Antoine Cornic (Human Immobilier) is living his dream after which he has been chasing for 20 years. Two decades before being able to set off on the Vendée Globe, this solo, non-stop sailing trip around the world.
Antoine Cornic is currently sailing in the South Pacific, very far from the leaders and the finish. This former restaurateur on the Ile de Ré will celebrate his 45th birthday at sea, alone on his boat, on January 4, as others have done since leaving Les Sables d'Olonne. He responded to franceinfo.
franceinfo: How are you going to celebrate this birthday separately?
Antoine Cornic : I have some little gifts planned that were in the Christmas bag. It'll be done quickly: I'll open two or three things, and that's it! It's not very important to me. I am an epicurean, I love people and so celebrating it with family or friends, yes. But when you're all alone, it's not essential either. The main thing for me is to go around the world and come back happy. This will be my best birthday present.
After almost two months at sea, are morale high?
Morale is there because we are still in the race, despite the various problems. I don't miss the earth, strangely. Of course I miss my family, my children, my wife and friends. But I'm happy at sea, I'm happy to be there and I'm trying to really make the most of it. It's something incredible to do this tour, you absolutely have to return with beautiful stars in your eyes.
Since the start, have there been any very complicated moments?
The loss of my first sail was not very serious. But when I broke the mainsail rail, you experience a difficult moment mentally which is the fear of abandonment (in mid-December, Antoine Cornic had to divert to the island of Saint-Paul, in the south of the Indian Ocean, to find a sheltered place to repair). We must quickly gather ourselves together, settle down, calm down and think about solutions to avoid this path. We must remain attentive because the road is still long and there will inevitably still be difficult moments.
Indeed, the road is far from over. While the leaders are expected in Les Sables d'Olonne in less than two weeks, is the time sometimes long?
Here, we are right on topic. I'm stuck between an anticyclone and the depressions behind it, it's not really moving. Normally, you go around the world with the wind rather behind you, but not here. That means that the friends behind have the right wind, and so they will catch up with you. Those in front are windy and you are stuck in this weather situation where you are having trouble getting out of it. The time is a little long, it's quite monotonous.
But it's relatively cold, I'm mostly indoors and I've started reading a little book. I especially try to take a lot of micronaps during the day. I set goal by goal and not a complete vision. If I think about the first ones who are expected in a fortnight, you get depressed.
Are there things you miss?
The human body is quite incredible: when you have nothing, you don't want anything. I have a great bed, I'm very comfortable when I sleep. Of course I won't be against a nice hot shower. I got used to staying in my clothes, giving myself a wipe. But otherwise, there's not much I'm missing.
