Elodie Bonafous : “A Line on the Chart, a World to Discover”

The Call of the Unknown

For many sailors, certain destinations hold a particular fascination. Not simply because they appear on a chart, but because they open the door to worlds that remain largely unfamiliar. For Elodie Bonafous, the turning point set at 66° North clearly belongs in that category. It is a latitude she has never approached before and one that already captures her imagination.

“Honestly, it’s pretty incredible. I don’t think anyone has ever sailed this far north in an IMOCA before,” she smiles.

The significance becomes even clearer when that latitude is projected onto the Southern Hemisphere: it lies further south than Cape Horn.

“When Arnaud Boissières explained that a few days ago, it really made me realise what it represents.”

But beyond the geographical symbol, it is everything that comes with it that attracts her: the landscapes that will gradually change as the fleet heads north, the temperatures, the light and the sea state. All elements that will slowly transform the familiar environment of sailors accustomed to the Atlantic.

Stepping Beyond the Familiar

If there is one aspect that particularly excites the sailor from Finistère, it is the idea of sailing without a real instruction manual.

“We’re heading somewhere we don’t know. The weather systems we’ll encounter, the way the race will unfold, the decisions we’ll have to make… everything is completely new.”

In a discipline where accumulated experience is often a major advantage, this adventure partly resets the balance. Everyone has their reference points, of course. But nobody has any real history to rely on.

“On a chart, it’s just a line of latitude. But for us, it represents a place we’ve never sailed through before, with completely new light and conditions.”

More than simply an out-and-back passage to the north, this course also demands a different way of thinking. Sailors must build their race looking ahead while already keeping an eye on the journey home.

“The whole thought process is very different from what we’re used to,” she observes.

This element of uncertainty does not worry her. Quite the opposite. She sees it as a rare opportunity to learn, to face new situations and to gain valuable experience.

“I think we’re going to discover a huge amount.”

A New Dimension in Solo Sailing

The race also marks an important milestone in the young skipper’s career. Until now, her longest solo experiences could almost be counted on one hand. This time, the challenge will be significantly greater.

“The longest I’ve raced alone was five or six days in a Figaro Beneteau. This time we’re setting off for around ten days.”

Beyond the sporting performance itself, this change of scale is as intriguing as it is motivating for the Breton sailor. For almost a week and a half, she will have to sail, analyse, repair, sleep, make decisions and keep moving forward alone, while dealing with conditions that could constantly evolve.

“I think we’re really going to experience everything. Some very difficult moments and some incredibly enjoyable ones.”

It is a prospect she embraces enthusiastically.

“I feel like it’s a race that will take us through all sorts of different emotions.”

As is often the case offshore, the adventure will be shaped as much by the magical moments as by the more demanding ones.

The Memories You Bring Back from Offshore

For several weeks now, Elodie Bonafous has been meticulously preparing for this challenge. Cold-weather clothing, safety procedures, onboard equipment and technical checks: nothing has been left to chance.

But when she imagines what she will remember from this experience, it is not the numbers or the rankings that first come to mind.

“I think that by the end it will be difficult to sum up everything we’ll have experienced because this race promises to be so rich,” she smiles.

Then she adds:

“We’re going to experience some incredible things. I can already feel it.”

What comes through most strongly in her words is the desire to see, to feel and to be surprised by whatever this voyage has in store for her. Like a trail disappearing beyond the next ridge: you know where you are going, but not yet what awaits you there.

“Even the less enjoyable moments will have their place in the adventure. At the time we probably won’t enjoy them quite as much. But with hindsight, they are often part of what gives depth to the experience.”

Of course, there will be high-level competition, decisive strategic choices and an intense sporting battle. But there will also be something more personal: the opportunity to discover what lies beyond that line drawn on a chart.

And when the fleet returns from the north, everyone will come back with a result. Elodie hopes to return with something more: new reference points, new images and fragments of experience that simply cannot be understood from shore.