“I'm terrified”, Violette Dorange's anxiety at the idea of ​​passing Cape Horn with seven-meter dips

Monday, at the time when Charlie Dalin (Macif) and Yoann Richomme (Parec Arkéa) were battling in the ascent of the Atlantic and extricating themselves from the tricky Doldrums, Violette Dorange, nearly 5,000 miles behind, was on the point of putting an end to the endless crossing of the South Seas. An exit from the tunnel which will materialize with the passage of Cape Horn that the youngest of the tenth edition of the world tour feared before casting off on November 10, she who had, until this winter, never encountered to the seas of the southern hemisphere.

“I try not to visualize this moment in my head,” she told us before departure. In general, it never turns out the way we imagined. But believe me, the day I’m about to surpass it, I’m going to do everything I can to make the most of it.”

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Tuesday noon, Violette Dorange was still more than 400 miles from the rock symbolizing the shift into the Atlantic Ocean. But the weather forecast for the coming hours hardly inspired optimism with the passage of cold weather bringing winds of thirty knots and lows of five meters. Conditions which have nothing to do with those encountered on December 23 by the leading men who were able to enjoy an exceptional panorama with winds blowing at around fifteen knots and rather calm seas. “But in reality, we always have more, especially when passing a place like Cape Horn. From experience, people say that the winds are doubled, sixty knots and seven meters deep.she explains, worried in a video.

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“The worst is the next day,” she says again. There is a depression passing through and there is no escape because to the south there is the ice zone (forbidden to sailors, Editor's note). And if I want to try to get to the shelter of the coast just to the east after Cape Horn, that might be a possibility but if I don't get there in time it could be very dangerous.”

Slow down rather than enter the cold front

The 23-year-old sailor is therefore tearing her hair out to find the right solution while time is running out. “I did all the possible scenarios and routes. I'm super worried and terrified at the idea of ​​going there… This morning (Monday, Editor's note), I broke down because I don't feel like I'm going into depression.

Violette Dorange first wants to complete her world tour and to avoid putting herself in danger, the skipper made the wise decision to slow down to let this cold front pass. “It's not easy because it means slowing down two days compared to other competitors. I think I'll be the only one to slow down.”she asks with humility without losing her smile. “Maybe I’m wrong and it’s okay but I don’t feel it at all”she admits, her head turned towards the rise of the Atlantic. “I prefer to preserve my boat and my life”she concludes.