As Thomas Coville’s failed round-the-world effort comes to an end, the latest video is up and we have Anarchist ‘Laurent’ to give us another great translation. Top SA European photographer Christophe Launay will be on hand in just a few hours to welcome Tom in, and we’ll get you the photos as soon as we can. A sad end to an effort that can only be called ‘Valiant’.
"Beginning of the night, in North Atlantic on the Port Tack, leaning on the damaged ama. When you go fast, actually it is OK. You must not be afraid of going fast, as usual. It’s like on a motorcycle, the faster you go, the better it is… If you slow down, you mess it up.
We are finally reaching this zone of low-pressure systems with winds that are going to bring us all the way to Brest. This zone that we were so dearly looking for, and that did not show up close to the Equator as expected, and made us lose any hope to break the record.
For sure, it would have shown up just a bit earlier, that would have been great… or at least, we would not have been forced to sail so many more mile to find it.
The difference of weather, compared to yesterday (March 25th), is quite impressive. What’s good, is that it makes me like sailing again! It gives a good feeling to make the boat go fast, being a sailor again, just taking care of the day to day chores of the boat; not thinking of the result.
I almost feel good again, with the sunset in North Atlantic, this Ocean that I love so much. It’s like my backyard, my playground all year round… But it sulked me this year. We cross it several times per year; I know it very well.
I did not think that we would fail here; big bitterness and disillusionment about this transition between the Southern Hemisphere and the Northen Hemisphere, once again. I did not think it would be critical right there…
Actually, it is always critical in this RTW record. OK… Good night."
