It happened at dawn on December 1, 2018. I'm finishing my Atlantic crossing, my first solo transatlantic crossing. I've only spent four days at sea solo before the start of this Route du Rhum 2018. I'm in the process of completing the most beautiful of my adventures. In a few hours time, if all goes well, I say if all goes well because even if we're just a few metres from the finish line when we haven't crossed it, the race isn't over because anything can happen.
In a few hours, if all goes well, I'll cross the finish line after 27 days at sea. Wow! I can tell you that I'm in a strange state, quite indescribable. Already the day before at one o'clock in the morning, I caught a fisherman's locker when the conditions were perfect, the boat was moving along well, 5 to 7 knots. I even wondered at one point if I was going to be forced to dive in the middle of the night, which was not a very pleasant situation...
It went well after passing the north-west coast of Guadeloupe, the winds were hyper unstable, all at night. The winds dropped from zero to 30 knots. I had to change the headsail almost ten times. It was really exhausting and there at last, early in the morning, I passed the Basse-Terre buoy, the famous buoy very close to the leeward coast of La Soufrière. At that point, the conditions were perfect, the boat was slipping and I settled down, took a deep breath and thought about how far the team and I had come to achieve this crazy adventure. I think of all those hours spent in front of my computer to manage to make ends meet, because even before the start, I wasn't sure if I would be able to leave due to lack of means, I think of Rémy who prepared my boat with the little onions, and thanks to whom I didn't break anything, even though we went through extreme conditions in the Bay of Biscay with 45 knots and above all rough seas. I'm thinking of my sponsor, without whom none of this would have been possible.
And then I think of my mom who passed away ten years ago now and I think she would be so proud to see her daughter so happy. Her daughter who crossed the Atlantic alone on her racing boat. I feel her so close and a few tears are flowing. I'm so tired, but at the same time so happy, a little bit sad at the same time, it's really quite an indescribable feeling. A lot of very strong emotions, but what a happiness to live this so intense moment, but the wind is rising, you have to concentrate again and then I tell myself that I really wouldn't trade places with anyone.
