Back to school for sailors and book release for Eric Bellion

In 2 months, 40 skippers will set off to conquer the legendary Vendée Globe, including Eric Bellion. The skipper of STAND AS ONE, who has taken full advantage of this summer period to “come back fresh and with a lot of desire”, talks about the final preparations before his second participation in the solo round the world sailing race.
A look at this final stretch marked by many highlights, including the release of a book.

No Azimuth Challenge, but a long revision project

8 years after his first participation and after promising himself that he would not return… Eric Bellion is well and truly engaged in the craziest of offshore races. Departure from Les Sables d’Olonne on November 10. The call of the open sea, the one that teaches humility, respect for nature, the importance of collective effort to achieve great things, was stronger.

After having participated in all the races on the calendar, including two consecutive transatlantic races at the beginning of the year, the team has chosen an in-depth refit in a serene environment. The blue-white-pink monohull, resolutely different (editor’s note: with its straight daggerboards and its approach focused on sobriety, STAND AS ONE breaks the codes of new generation boats) will return to its element on September 16 in Port la Forêt after a makeover that the sailor considered necessary and wise.

Eric Bellion – « I prefer to leave nothing to chance and be calm. »
« I am not on the Défi Azimut, we have chosen a long revision project after 2 trying transatlantic races at the beginning of the year. I am obviously disappointed not to sail with my friends but I prefer not to leave anything to chance, to be calm with a well-done project, in depth and calm.»

The release of a new book

However, there is no time to be bored. Between two advanced training courses offered by the Pôle Finistère Course au Large, the skipper is preparing the release of his new book. Author of “Kifouine, un tour du monde en soliDaire” in 2007, Eric is repeating the experience with a new book published by Stock. “En quête d’équilibre” is released in bookstores on September 11.

Eric Bellion – « If I am a skipper today, it is thanks to literature»
« I wrote this book during the lockdown in 2020. The first lockdown was when we were really stuck and locked up. Since you are enjoying a prison sentence, I wanted to do something with this confinement, and why not write the book I always wanted to write. This is how I transformed the Covid lockdown into something positive and I am very happy about it.
If I am a skipper today, it is thanks to literature, because it is through adventure novels that I discovered ocean racing. It is literature that pushed me to leave, to do different things with different people. This book retraces my 25 years of maritime adventures. An intimate story written with sincerity that I hope will give everyone the desire to dare. »

Sailor and dad, a new role to take on

Sailing around the planet using his arms and the elements, he knows how to do it, he’s already done it. But one thing will still be very different from his first Vendée Globe: today Eric is a dad. The man who was emotionally accompanying his daughter for her first day back at school last week explains:

Eric Bellion – « Being a dad is a complete game changer »
« On my first Vendée Globe I had my motorbike and a bag, today I have a family, a wife, a daughter, a dog, loans and responsibilities! (laughs)
It changes everything. I’m really worried about the separation, it’s going to be a real heartbreak. I also know that it’s something that will certainly make her proud later. And then there are lots of jobs where men and women go away from home for longer than us and more often, I have no right to complain.»

Source : Stand As One