The Bouvet Guiana is a transatlantic race in a category all of its own. On 8-foot-long boats, each rower uses only the strength of his arms over a total of 4,700 km between Dakar in Senegal and Cayenne in French Guiana. Mental strength and an ability to defeat the elements out at sea are a must over the 50 gruelling days of this rowing race.
The 2013 edition of the America’s Cup, its 34th, will be raced on the latest generation of catamarans. It’s a first for the oldest sailing trophy in the world, and a new challenge, notably for the two French teams, Aleph and Energy Team. Meanwhile, in Marseille, the Old Port is getting a facelift, with the installation of a giant esplanade, much to pedestrians’ delight.
The Netherland's Laura Dekker,16, became the youngest sailor to complete a solo circumnavigation of the world on Saturday, nearly exactly one year after she embarked on her voyage.
Finishing second in the third leg of the Volvo Ocean Race, Franck Cammas and his men still put up a good fight on their Groupama monohull. Also, we meet Pierre Frolla, who has ended his snorkelling career and today devotes his time to showing diving enthusiasts the ocean depths - including sharks.
45 days, 13 hours and 42 minutes: that’s the new record for sailing around the world using only the wind, set by Loïc Peyron and his crew on the Banque Populaire maxi trimaran. They were given a hero’s welcome in Brittany after winning the prestigious Jules Verne trophy. Also, we head to New Caledonia, and find out why it’s a kite surfer’s paradise.
French skipper Loick Peyron and his team aboard the Banque Populaire V sailed into Brest late Friday, setting an around-the-world record for the Jules Verne Trophy. They crossed the line in 45 days, 13 hours, and 42 minutes.
We meet Edouard, a visual artist in the archipelago of the Saints in Guadeloupe who uses driftwood to make his works. Then, in New Caledonia, we check out the sailing school in Nouméa, whose sailors have picked up a raft of awards around the world.
We check out the Paris Boat Show, where no less than 1,400 boats are on display. As the biggest boat show in Europe, it remains a showcase for the whole sailing world. We also travel to the Sultanate of Oman, which is placing its bets on boating as a platform for tourism. It has just inaugurated two sailing schools, including one for women.
We discover Eilean, or the story of the resurrection of a boat built 75 years in ago in Fife, Scotland. Beautifully restored after an accident, she now spends her time cruising the Mediterranean. We also find out how the French archipelago of Guadeloupe has become a pioneer in protecting and taking care of sea turtles.
This week we head to St. Barts in the Caribbean, an island with a great passion for the sea. The yacht club of St. Barts organises events with some of the most beautiful ships in the world - we take a look.
