Tania: The draw of an ocean passage is hard for land-lubbers to relate to. You’ve sailed across the Atlantic three times, how would you describe the experience?

René: Firstly, you have that magnificent moment of casting off! It’s joined by the excitement of knowing your passage isn’t only for a day or two but likely three weeks before you’ll anchor or enter into port again. You hoist the sails, plotting your course over the Atlantic Ocean. Once you lose sight of land, the vast expanse of water instantly frees you from the rush and stress of everyday life. There’s the play of light on the broad periphery, cloud formations and squalls. Sunrises and sunsets are wondrous moments that are celebrated. You experience moods and emotions remain deeply rooted in you forever. Just imagine it: there’s no land in sight, 7000 metres of water under the keel and 3000 nautical miles front of the bow. It’s a truly awesome feeling!

What’s your advice to someone preparing for an Atlantic crossing?

Firstly, you need to possess the motivation and be physically and mentally healthy. Also prepare for a psychologically unique experience requiring you’re in unison with your crew, the wind, the waves and your boat. Prepare for the diversity of a day that covers 24 hours without the stress and pressure to perform within the realms of everyday life as you know it on land. Instead, all your senses will be challenged by the elements of wind, waves and the sound of movement through the water. The images you perceive only on the open sea are unique and life-changing.

Currently en route from La Rochelle to Gran Canaria, the crew have hit heavy weather, in south westerly winds of up to 50 knots, with gusts of 70 knots. You’ve been following the weather and their track over the last few days. Based on your experience, what are crew and boat going through and what are the consequences?

This last leg to Las Palmas is racy. They’re sailing very hard, close to wind. Over such a duration of 3 days, it drains your strength and takes a toll on nerves. Lorenzo is a fighter with sense, brains and brawn and he knows ‘after the rain comes the sun’. The stop in Las Palmas will certainly be valuable for recovery and it’s probably wiser to spend a day longer in port before continuing on the final leg to the Caribbean. It’s important that you truly have the drive and desire to sail away.

We’ve all heard about floating containers or potential collision with sleeping whales. What are the biggest dangers really for the second passage across the Atlantic from Las Palmas to Martinique?

There’s always a residual risk and knowing you both, I’m sure you’ve considered all aspects of your undertaking. However, the probability of collision with a container is extremely low, as your Atlantic passage is not on a Maritime shipping route. And for sure, you and Lorenzo have one drill drummed in deep on your mental hard disk: Always wear a life-vest and always clip on.

You were Lorenzo’s sailing instructor and coach, have guided and accompanied him through his various qualifications. Any advice from the sailing expert to his former ‘pupil’?

Let me put it this way, Lorenzo is one of the few people with whom I personally would cross the Antarctic! His incorruptible cheerfulness, broad knowledge, intellectually and technically, are the best foundations for your undertaking. And the very best is having YOU at his side. I’m convinced you’ll totally master any situation!