Web series / Travelling by sailboat, why embark on such an adventure?

Hugo turns himself in. In this new episode, he looks back at his desire to travel. He explains his way of life. After having made us discover his life as a handyman on his Sea Foam (remember the pharaonic construction site in the vineyards near Montpellier), then by sharing with us his journey alone or with friends, this time Hugo goes further in poverty. One subject we discover the "engine" that drives this sailor forward.

François-Xavier Ricardou Published on February 8, 2019

For bateaux.com, Hugo explains his state of mind, why he travels and what he gets out of it:

Hugo has completely refurbished his Sea Foam in order to cross the Atlantic. Since he has been sailing in this "small" boat, he has received many questions. Indeed, its channel, which now has more than 52,000 subscribers, is widely seen and shared. And each episode showing a new facet of this cruise is viewed about 20,000 times... "You're lucky to be travelling so much!" This is what an acquaintance told me that I recently met again and that I hadn't seen since high school...

So yes, I am certainly lucky, but it is also a way of life that I have chosen. Since I was 21 years old, I haven't spent more than 8 months in France. I speak 3 languages fluently and babble a few others. My boat is the only property I own, a small nut shell that costs me more money than anything else.

But I am happy because I do what motivates me and what I want. Each new challenge I take on is driven only by the desire to discover something new. Solving problems and finding logistical, financial and technical solutions to my next dream is what keeps me going.

So lucky maybe? But behind it lies even more work, risk-taking, strangers. How many of these people who are scrutinizing my "easy" or "enviable" lifestyle, would be able to live without putting money aside? Without contributing to retirement or building an estate? How many would agree not to know where to sleep between jobs (yes, as a skipper, far from your boat, you have no accommodation between two contracts), or not to be able to make a life plan beyond a few weeks or months?

If the videos I publish make people "dream" by their colours and landscapes, I'm not sure everyone would accept the life I lead and that they imagine themselves "hanging out under the coconut trees". And that's good, because on my side, I'm not sure I want another life than mine, at least for the moment. I have the feeling that there is still within me the desire to be on the water, to discover new coasts, new people in new countries. And then certainly, to discover myself again, and especially my limits.

That's why my new challenge is ocean racing, a round the world race, on big boats that go fast... but that's another page in my history, to be discovered in a future episode..