Week Two at Sea: Skiboo 2 Sets a Course Across the Atlantic!

Life at Sea: Adapting as You Go

Aboard Skiboo 2, the days roll on and conditions continue to change. After making a few necessary adjustments at sea, Éric enjoys periods of calmer weather, with the ocean swell settling in as the boat glides steadily across the Atlantic.

When sailing solo, every detail matters. And among the essential members of the crew, there is one that never needs a break: the autopilot. “Most of the time, it’s at the helm. I mainly take over during manoeuvres,” Éric explains. He regularly checks that everything is working properly and takes the helm more often when the wind drops, allowing him to fine-tune the boat’s course.

As for the engines, they are never used for propulsion. The engines are occasionally run out of gear to generate power, but the boat is propelled exclusively by sail. An important distinction in this adventure, undertaken under sail, without stopping and without using engine power to propel the boat.

Madeira and Porto Santo on the Horizon

As he continues south, Éric catches sight of the Madeira archipelago. Porto Santo appears ahead, with Madeira further in the distance. It is a chance to see land from offshore, but there is no stop planned: Skiboo 2 continues on her way, passing between Madeira and the Desertas Islands during the night.

Weather conditions look fairly favourable at this stage. The goal is clear: reach the trade winds before the Canary Islands, make the most of them, and continue south before turning west.

The Canary Islands in 11 Days and 11 Hours: Heading West!

Éric reaches the latitude of Lanzarote after 11 days and 11 hours at sea. It is an important milestone: he had allowed fifteen days to make it this far, putting Skiboo 2 slightly ahead of schedule.

However, the trade winds are unusually far south this year, and the next stretch could bring patches of light wind. Heading further south towards Cape Verde could mean slowing down or even getting stuck in areas with very little breeze. Working with Pierre, his shore-based weather router, Éric studies the forecasts and weighs up the options. Together, they decide to head west along the direct route towards Guadeloupe, which looks more favourable given the expected conditions. Their work continues day by day, particularly when it comes to choosing the right moment to gybe, a manoeuvre that changes the boat’s tack when sailing downwind. The aim is to get the timing right based on the wind angle and make the most efficient progress towards Guadeloupe.

The southbound leg is complete. Now, the great Atlantic crossing begins!

The Excess 11 Comes into Her Own Offshore

This long passage is also giving Éric the chance to discover even more about his boat’s performance. What surprises him most? Her stability, particularly when surfing downwind. Skiboo 2 sails “like she’s on rails”, handling the conditions with impressive ease. She has even topped 15 knots while surfing down a wave!

Although Éric is used to sailing solo close to shore, he has been preparing for this adventure for a long time: a project a year in the making, backed by nine months of intensive preparation. Even so, a solo transatlantic crossing brings a whole new set of challenges. He has to manage his sleep, his energy, the weather and all the little unexpected events that come with life at sea.

Sleeping Without Ever Fully Switching Off

When sailing solo, sleep becomes a skill in its own right. There are no long, uninterrupted nights like there are on land. Éric must remain alert to the weather, the wind and maritime traffic, while still finding time to rest and recover.

He has therefore prepared to follow a polyphasic sleep pattern, breaking his rest into several shorter periods. The principle is simple: take every opportunity to sleep whenever conditions allow, rather than waiting for a long stretch of downtime.

It is an approach that requires a good understanding of his own body and close attention to fatigue. On a solo transatlantic crossing, managing sleep is also about staying sharp and being able to make the right decisions, day after day, for several weeks at sea.

One Envelope a Day: A Connection to Home

Even thousands of miles from his loved ones, Éric is never entirely alone. His family has prepared 32 envelopes, one for each day at sea. Every day at 1:02 pm, after sending his daily update, he opens one. The time was no coincidence: 1:02 p.m. was when he set off, and it is also the time chosen for the starts of the Route du Rhum, the Vendée Globe and the Transat Jacques Vabre, allowing them to be broadcast live on the 1 p.m. news, just after the headlines.

A simple ritual, but one filled with emotion, reminding him of all the people following his journey from shore. “I feel like I’ve brought a lot of people along with me,” he says.

Between messages from loved ones, conversations with his shore-based router and updates shared from Skiboo 2, his connection to land remains strong, even when the horizon reveals nothing but ocean.

The Great Atlantic Crossing Begins

Having passed the Canary Islands, Éric is now firmly on course for Guadeloupe. Weather conditions will continue to shape his route, while his discussions with Pierre will help him adjust his strategy as new forecasts come in.

All is well aboard. Éric is enjoying his days at sea, settling into his new routine and making the most of the sensations Skiboo 2 has to offer. The other side of the Atlantic is still ahead, but every mile brings him closer to his goal: reaching Pointe-à-Pitre, non-stop and without using the engines for propulsion.

The crossing is underway. And the adventure continues!

We’ll leave you with one of Éric’s favourite moments of each day at sea: sunset over the Atlantic.

Do you have any questions about life on board or sailing solo? Leave them in the comments: Éric is keeping in touch from Skiboo 2 and will be happy to answer as soon as he can.