incessant pitching and din, what does a micro-nap look like on board a boat?

Sleep is a key issue for all of the 40 Vendée Globe competitors setting out on a world tour of at least 70 days. A journey during which the skippers will have to adapt by sleeping an average of four to six hours per day with micro-naps of around 30 minutes but which can vary from 10 to 40 depending on the sailing conditions.

Benjamin Dutreux, who was in a good twelfth place on Wednesday afternoon, 130 miles from the leader Yoann Richomme, took the time to film the moments which precede one of these short breaks essential for the body to recover.

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In his Imoca dating from 2015, the 34-year-old sailor, a revelation from the previous edition where he took an excellent 9th place, shows to what extent the discomfort is present. However, you have to find ways to close your eyes and relax your muscles in custom-made benches that are constantly moving in an incessant din.

Navigators, who are used to these conditions, cannot put earplugs in order to remain constantly attentive to what is happening on the boat. Hearing remains the first sense on alert when an unusual event occurs on board these 18 meter long monohulls.

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“If you're wondering what it's like to rest in an Imoca, here you go. I am in my lovingly made mattress bunk. I also have visibility on my screen right next to it. I set my alarm for 30 minutes, it’s quite hectic and noisy”explains the skipper who took the time to remove his helmet to have a little more comfort. A little luxury.