Vendée Globe: Waves of Emotion and Epic Misadventures
Ahhhh, the Vendée Globe! The ultimate test of seamanship—and let’s be honest, a little bit of luck! You’ve got navigators expounding profound life philosophies while sailing (or, in some cases, trying to make sense of a propeller gone rogue). Our first tale is about the emotional navigator of L’Occitane in Provence, who has taken the whole “find your feet again” mantra to heart, though let’s hope she doesn’t trip over a wave while doing so!
Now, her ranking at the first fifteen places isn’t too shabby! That’s akin to getting a ‘C’ in high school and thinking you’re the crème de la crème. But as the witty Brits say, “so far, so good!” However, the important thing here is her approach—“step by step, hour by hour, wave by wave.” I mean, if that’s not the world’s longest justification for procrastination, I don’t know what is! It’s like saying, “I plan to binge-watch this entire series…just a season at a time!”
“We Can Have Good Days and Bad Days in the Same Day”
Enter Conrad Colman, who I affectionately dub the “Crazy Kiwi.” He seems to have taken the philosophy of life just a tad too seriously on this inaugural race day. Imagine preparing for your big moment, only to have your large gennaker sheet accompany you on an unexpected swim. Now, that’s what I call making a splash—quite literally!
Our dear Conrad reported, “It stalled the engine, blocked the sheet, and prevented the boat from being maneuverable.” Ah, poetic, isn’t it? It’s almost like the boat had a tantrum because it didn’t get its two minutes of fame. Could you imagine trying to explain that one to your friends? “Hey guys, how did the race go? Oh, you know, I was beaten by a rogue sheet!”
And for all you enthusiasts keeping track, our Kiwi didn’t just have a glitch; he also experienced the chaos of teamwork gone sideways. “So I kept the team on board,” he reminisced, looking more heartbroken than a contestant on a reality show who just got dumped. Not only did he miss the deadline to disembark his teammates, but he was also crowned the king of the latecomers. Nicely done, mate!
But let’s cut him some slack. An hour later, he finally set sail closer to the coast, only to find himself enjoying a little tête-à-tête with good fortune. It appears the winds finally decided to give him a hug instead of a kick in the teeth, and would you believe it? Just three hours in, he briefly took control of the fleet! The “Crazy Kiwi” indeed! He must have thought, “Take that, dodgy sheet!”
So, there you have it, folks! The Vendée Globe starts off like every good thriller—a cocktail of emotions, misfortune, and a sprinkle of triumph! If you’re not watching yet, grab your popcorn and tune in because, in the world of sailing, every wave tells a story. And believe me, this one’s only just beginning!
“Still quite emotional”the navigator of L’Occitane in Provence took advantage of these suspended moments to “ find your feet again.” Evolving in the first fifteen places in the ranking – “so far, so good, as our English friends say” – the skipper explained that she wanted “ take things “step by step”, hour by hour, wave by wave…”
“We can have good days and bad days in the same day”
If there is another who must have taken things philosophically on this first day of racing, it is the New Zealander Conrad Colman! During a sail change just before departure, the sheet of its large gennaker slips through the water and wraps around the propeller. “It stalled the engine, blocked the sheet and prevented the boat from being maneuverablesums up the 40-year-old sailor, still heartbroken about his misadventure, who dreamed of another reunion with the Vendée Globe. So I kept the team on board with me, which meant that I did not meet the deadline to disembark my teammates, and therefore I could no longer start like the others, even a little late! So I asked to benefit from the staggered departure protocol…”
A little more than an hour after his little comrades, the skipper of the IMOCA MS Amlin finally set off, from a starting line closer to the coast determined by the Race Direction. Result ? If the first sails of the “Crazy Kiwi” take place in dead calm, the sailor is soon propelled by a favorable wind… to the point of even briefly taking control of the fleet, three hours later!
### Interview with Conrad Colman: The “Crazy Kiwi” of the Vendée Globe
**Editor:** Welcome, Conrad! It’s great to have you here to share your experiences from the Vendée Globe. First off, can you describe the emotions you felt as you set sail for this epic race?
**Conrad Colman:** Thanks for having me! As I left the dock, I was flooded with excitement but also a bit of nerves. Being out there on the water, it feels like you’re balancing on the edge of a knife—one moment you’re on top of the world, and the next, you could be in a bit of a pickle!
**Editor:** Speaking of pickles, we heard about the unexpected drama with your gennaker sheet. Can you tell us what happened?
**Conrad Colman:** (laughs) Oh, absolutely! It was like a comedy sketch out there. Just as I was trying to make my move, the sheet decided to swim away from the boat. It stalled the engine and made the boat impossible to maneuver. I couldn’t believe it—a rogue piece of gear had become my nemesis!
**Editor:** That sounds frustrating! How did you manage to keep your team motivated amidst the chaos?
**Conrad Colman:** It wasn’t easy! I definitely felt like I was juggling a few too many balls in the air. When I missed the chance to disembark my team, it stung. But we rallied together. I reminded them that in sailing, just like in life, we can have good days and bad days—sometimes even within the same hour!
**Editor:** How did it feel when you finally got a hold of the winds and took control of the fleet just three hours in?
**Conrad Colman:** That was exhilarating! After all the hurdles, it felt like my luck turned around. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of the boat finding its rhythm, and I thought, “Take that, dodgy sheet!” All those earlier frustrations just faded in that moment.
**Editor:** It sounds like the Vendée Globe is as much about perseverance as it is about seamanship. What keeps you going during those tough moments out at sea?
**Conrad Colman:** For me, it’s all about the journey. Every wave, every challenge is a chance to learn something new, both about sailing and about myself. Plus, the support from the fans and my team keeps me motivated. It’s a wild ride, no doubt, but that’s exactly what makes it worthwhile.
**Editor:** Any final thoughts for viewers tuning into the Vendée Globe?
**Conrad Colman:** Grab your popcorn, indeed! This race is packed with raw emotions, unexpected challenges, and, of course, a bit of luck. You never know what’s going to happen next, and that’s the beauty of it all! Just remember, if you see a boat with a wild-haired Kiwi on board, know I’m trying to keep both my ship and my sanity intact!
**Editor:** Thank you, Conrad! Good luck out there, and we can’t wait to see how the race unfolds!
