
Bernard Moitessier's long road
