When you started out, what did you expect from the Mini?
A very simple basic idea: you cross the ocean on a 20-foot boat. The first time you hear that, you think it's crazy. When I explain this project to people, right away you see their eyes shining and they say "this is great" and then they say "this is crazy, you can't do this!" Even people who don't know how to make a boat have an idea of how big the Atlantic is in relation to the size of the boat. So there's this challenge of thinking, what it's like to cross the Atlantic. What's going to be at the end. Going further and further, passing the first islands, losing the land behind the horizon and seeing what's on the other side.
I've already had the chance to do it on bigger boats, IMOC and ultimate, but 20 days at sea on a mini you enter a bubble. It's an idea that I like, to test my limits and see how far I can go in managing sleep, food..
Do you think it's going to be like you imagined?
I think you can imagine ten thousand things, but I'm sure it's never going to be as planned. It's still a hell of an adventure, even for those who are only here for the regatta, everything can go wrong at the slightest glitch, you're on your own, you have to fix it yourself, it's a hell of a delirium.
I had never been on a cruise, never been on a houseboat, only on a dinghy and I learned how to sail a boat. I will be able to say at the end of the Mini that I'm a sailor, but for me I'm not yet. I know I've learned a lot. Now when I get on a big trimaran, I'm not lost, I have the same language as these sailors and it's really nice.
How did the people around you react
In my work people didn't understand at first, but they understood that it was an essential project to change the air. But my friends immediately thought it was great. Some people may be scared, my mother wasn't a big fan, but you necessarily find yourself supported because it's an idea that speaks to everyone about crossing the Atlantic. We all have stories, adventure stories, pirate stories, it's a magical thing.
When you talk to people about it, you can sense that they would like to be able to do it, but they don't go through with it. Because you have a life, because you have a job, and you don't feel like you can take that step.
I'm glad when I share videos that it motivates people to take the plunge. A lot of people on the pontoon come up to me and say, "we've seen your videos, it makes us want to go boating, it encourages us to go boating, it makes us realize it's possible."
Is that a satisfaction for you as a videographer?
It totally motivates me. I would like to become a director and when you become a director, it's often another director who has inspired you. When you're an artist, you're necessarily inspired by other people. I often draw a parallel with the boat. I started sailing when I saw racing boats, when I saw guys doing this adventure and if my story can inspire other people, I'm very happy and very proud of it.
What about after the Mini? Back to a tidy life?
I've never had a normal life, I've always worked in things a little different from everyone else. The idea would be to make a film about sailing now that I know the field well, I think I'll have a fairer and sharper look. But I wouldn't rule out continuing to keep one foot on the water by being a media man on a racing boat. When there are good stories to tell, I like it. Maybe not about the Volvo, because I think it's a bit too 'competent' and it doesn't bring much, but stories like Conrad (Colman) or Yves le Blevec, I like that.
A little stress over the last few hours?
No more stress, just the desire to go, to go sailing!
