A solo round-the-world sailing trip via the three southern capes… The crazy challenge that Aveyronnais Fabien Maury has set himself

Fabien Maury sur son bateau au port de Carnon. Midi Libre – LF

Navigateur diplômé mais sans expérience d’un tour du monde, Fabien Maury prend le départ samedi depuis Carnon pour huit mois seul dans son bateau sur les mers et les océans du globe.

Cap screwed on his head, red shorts and white T-shirt, Fabien Maury takes care of the last preparations before embarking on the greatest adventure of his life.

Aboard his sailboat moored at the port of Carnon, he will attempt to sail around the world via the three Capes: Good Hope in South Africa, Leeuwin in Australia and Horn in Chile.

Nearly 300 kg of food

This Wednesday, he finished loading the sails that will help him move forward against all odds. The next day, he loaded the last of his 300 kg of food needed to last between 200 and 250 days at sea.

At the heart of the boat, his living space where the 53-year-old sailor can stand up, everything is ready: a space to sleep on a mattress, the kitchen and navigation area in the center of the cabin, toilets and a shower behind a door, a workshop for tools and a storage space.

Fabien Maury from Aveyron sets sail with products from his home department: 45 kg of pasta, 40 kg of flour, cans of preserves, sweets, 6 kg of lentils, among other things…"I can't wait to leave, it's a project that has been going on for over two years, he says. Leaving is the first part of the dream. You have to be humble with the sea, the second step is to come back."

“The Holy Grail of Going Around the World”

While his project may seem crazy to the average person, Fabien Maury has stars in his eyes. But why is he setting off solo on the same course as the legendary race, the Vendée Globe? ? “I could answer that question when I get back,” says the man who lives in Pérols when he is on dry land. It's a challenge, the Holy Grail of sailing around the world. I think I can do it, so I have to try. The idea is to see if I can find the symbiosis between me, the boat and the sea. Where the alchemy must happen is during periods of heavy seas, heavy weather, heavy wind, when the boat is gliding well, I am not too tired and it is moving forward…"

"Preserve my mental integrity"

Starting this Saturday, Fabien Maury will find himself alone facing himself for many months. This does not seem to worry him even if he expects it to be difficult: “I will have to keep my spirits up, preserve my mental integrity, manage fatigue, do a bit of sport on the boat, listen to music and eat food that I like. A kind of truck driver will set up, I have quite a few things to do on a daily basis, checks, cooking, sleeping… To get out of the Mediterranean, I will not rest much because there is traffic, places where I will pass close to the coast… When I'm out on the open sea all alone, it'll be quieter…"

Fabien Maury isn't leaving empty-handed. He's going to collect data on his sleep and the sleep apnea he suffers from. In collaboration with associations, he will observe and listen to cetaceans but also collect an algae called sargassum to study it.

On his return, he wants to introduce habitable sailing to 1000 young people who do not have the opportunity by working with the CCAS and the Secours populaire français through his association “Mets les voiles” for which he collects donations on his website.

In the meantime, the 50-year-old sets off at 2pm this Saturday in Carnon. With one certainty: the weather will be difficult in the Mediterranean during the first week. So, fair winds Fabien Maury!

To follow Fabien Maury and make a donation to his association "Mets les voile" : www.fabienautourdumonde.fr I subscribe to read the rest