“Really, the sea smells really good…” Young Luqman returns with this memory of Sables-d’Olonne, shared with the twenty students in his CE1/CE2 class and the seven students from Ulis de the Jean-Moulin school, in Boé. This year, they are following a Vendée Globe sailor, Justine Mettraux. And since Frédérique Bolognini doesn't do anything by halves, she took the students to the starting point of this legendary race, the Sables-d'Olonne pontoon. The middle school students from Ducos-du-Hauron accompanied them for their web radio.
“I discovered that navigation had real educational virtues, to understand the oceans, the notions of latitude, longitude…” explains the teacher. So, every year, she follows a race with her students. But this year, with the help of the City of Boé and the entire school, she reached a milestone. “Jean-François Judit, one of the deputy mayors, works at De Sangosse, which is a client of Teamwork, sponsor of skipper Justine Mettraux’s ship,” explains Bérangère Tournemie, teacher of the Ulis class. “During a school council meeting, he asked us if we would be interested. » All eyes turned to Frédérique, unanimously. The adventure was launched. An exceptional adventure, since this non-stop, unassisted solo race only takes place once every four years.
Beyond geography, “this experience gives us the opportunity to work on empathy,” emphasizes Frédérique Bolognini. What happens when it’s difficult, when there is abandonment…”
“We didn’t know about the Vendée Globe at first,” the students say. They have since made up for it. If Justine Mettraux is their compass for this race, each student has chosen a skipper. “We didn’t know what it was either,” explains Nayel. Every day, the children watch where the runners are and note their progress on a map. “There are even navigators with disabilities,” they explain. Something that touches them because the seven students of the Ulis system are also navigating the adventure.
Their mascot on board
The meeting with Justine Mettraux was not just virtual. During these three days in Sables-d'Olonne, the schoolchildren had the opportunity to interview the young woman. From her favorite animal (“the whale!”), to what she feels when she is alone at sea, the little reporters played their role to the fullest. They even entrusted her with their mascot, a goose named Léonie, which the Swiss skipper took on board with her. Today, it is mainly via the navigator's networks that contact is made. “Justine was in the lead a few days ago. We sent him a little message! », smile Imrane and Neila. And the sailor even found the time to introduce Léonie and all the mascots who travel with her.
The adventure is set to last until after Christmas. But the memories of sea spray, sand and this ocean that smells so good will not go away.
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