The Kayak-Mer-Nature-Randonnées-Compétitions association, dedicated to the protection of the Coastline by organizing sporting challenges, completed an unprecedented crossing of the Mediterranean, between Carthage and Nice, by sailing kayak°, a journey of 914 km in 130 hours.
In a presentation article on August 25th, we asked Sophie Rizzetto the reasons for this challenge. Here is her response: “To launch a new sporting and educational challenge, laden with symbolism, that of the union of the peoples of the Mediterranean by linking two of its exceptional shores from Carthage to Nice, this maritime connection that came to life in Antiquity.”
The same Sophie Rizzetto, tired but happy, wanted to tell us about this achievement which we can define as extraordinary.
Here is the logbook:
“On August 25, 2012, at 8:00 am, the three members of the Traversée de l’Union 2012 team, Yannick, Christophe, and Sophie, leave the small marina of Sidi Bou Saïd (Tunisia) to reach the Port of Nice.
Each member of the team knows their role: Yannick is responsible, as the captain of the support boat, for defining the best route to follow according to the weather. Christophe and Sophie will take turns on the sailing kayak at a pace of three hours (modifiable according to fatigue and weather).
Sophie takes the first shift, the weather is good. The shifts succeed at a good pace, we cross a few dolphins.
A small tailwind arises, the speed increases, fortunately.
The first night arrives, everything is calm, a slight current pushes us… BUT the sea starts to rise, Sardinia is reached, on its Eastern side, we continue, then the sea rises, Christophe has been rowing for 1 hour and 30 minutes when Yannick decides to shelter us. We endure the tail of a depression for 6 hours.
Six hours later, we set off again from the previously marked GPS point and continue, rowing driven by a 2-knot current to the Straits of Bonifacio, which we pass painfully in the middle of the night.
Arriving in the south of Corsica, a gale is promised for our passage between Corsica and the Continent. Sophie decides to stop, Christophe gets upset, he won’t let go “until it’s impossible to row” he yells… in the face of such determination, Sophie continues…
Thank you Christophe… the gale came later… we passed… on August 30, 2012, at 4:30 PM, we enter the Port of Nice.”
We wish to thank the Association Femmes d’expression 06, who awaited us at the arrival, as well as all the Nice merchants who supported us throughout the year.”
