Following a pleasant Atlantic crossing, the Garcia teams taking part in the GLYWO 500 took advantage of a technical stopover at Le Marin (Martinique) to have their boats serviced and to enjoy an itinerary featuring social events and visits of the island. The fleet is now ready to cross the Caribbean, with their sights set on the next big stage of the rally: sailing through the Panama Canal and reaching the Pacific Ocean at the end of February.

A beautiful weather

It may seem surprising to hear of an east to west Atlantic crossing in the middle of winter, but this is the ideal time to sail to the West Indies from Europe. Once they have reached the intertropical zone, which in the North Atlantic starts around Cape Verde, low and high pressure systems give way to a more regular wind regime that provides rapid downwind sailing for the boat and very comfortable temperature and humidity conditions for the crew. What more could anyone ask for when it comes to a transatlantic sailing experience?

The boats, which arrived in mid-January at Le Marin marina, in Martinique, were given the welcome they deserved. Organisers took care of the mooring and carried out maintenance within the scope of this technical stopover, and the crews had the chance to take part in social activities that helped to bring this group of sailors closer together.

On the technical side, vigorous checks had to be carried out after several weeks at sea: running and standing rigging, electronics, engines, fluids, sail condition, nothing was left to chance for the Garcia sailing boats.

“The benefit of this technical stopover is that we know exactly what to expect”, said Vincent, head of Grand Large Services Manche; “all the boats needed a check, which is perfectly normal after a transatlantic crossing. We know on a case-by-case basis what spare parts to provide, and what maintenance to schedule. Two of us came specially from the Cherbourg shipyard: Yann, the carpenter, and myself, and this level of preparation really made our presence on Martinique worthwhile. And the owners were happy that we were there, demonstrated by the warm thanks we received and the little party that they threw for us when we left.”

In terms of hospitality, once they arrived, the teams were offered a welcome drink on board a floating restaurant at Le Marin. The following day, they visited Habitation Clément, a symbolic rum house situated in François, which provides an unparalleled introduction to Creole culture through its historic value and botanical richness. On Friday, everyone was invited to a picnic on the beach at Islet Chevalier, where friendly volleyball matches were organised. These interactive events – and there were many more besides – whether initiated by the organisers or the participants themselves, allowed competitors to get to know each other better.

“It was clear that the general atmosphere between all the participants was excellent”, added Vincent; “any uncertainties felt in Tenerife before the big crossing had completely disappeared. I’m talking about doubts that some people had about their ability as sailors to cope with several weeks at sea, as well as various doubts about the performance and reliability of their boats.” Any potential rifts – for example between monohulls and multihulls – have completely disappeared, and have made way for one big happy family, consisting of participants undertaking a memorable and, for many, unique voyage.

There is no doubt that not only the reassuring presence of the on-site teams from the shipyards, but also the level of commitment shown by members of the organisation, have contributed to this success. The briefing for the fourth leg to Panama confirmed that, when leaving the Atlantic to enter the unknown of the Pacific, one of the only remaining certainties was that of the ongoing support and camaraderie between members of this great collective adventure. The fleet’s departure, on 22 January between Le Marin and Sainte-Anne, corroborated this, but was also an occasion to appreciate the smooth sailing of the yachts off into the sunset. This just goes to show that camaraderie and happiness can go hand in hand with a touch of class!