Éric Bellion, Vendée Globe skipper: “In life, you have to try and remember to try regularly”

How did your last weeks of preparation go?

There were periods when I was more of a business manager, others when I was more of a skipper. For a few months now, and even more in recent weeks, I have been focusing solely on the navigation part and spending time with my team. I set up the project almost three years ago, with Marie Lattanzio who is leading the adventure. I have full confidence in her. Our relationship has solidified over time. My crews have always been made up of radically different men and women, but with common fundamentals. It's everything we can never quibble about, like keeping one's word, the ability to apologize, the ability to see each other, punctuality, etc. The difficulty is that these shared values ​​are not immediately visible. They manifest themselves over time.

Have you had any tough times recently?

Yes, of course, I had plenty of moments of discouragement. The last major one was a few months ago, when my new boat broke. I experienced a breakdown. There, everything collapsed! Because this situation leads to unforeseen expenses when we are already very limited in funding. When a problem arises, it's money that we don't have, and that we have to go get again. We are constantly looking for solutions, wondering if it would not be better to stop everything. Finally, we continue! In reality, what we do as skippers is a challenge. We are off the charts on many levels. We have to build a very complex boat to go into the most hostile environment possible, with limited time, funding and skills. In hindsight, what we are doing is aberrant, it shouldn't even exist (laughs).

How do these difficult times help reveal you?

During the last Vendée Globe, I discovered that I had infinite resources. I was very afraid of going to the South Seas. And right there, what I feared the most happened to me: my rudder broke. My boat was unsteerable in the middle of a storm. I thought I was going to die. And finally I managed to fix it. I could have been terrified, panicked, paralyzed. But, in times of difficulty, the ability to act takes over. It was a feat! Since then, I have been convinced that we all have unlimited resources. We think they are limited, but that's not true! There is just one major prerequisite: going beyond your fear. Because, without this, we will not face the problems which will reveal our resources. We fear fear, but in reality we encounter it very rarely in a lifetime. Thanks to these difficult experiences, I know myself well. I know my weaknesses. In life, when we are in contact with other people, we can deceive ourselves about our vulnerabilities, we can lie to ourselves. But, during the Vendée Globe, it's impossible! We face reality as it is.

What is the main driving force that helps you persevere?

I have several engines. The main thing is precisely the fact that it is difficult (laughs). It's the desire to experience a complicated adventure that requires resources. Because it’s when these moments end that we feel the most pride. At times, it's true, we would like things to be easier, but as soon as we find ourselves in a calmer situation, we want more complexity. It would be worse to do nothing on your sofa (laughs). Afterwards, it is the passion for the sea and boats that drives me. I'm a sailor at heart, and I couldn't see myself doing anything else. The Vendée Globe is the holy grail of sailors.

And how do you approach loneliness?

During my first Vendée Globe, I did not have children. Now, yes, so I think that this new situation will change a lot of things in my relationship with loneliness. The heartbreak of leaving is a lot more of a problem for me than before. During the competition, I may suffer more. Afterwards, I am someone who likes solitude. I don't see these three months as a punishment. On the contrary, I view them as a happiness that will allow me to concentrate on myself, on my emotions, on what I like to do, on incredible spectacles of nature. The real worry when you are at sea is the solitude of the decision. We don't realize how much advice we ask from each other when we make important decisions on land. However, there are few decisions that impact our physical integrity. At sea, on the other hand, we are very vulnerable. The smallest decision can become stressful. No one can be vigilant for us on the boat. And, it’s tiring! This solitude only ends once we have finally returned to the pontoon.

Do you plan to cooperate in this competitive context?

Yes, this contradiction does not pose a problem to me. We built two shared boats with Jean Le Cam and his teams. We thought of everything together. At the port, we move forward hand in hand. But, at sea, we become competitors. This doesn't change our friendship. I want him to have the best possible race, to succeed, because I am attached to him, and vice versa, but that's not why I'm going to give him gifts on the water ( laughs). When we train alone, we are not at our best. Whereas when we are in competition with others, that's when we give our all. I need this competition to express myself, to surpass myself. The Vendée Globe allows me to measure myself against others. Afterwards, to measure yourself against others, you have to run your own race. It's like during a marathon: you shouldn't follow the best from the start, otherwise you have little chance of seeing the end. In business, the same tricks are at work. Even if I think the notion of objectives is counterproductive. You have to concentrate on your gesture, rather than on the target to reach.

What will your last days on land look like?

I plan to only do things that give me energy. What bothers me, I let it go, I will deal with it later. So I will be with my wife and my daughter. This is the most important. But, once at sea, my loved ones know: they must not wait for news. News only comes from the boat when I have the chance. They can't call me, it's forbidden. The first 72 hours of racing are critical. You have to put yourself in a warrior’s mindset. I have to temporarily erase them from my mind. I don't think about it. We must break ties with the earth. Otherwise, we can create all the good reasons to come home. The contrast is so stark between the comfort of land and the war at sea that the first days are truly decisive, you have to resist, not give up.

And, finally, do you have any plans for the future?

I don't know if this will be my last Vendée Globe, but in any case, I would like to continue to be in transmission, particularly with young people who need a second chance by reintegrating professionally. I don’t want to “push water for nothing”. I have fun, but I also have a duty to be generous in my projects, by sharing them as much as possible. We get out of our comfort zone, we take risks, we push ourselves to the limit, we discover our resources, it's hope for lots of people! I also have a duty to set an example by opening new doors. The final advice I could give is that in life you have to try and remember to try regularly. Because we put too many limits on ourselves. Without trying, nothing happens!