Guirec Soudée, a sailor on a solo round-the-world journey, finally glimpsed Cape Horn after previously missing it during his 2013-2018 expedition. Despite facing rough weather, he climbed his 28-meter mast to enjoy the view. However, shortly after, he encountered an emergency when his sail got entangled with his boat’s keel. In a brave move, he plunged into the freezing waters to rescue it, demonstrating his strong commitment to preserving the ocean’s integrity.
The Journey of a Brave Sailor
For sailors, navigating around Cape Horn is a revered yet daunting experience. Guirec Soudée, who embarked on a solo circumnavigation of the globe from 2013 to 2018, had the honor of surpassing this legendary point. However, during that time, he missed the chance to see land. “It remains quite mysterious for me. I hope to be able to pass close by and during the day to finally see it,” he shared prior to setting sail for the Vendée Globe.
A Memorable Encounter with Cape Horn
His wish came true amidst favorable weather, with a mild breeze and a calm sea following a fierce battle against gusts exceeding 50 knots just hours earlier. Guirec was finally able to spot the iconic Argentine rock. To fully appreciate this divine moment, he climbed to the top of the mast of his Imoca, nearly 28 meters high.
At 33 years old and currently holding the 25th position in the race, Guirec didn’t linger at the summit to soak in the breathtaking views. “A little gust of wind is coming soon and it’s not going to be very nice,” he quipped, unaware of the challenges that lay ahead.
His instincts proved correct. A few hours later, he found himself in a precarious situation as he faced a daunting challenge during his voyage. In a desperate bid to address an emergency, he plunged into the frigid waters of the southern seas, which were a chilling 5°C. The halyard for the code 0 (a large foresail) had snapped, causing the sail to end up in the water and get dangerously entangled with the keel.
With no other option, Guirec bravely dove into the icy depths to retrieve the sail, as his Imoca became uncontrollable and drifted perilously close to the coast. It was a physically taxing operation, but he managed to succeed. “I’m out of juice,” he admitted, relieved to have salvaged the sail, thus avoiding the dire alternative of abandoning it to the ocean’s depths. “It would make me sick to leave anything in the ocean,” he concluded, reflecting his deep respect for the sea.