Step 2 of our adventure and not the least. Crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Monaco to Athens. After 1800 km and 13 days of rowing, I came out of this experience taller and more resourceful.
This is a step I’ve been looking forward to, the moment to put into practice what we’ve been preparing for months. A first personal achievement. You have to make decisions, know your limits and sometimes even exceed them.
This stage allowed me to discover the life on a boat with a crew I didn’t know. Fantastic people who supported me, helped me and supported me during those long hours of rowing.
A steady pace but one that I managed to keep up with with good organization. It’s a bit like “subway, work, sleep” but here it’s “train, rest, storage”. With a good organization of my “free time” I was able to sleep 11h in total per day, interspersed with a few hours of rowing (4h per day approximately), meals as well as other times to change the ideas (to comb the girlfriends’ hair, to make food, to listen to music but also to do nothing!)
It wasn’t the “fun cruise” either… Strong swells up to 2m/2m50, wind, unexpected encounters that often make you take a few steps back. I am not always comfortable on the board, sometimes tired, not in the best of spirits, afraid of the waves but also of the animals, of the marine fauna.
I managed to calm down little by little with the possible meetings I could have. I started with a full wetsuit and gloves and then finished in a swimsuit and without the gloves when I felt more confident. But one morning I crossed the path of a small shark and there … everything took over. I decided to go straight back into the water because otherwise I would never have done it. And it may sound silly but keeping my gloves on every night, I think it takes away a fear.
Physically, I had some back and shoulder pain but overall I was pretty happy with the way I handled the effort.
On the mental/moral level, it is quite different. Some doubts and questioning. I was scared at times, and sometimes the urge to give up crosses your mind but you remember why you do it. For the sick children, you, the group, your family and also for those who are no longer here. All the people who support and encourage us, that’s where we find the motivation to get up at any time of the day or night to go rowing.
My biggest difficulties were the distance from my family and friends but also the hydration… I started the crossing with 48 hours of sea sickness where I forced myself to drink to get better. But desalinated water is not the best, and I also got seasick from it. So I had difficulty drinking and it took a lot of energy.
A few small modifications and some work (mostly on myself) before leaving for the big adventure but that’s not what I’ll remember from the test expedition 2. A superb agreement with a top team. A great support between the 6 of us and a single objective that binds us.
It is for all these beautiful things and to prove to myself that I accepted to realize the last and biggest step of this project: crossing the Pacific Ocean.
Thank you to all the people who work for the realization of this feat.
Thank you girls and thank you life.
Photo credit: Jérémie Gabrien
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*60 € dedicated to the Super Optimist program (sick children) and educational programs of prevention of health sports in schools + 40 € dedicated to the sports, medical and scientific expedition.
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