While his departure for Reyjavik was scheduled for June 25, 2017, Christophe Maupaté had to wait until June 29 to benefit from adequate weather conditions. At the start in Iceland, he had to cover 787 miles to reach Greenland. A long and difficult stage, especially considering the conditions encountered in the North.
He finally had to turn back aboard his Zeppelin X VPRO 750 because of bad weather conditions (2 m waves). Indeed, while trying to maintain his speed, Christophe broke some equipment which he had to repair in difficult sea conditions. And tossed around, he caught a terrible seasickness, preventing him, in addition to the weather, from continuing his course.
"I was told last year that June was the best time to leave. But there was more ice than last year. The year 2017 was atypical in terms of weather and the melting of the ice delayed compared to a usual June.
I still don't know if I'll be back next year. I have to digest failure first. In any case, I'll have to organise myself differently so that I don't reach in vain a weather window that doesn't come. The boat will probably have to be there and ready and I'll have to reach Reykjavik at the last minute, once the weather is assured. The organisation is to be reviewed, in any case" explained Christophe Maupaté by phone, since his return to France.
