In September 2018, we had met Jean-Jacques, a former military man and above all a top athlete. At his home, on the Bassin d'Arcachon, he was fine-tuning the preparation of his boat a barrel of 3 meters long with a maximum diameter of 2.10 m euros against 1.70 m at the ends.
Inspired by Alain Bombard the sailor has set himself a goal: to cross the Atlantic adrift, simply pushed by the wind and the current. No sail, no engine, not even a rudder. In order to avoid an unbearable roll, the barrel made of epoxy plywood with chines, has a semblance of a flat surface that acts as a hull. And two side fins, associated with a deep rear skeg, allow the boat to remain in line with the euro and not across the waves.
Departure on December 26, 2018 from El Hiero, Canary Islands
The planned transatlantic race is logically set on a course well swept by the trade winds. Jean-Jacques therefore chose the Canary Island El Hiero euros, the most clear, in order to avoid running aground prematurely on another island of the archipelago. It was not by container, as initially imagined, that the barrel reached its port of departure but by road to Cadiz and then by ferry, via Tenerife.
The departure, initially scheduled for December 23, 2018, was postponed to the 26th in order to benefit from optimum East-Northeast winds. The barrel, towed a few miles off the port, was able to start its long drift towards the Caribbean.
Its trajectory will not necessarily be straight euros on December 29, 2018, the course has abruptly changed, in the direction of Western Saharaos Where will be the landing in the Caribbean?" Maybe Barbados, but I would love a French island like Martinique or Guadeloupe. It would be easier for the papers, and to bring back the barrel ".
Life or survival cell?
Jean-Jacques' barrel has been carefully studied to allow the sailor to live in good conditions for more than ten weeks: in its 10m3, the boat has a kitchen, a navigation corner, a storage area and a sleeping area. In the bottom, a porthole to see the fish. A hatch at the top of the barrel and a small rear platform - linked by a ladder - allow Jean-Jacques to get some fresh air when the weather is good and above all to swim in euros if there are no sharks
Our voluntary castaway bis repetita will be better off than Bombard because Jean-Jacques has electricity and food. " I brought a small Sauternes and some foie gras "The adventurer is delighted. For his birthday, on January 14, Jean-Jacques has planned some Saint-Emilioneuros
To follow the progress of Jean-Jacques and his barrel :
