Doris Wetzel is a German sailing champion who has taken up the challenge of crossing the Mediterranean in a foil kite, an activity she only discovered 5 years ago. The goal: to prove that when you have a dream, you give everything to make it come true, as she confided to France 3 last May. This sportswoman, four times sailing champion in Germany between 1992 and 199, wanted to become the first woman to achieve this challenge.
Residing in Montpellier for several years, she set sail from Port Camargue on October 1st 2017 for a crossing of about 1200 km (about 600 nautical miles), completed in six to eight hours of sailing per day. For this challenge, the 40-year-old German woman trained for a year and a half. Doris Wetzel reached Bizerte in Tunisia this Sunday afternoon, October 8, after a week-long crossing. She had given herself between 6 and 10 days for her challenge. She thus becomes the first woman in the world to cross the Mediterranean in kitesurfing, a daring gamble since nobody has yet tried the experience.
The sportswoman benefited from little wind to make this crossing and was able to count on a companion sailboat and a professional crew to watch over her. Through this incredible performance, she hopes to become the ambassador of her sport, but also to promote her association Wo'mana, whose mission is to encourage personal development through sport.
Next challenge, the Atlantic
His next challenge will be to cross the North Atlantic in kitesurfing from New York. This crossing, which she will undertake in April 2018, should enable her to reach the French coast between 40 and 60 days later.
