Tanguy Le Turquais and his wife Clarisse Crémer are leaving for the Vendée Globe. Parents of a little 2 year old Matilda, we had to organize life on land in their absence. And it’s Léna, Tanguy’s sister, who will watch over her: “It will be my Vendée Globe. I know it's common to have children. But for me, it’s a challenge because she’s not my daughter,” says the 28-year-old young woman, who initially refused.
It was upon returning from the Transat Jacques Vabre, in 2022, that Clarisse announced to Tanguy that she was pregnant: “In 2020, we have already been together for ten years. We are 30 years old and we know we want children. We try but it doesn’t work right away.” They have to wait a year. Clarisse is already committed to a second world tour project. And the skipper of Lazare, since installed in Locmiquélic (56), launched his own project. “We know that we will both be on a Vendée Globe project and that we are going to have a child. And then I panic! Very quickly, we said to ourselves that there was no way we would tell this child that mom and dad had not made their dream come true because she had arrived.”
“Without her, our projects would not exist”
In half a second, they know: they need Léna. Tanguy then takes his phone and announces: “We are looking for someone to take care of Matilda, from the age of six months until after the Vendée Globe. We would like it to be you because we want this person to live with us so that she can be the third parent, so that Matilda is used to this person. For us, the best person is you! “. At that time, Léna was in the Balearic Islands and working with her mother in the markets and boats: “I wanted to come back to Brittany but I didn't yet really know what I wanted to do. So, I clearly said no! “.
A year later, she reconsidered her decision. Tanguy's project grew and he also offered to work in his stable: “These were the dream conditions. Afterwards, everything about Matilda, I said I couldn't give an answer until I met her. I really needed to feel if I was going to be able to do it or not. I didn’t have much patience with children.” She packs her bags and places them in Morbihan. From the moment I met her niece, it was obvious: “If I had been with Matilda full time, I would not have been fulfilled. Having a huge responsibility on the boat, I don't have the skills for that. So, it was the perfect balance.” And it becomes the cornerstone: “Today, without it, our projects would not exist. The precious thing that we wouldn't have found elsewhere is that, when we go to sea, we are not afraid. We're not worried about Matilda. It’s priceless.”
Responsibilities, models and cuddles
It takes immense confidence to leave the apple of your eye for three months while you set off to sail around the planet: “I couldn't do it with my mom, with my other sister, with my dad… that wouldn't work. It’s just because it’s Léna…” continues skipper Lazare, who compares her to the sun with the planets revolving around it. This bubbly young woman whom Matilda calls “Tatina” will have the role of “second mother” for three months. His responsibility will be great. She knows it but is not afraid because she knows that she will be well looked after. “If Matilda has a car accident and has to have emergency surgery: who makes the decision because we are not necessarily reachable at the moment. It's not my mother, it's not Clarisse's mother, it's Léna who decides! »
After living with them for two years, she found her place. When she is gone for too long, Matilda asks for her. “I’m going to talk to him a lot, explain to him a lot. I'm trying to get two models of Tanguy and Clarisse's boats to put in his room and tell him about them every day. » On the other hand, there is no question of video with the boats but photos sent to the shore.
Hearts will be heavy on Sunday at departure time. But there will be no pontoon for Matilda. “We'll say goodbye to her the day before at home and leave before she's awake. If she's awake, Mom and Dad will leave for work…as usual. » Léna’s hugs and broad smiles will do the rest!
