While the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre ended in mid-November, it is now time for some skippers to go the other way solo on their IMOCA monohulls. This is the goal of the transatlantic "Back to Base", which started on November 30 from Fort-de-France.
Competing in this event, skipper Antoine Cornic probably didn't think he would experience such an ordeal. Aboard his monohull "Human Immobilier", he has to live with the disease of dengue. It is a viral infection transmitted by mosquitoes, which causes fever and severe fatigue. Not ideal for someone who wants to cross the ocean.
'I'm physically devastated'
In a video he posted on YouTube, the sailor commented on the ordeal he is undergoing, which began on the night of Friday to Saturday: "I am extremely tired, I have a lot of fever, body aches everywhere, I sweat, so everything becomes complicated in terms of manoeuvres, I am not very hungry. I'm going to try to sleep, because right now it's pretty hard, hopefully it will pass soon enough," he described.
Before dwelling on the difficulties he is going through: "It's not complicated, I'm physically devastated. I can't move a sail. Yesterday, a 10-minute maneuver took me 40 minutes and I slept 6 hours later. I'm sad because I can't fight anymore. I had a good rhythm, but now my brain is telling my body that it's not possible. I'm going to see my comrades leave without being able to fight. I have rage inside me and the most amazing thing I don't even have the strength to scream to get rid of it. (...) To be able to drink is already huge. What an experience. My stork will bring me back, I'm sure, not as well placed as I imagined, but we'll go home. This message took me 2 hours, my eyes hurt... I kiss the sea for you," he concluded. He is currently 28th and still has 2,500 miles to go before reaching his destination.