Martin Lange, edited by Yanis Darras 10:39 a.m., November 09, 2022

This time, it's the big start.

The skippers of the Route du Rhum will leave this Wednesday at 2:15 p.m., from Saint-Malo.

Objective, cross the Atlantic as quickly as possible and be the first to reach Guadeloupe.

An adventure, with particularly basic conditions, explain the navigators. 

After having waited for three days, the skippers taking part in the Route du Rhum will finally set sail.

During this forced rest, the navigators were able to eat well and rest.

An important detail, as the participants in the Route du Rhum will face particularly difficult conditions over the next few days. 

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30 minute naps

In the cabins, the skippers will only have a few square meters to stand up.

The sobriety is to upgrade the equipment, especially for the sleeping area.

"We put a beanbag in a corner to rest. It helps to cushion the shocks a little", explains Maxime Sheorel at the microphone of Europe 1. "When we imagine that as 'terrain', we say to ourselves 'but it's just not possible'. And at some point, you're so tired that you fall asleep pretty quickly," he adds.

But not for long since the skippers' naps never exceed 30 minutes.

Another problem for the participants: drinking and especially eating.

A daily action that becomes particularly difficult in the face of the raging sea. 

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"We survive"

"I don't even know if I'll be able to eat hot and with a spoon. In any case, we'll have to be careful because it's a blow to break a tooth," said skipper Alan Roura.

"These are very abrupt boats and you have to understand that you don't live in the boat, you survive," he says.

A survival test that should end quickly.

The first sailors taking part in the competition are expected within a week in Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe.