For Bateaux.com, Hugo explains his commitment to the Clipper Round the World:
I have been living on water full-time for two years now. Between my walks on Ann Alé, my sea foam, and my jobs as a skipper for rental companies, my nautical life is very busy.
Two years ago, I completely refitted a 26-foot sailboat in the south of France and crossed the Atlantic into the Caribbean Sea. I love cruising, especially cruising in the Caribbean, but after 31 days of crossing the ocean with my Sea Scum averaging only 3.8 N, I landed in Martinique with the firm conviction that I wanted to sail faster.
So, instead of chasing coconut palms and white sandy beaches as most sailors do when planning their visit to the Caribbean, I looked first and foremost for regatta locations. I first anchored in St-Barth, where I started walking on the wharf, to find a crew position on a J122 to sail at Les Voiles de St-Barth. Then I joined Antigua Sailing Week, then I delivered a few racing trimarans, to finish in the Mediterranean at Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez and the Régates Royales de Cannes, where I had the opportunity to race on a 12 metre JI.
When I heard about the position of second in command for the Clipper Round the World, I immediately understood that I wanted to be part of it and try the incredible experience of this water trip by racing around the world.
Now that I know I've been selected from the eleven seconds, I'm starting to project myself. I accepted more instructor jobs, trying to improve my teaching skills, joined friends in training on a Pogo 12.50 to participate in the Caribbean RORC
The sad side of the story is that I have to sell Ann Alé, my baby, my brave 26-foot Sea Foam, with which I have covered more than 10,000 nautical miles. But I think that life is an adventure that should not be burdened with material. The things we own end up owning us, I don't think that's positive for progress. So I resigned myself and started preparing an announcement that I will post on the walls of the marinas in a few days. I hope the next one will take good care of my Ann Alé.
In May 2019, it will be time for me to pack my suitcase, close this carefully organized life in my small floating house, and return to Europe. But what wouldn't we do to go around the world?
