Stéphane, what were your motivations to be present through the Blue Odyssey at the 2020 Dive Show?
I have been an actor in the diving world for many years: diving and freediving.
By my presence I want to present the actions we have carried out in 2019, in particular the crossing of the Atlantic in both directions, to meet and bring equipment to children, to create associations in the West Indies, but also to return to the underwater trail created in the Renée-Sabran hospital for disabled people and all the actions we have been able to do in the port of Corbières in the sense of the environment. Not forgetting the freediving courses on the Bénéteau sailboat with the semi-rigids powered by Suzuki.
Last winter you crossed part of the Mediterranean and the Atlantic single-handed, can you look back on this sporting and solidarity challenge?
In the winter of 2019 with the sailboat, a 55-foot (17-metre) Bénéteau, I left after only 2 years of sailing experience and barely 24 hours of solo sailing experience on a boat. I left Hyères in the Var to cross the Mediterranean and the Atlantic single-handed without stopping over to the West Indies. And over there, we set up activities for the children.
I carried 300 pieces of palm-mask tuba equipment that I gave away to help children better understand the environment. We wanted to put a mask on their noses so that they could go and discover the beauty of the ocean, but also take care of their coastline since we carried out cleaning actions together with the national education system and teachers who gave all their energy to create these events. Nearly 800 children participated, creating great actions.
The actions on the spot were complicated to set up, I was not at home and it is difficult to get the institutions moving, but the result was really convincing. Beautiful actions with beautiful results!
On the sporting side, the return Atlantic-Mediterranean crossing was physically complicated as I'm not a sailor, the sea wasn't all that I had to do, so I had to take my time and accept a lot of difficulties.
It took me 26 days on the outward journey and 25 days on the return for these single-handed, non-stop crossings.
The boat returned to Hyères safely. Just a few little bumps to repair on the boat and on me, but overall a very, very positive activity.
Good results for 2019! What about 2020?
For 2020, we are organizing a big action planned for May 3, 2020: The Blue Odyssey Cleaning Challenge. It is the first world championship of waste collection gathering many freedivers from all over the world mixed with neophytes. All these beautiful people are going to move on boats in the Hyères Bay, the largest national marine European bay. The idea is to bring back as much waste as possible, the winner will be the one who has brought back the most waste by weight, and also the most unusual waste.
We will do the same thing from the shore with canoes and paddles, as well as for families on foot: pick up this rubbish from the shore. It is a huge event that will mobilize a lot of energy and infrastructure to be put in place as we expect between 500 and 700 participants.
In 2020, we will also be offering tailor-made courses to improve our understanding of marine animals. Go meet whales, dolphins, go on outings with Odyssée Bleue the sailboat.
Beyond the World Waste Collection Championship on 3 May, what are your goals and ambitions for 2020?
We will continue our actions in the field, i.e. the preservation of nature and the underwater world through various clean-up actions.
I also continue to do experiments for scientists: to better understand how humans function. I give lectures for the business world and all this helps me to finance the actions of the Blue Odyssey. While also continuing to offer training courses on the yacht, whether cruises for the general public or more specific cruises for works councils.
