Everyone has their own Everest: Éric Pilato sets off on a transatlantic crossing aboard an Excess 11

After discovering the Excess 11 almost by chance, Éric Pilato is now preparing to sail across the Atlantic alone aboard his catamaran. This Sunday at 1:02 p.m., he will set off from La Rochelle, with one goal: to reach Pointe-à-Pitre under sail and non-stop aboard his Excess 11, Skiboo 2.

Some projects take years to come together. Others are born from a conversation, almost in passing. Éric Pilato’s falls into the second category. At 62, this entrepreneur from La Rochelle and lifelong sailor is now preparing for a solo Atlantic crossing to Pointe-à-Pitre.

Born in La Rochelle and always closely connected to the sea, Éric had been sailing for years when he first started considering buying his own boat. He initially looked at second-hand monohulls before turning his attention to catamarans. It was ultimately an Excess 11, originally destined to be displayed at the 2023 Grand Pavois boat show, that caught his attention. One of the last boats equipped with a self-tacking jib, and with a three-cabin layout that perfectly matched his needs, the boat quickly ticked all the boxes. Éric contacted his dealer and made up his mind. A short while later, the Excess 11 arrived in La Rochelle, where he happened to have a berth he had secured several years earlier.

What was initially meant to be a boat simply for sailing gradually became a much bigger adventure. As the miles accumulated, Éric grew closer to the brand and became first an owner, then an Excess ambassador. He regularly exchanges with the teams, shares his experience and continues to develop his sailing plans.

A solo, non-stop Atlantic crossing

His project is to complete a solo, non-stop Atlantic crossing. He will set off this Sunday at 1:02 p.m. from La Rochelle, with an arrival in Pointe-à-Pitre expected around the time the Route du Rhum fleet reaches Guadeloupe, after leaving Saint-Malo a few weeks later.

Éric also aims to establish a crossing time on this several-thousand-mile journey, which requires taking both boat and skipper’s preparation to another level.

Preparing a catamaran for weeks of solo sailing

On board, Éric will have to manage everything himself: maneuvers, navigation, weather routing, sail trim, system monitoring and everyday life at sea. For several weeks, there will be no one to take over or step in when fatigue sets in.

Preparation of Skiboo 2 has therefore been underway for some time. The goal is not to turn the Excess 11 into a racing boat, but to adapt it to the specific demands of solo ocean sailing, with a focus on autonomy, onboard organization and equipment reliability.

Simplicity becomes particularly important when sailing alone. A system may be high-performing, but if it becomes complicated to use or monitor at sea, it loses some of its value. Hundreds of miles from shore, every piece of equipment needs to be understood, monitored and, whenever possible, maintained by one person.

Energy management will be a key consideration. With no stops and no use of the engines, Éric will need to carefully manage both power generation and consumption, depending on the weather and his needs on board. Ocean sailing requires a different way of thinking: it is no longer simply about having enough energy, but about knowing at any given moment what is being produced, what is being consumed and what can be used.

Preparation also means training. Éric has been working on his solo sailing skills to become familiar with the particular rhythm of long periods alone on board, anticipate maneuvers and develop an organization that works with fatigue and changing sea conditions.

A project between cruising and offshore sailing

Éric is already familiar with offshore sailing and has had the opportunity to sail aboard the Ultim Sodebo. But the experience he is preparing with Skiboo 2 is different.

Excess catamarans are already familiar with long-distance cruising and transatlantic crossings. What interests us here is following this solo adventure over time, with everything it involves in terms of preparation, autonomy and onboard organization. It is also an opportunity to put the boat to the test in everyday offshore conditions and learn, mile after mile, from the experience of its owner.

For now, the schedule remains busy, with technical preparation and final optimization of the catamaran. Excess will follow the different stages of the project and share the behind-the-scenes story of this adventure, from preparing Skiboo 2 to her arrival in the Caribbean.

Fair winds, Éric!