The departure from the pontoons, between enthusiasm and emotions

From the moment they took to the stage to the big departure, everything moved quickly for the skippers. The goodbyes, the final adjustments, the desire to get going... Here's a look at a unique morning before setting sail.

This Sunday, the enthusiasm rose a notch as the morning progressed. The appearance on stage of all the participants—who had become, for a moment, rock stars in raincoats—had the gift of warming up the atmosphere. A musical entrance, a few words, a signature, photos: this is where it all begins. A great moment shared with the audience and a multitude of small details: Jules Ducelier and Sophie Faguet (Normandy Region) entered to the song "En rouge et noir" by Jeanne Mas, Pauline Courtois (Wings of the Ocean) was barefoot and in flip-flops, Martin Le Pape (Demain) took off his orange cap, Davy Beaudart (Hellowork) sketched a few dance steps.

“Getting to Saint Barth is simple. You go down and then turn left!”

On the pontoons, it's the smiles that stand out. Charlotte Yven and Hugo Dallenne (Skipper Macif) repeat in unison that they "can't wait to be there," Quentin Vlamynck (Les Étoiles Filantes) predicts " a hell of a show ," and Lola Billy (Région Bretagne - CMB Océane) assures them that they "want to give it their all." The coastal course is the focus of the final discussions. Charlie Dalin is there to give his final advice to Victor Le Pape and Estelle Greck (Région Bretagne - CMB Espoir), while Kévin Bloch and Laure Galley (DMG MORI Academy), just before setting sail, go over the coastal course point by point. Maël Garnier (Selencia - Cerfrance), who was already there two years ago, prefers to laugh about it: " To get to Saint Barth, it's simple. You go down and then you turn left! "

Tears before the big departure

The "goodbyes" are an opportunity for final confidences. Thomas de Dinechin (Almond for Pure Ocean) confides that his duo with Aglaé Ribon has strengthened " after two nights offshore in the cold this winter ," Estelle Greck and Victor Le Pape (Brittany Region - CMB Espoir) reminisce about their meal the day before, pesto pasta for her, lasagna for him. But emotion is never far away. It is the result of so many elements: having managed to be at the start, having trained all winter for this moment, and holding tight to the children, parents, friends, everyday faces we won't see again for nearly three weeks.

" For the children, it's a bit tough ," admits Mathilde Géron (Demain), holding back tears. A little further on, the bright smiles of Ellie Driver and Oliver Hill (Women's Engineering Society) contrast with the tears beside them. It's their mothers who are crying non-stop, trying to hide them with hugs. A few minutes later, Ellie, Oliver, and the others were already gone. In the port of Concarneau and then a little further out to sea, their Figaro Beneteau 3s seemed so small, like a striking reminder of the challenge that awaits them.