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"The greatest failure is not having the courage to dare." Dominique echoes this quote from Abbé Pierre to convey his feelings about the abrupt halt to this journey he had been preparing for three years now. After going through feelings of sadness and disappointment, our adventurer admits that he is proud to have embarked on the dream of rowing across the Atlantic. He confides:"I could have lived with my dream, not shared it, and probably regretted not taking the plunge. I chose to test my limits, to share values of self-overcoming, to raise awareness about ocean pollution and marine...

The big departure is approaching, and Dominique has never been closer to his goal than he is now. The last few days have been marked by travel and the final preparation of the boat with the technical team. Dominique shares his feelings about the recent arrangements: "On Tuesday, December 26, the boat preparation phase came to an end. The final modifications were made until evening. Before that, I was able to complete the administrative part for customs. This concluded a very busy December with a lot to think about and prepare, but with the help of my wife, children, and friends, all the...

In this festive season, we continue our series of articles leading up to Dominique's imminent departure. But what equipment will he use for the crossing? Firstly, Dominique has a boat weighing 1 ton and measuring 8m in length. It is on this vessel that he will spend between 50 and 100 days at sea. His sleeping space is very limited, a narrow closed corridor of 90cm wide. He doesn't have a specific sleep strategy and will try to take short naps when the weather allows. In the event of a capsize, he has an inflatable balloon that effortlessly rights the boat. Regarding food, Dominique will...

Dominique has been preparing for his departure for over a year. Even though he will be physically alone on the D-day, such a project is a team effort. A total of 6 individuals have been surrounding him every day since the launch, not to mention the unwavering moral support from his family and friends. Here's a brief introduction to these individuals: Laurence (sophrologist and hypnotherapist), a person as athletic as Dominique, assisting him in his mental preparation (stress management, sleep, emotions, etc.) through yoga, hypnosis, sophrology, relaxation, and meditation classes. Xavier, the...

The ocean represents 70% of the Earth’s surface and allows all of us to live : it absorbs 90% of the heat generated  by C02 emissions.  However, not many people are actively protecting this essential element for human survival. This is why Dominique has chosen to combine preventive measures with a sport achievement : he aims to raise awareness about the impact individuals, particularly future generations, have on the environment. © Les dessins de Manu According to the French government, “marine debris affects marine biodiversity and has repercussions on offshore  and onshore...

The last week-end of November had a taste of sharing for Dominique. Indeed, he had the opportunity to do a little sea trip with Emmanuelle. She is also preparing a great adventure. At the end of 2024, she will attempt to break the record for rowing across the Atlantic as part of a mixed pair. Her journey “ReVenge” is bound to be an intriguing one to follow. Additionally, it was a chance for Dominique to test his oars before his own crossing, which is set to begin in just a little over a month…

This rowing across the Atlantic ocean isn’t just about sport. Indeed, Dominique is currently intervening in 8 schools of “Montfort Communauté” in Brittany to discuss ocean pollution. Educational kits have been created by some teachers from the school of Talensac (where Dominique comes from) for different levels of classes.  You can find those kits in the “Educational project” tab or through this following link : https://expeditionprotectocean.fr/en/educational-kit/ This content is public and can be followed only by willing schools. Dominique proposes to meet the students before his...

Security Team 2 outings to Aber Wrac'h. The Safety Team once again controls all the elements of the boat to leave with greater control and to be able to concentrate more on the navigation part while avoiding technical hazards. Turnaround tests, technical improvements, electronic equipment tests, navigation tests, everything goes. During these two weekends, the family gets involved and everyone does their part to make their contribution. All this support gives me incredible energy. Everyone believes in the project and does everything to ensure that the starting conditions are optimal. Thank...

The adventure enters a very concrete phase: outing with the boat of the crossing, first nights on board (2 hours then 4 hours of sleep! hard to get used to the continuous movement of the water). Important observation: it will be necessary to test several types of mattresses to find an optimal solution (weight/comfort ratio) because sleep will be essential during the crossing. We also take the opportunity to do boat turning tests (with me in the boat and then outside) as well as man-overboard tests. 48 intense hours to get acquainted with Atlantelia*, the boat. 48 hours that didn't discourage...

Early 2000s: I got in touch with Gérard d'Aboville, whom I simply called at his home and who arranged to meet me at the Paris Boat Show. I also contacted Patrick Lihurt, who had just made the crossing in 2000. In 1980, Gérard d'Aboville became the first French navigator to row solo across the Atlantic Ocean in a west-east direction3. Departing from Cape Cod in the United States on 10 July, she arrived in Brest on 21 September, 71 days and 23 hours later, after rowing 5,200 km. His boat, the Captain Cook, is 5.60 metres long. Patrick Lihurt rowed across the Atlantic (east-west direction) in...