A broken hydrogenerator, a torn sail, and now aching hands, this 7th week of the Vendée Globe has left its mark.
The skipper and her vessel seem to need a bit of rest during this festive period. With all the little issues onboard, Alexia Barrier cannot count the efforts she has gone to in trying to do her best. These efforts are now taking a toll on her body, especially with the onset of pain in her hands. The blame lies with a wetsuit that is evidently too tight around the wrists, leading to pain after 45 days of racing.
“My hands hurt a bit, so I’ve decided to take care of myself these days and the boat because it’s important. We have wetsuits with tight cuffs at the wrists, which constrain the passage of the tendons, and I think it’s like carpal tunnel syndrome. I’ve had this type of problem before, so I know I need to do stretching, massages, etc. But now, it’s been two days that I can’t open my hands when I wake up. So I took a small anti-inflammatory, and it’s better, massaging with Voltaren, and I’m avoiding pulling hard on sails that weigh twice my weight, and it will get better,” confided the sailor, seeking the right balance between preserving her vessel and her body.
“The balance between the elements, the boat, and oneself, at times, you have to focus a little more on the human aspect, and for me, it’s the moment to do it. Once I’m back in shape, I’ll be ready to attack again. But now, I need to take the time to heal these hands, just a matter of two days for the inflammation to pass. Hands are essential on a boat! I haven’t yet learned to trim the sails with my feet, but well…” joked Alexia Barrier, who hasn’t lost her spirits or sense of humor!
