📞🌊 Damien wasn’t expecting to hear THAT familiar voice on the phone!
Join this special public media interview between Damien Guillou and Jean-Luc Van Den Heede (VDH), with Damien speaking from sea during the Golden Globe Race 2026.
What follows is a warm, candid conversation about the realities of sailing alone around the world—with practical sailing talk, honest reflections and plenty of humour.
Damien describes the relentless upwind conditions, the swell coming straight at him and why he is looking forward to finally easing the sheets! He also explains his stop at Trindade Island, the work he carried out up the mast and why adding a third mainsail halyard gave him peace of mind.
In this conversation:
⛵ Sailing upwind into rough seas and waiting for a change.
🔧 Sail repairs, halyard chafe and his stop at Trindade.
💧 Managing food and water on a long solo voyage.
📚 Books and music that make life aboard more enjoyable.
🪁 Spinnakers, windvane steering and finding the right balance.
💙 Enjoying solitude while missing his wife and children.
Aida also joins with a question about loneliness—and Damien’s answer offers a revealing glimpse into how he feels about life alone aboard his boat.
Despite the challenging conditions, his message is reassuring: the boat is dry, he is keeping busy and life on board is good.
🎙️ Interview mainly in French, with English subtitles.
Could you enjoy the solitude of sailing alone around the world? Tell us in the comments! 👇
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