Bernard Moitessier, the legend, is undoubtedly one of the icons of French sailing culture and his book, “La Longue Route” a classic read for anyone remotely interested in sailing, solo sailing and the perception of nature, distance and philosophy. Moitessier´s quitting of the famous Golde Globe Race 1968/69 is among the coolest cliffhangers ever – even outside the sailing world. I´ve devoured his book, of course, and it still has a very special place both in my heart and on my shelf.
Since 2018 a solo-sailing event bears the name “La Longue Route”. It´s a single-handed circumnavigation solo sailing regatta, started in a few days mid-August. Certainly much smaller in size and, let´s say, marketing professionalism, the Longe Route gets not so much attention as other events, but it is certainly worth talking about. I am lucky, because an old acquaintance of me, Polish-French yachtmaster Frederic Switala, turns out to be on the list of the contenders for this year´s Long Route – I´ve talked with him about his motivations and aims.
Talking to Longue Route 2024 participant Frederic Switala
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Frederic, just quickly, introduce yourself: Sailor since? Your profession?”
Frederic Switala: “Hi Lars. So cool to have you contacting me, after such a long time! And thanks for being interested in my story! Well, I am sailing since the Eighties, I´d say. Having been taken out into the North Sea by my Uncle, who used to work for Wauquiez Yachts at that time, I just loved it. Since then I tried to spend as much time on the water as I could. I quickly attended sailing school in Marseille and just two years after being introduced into sailing we did our first big family sailing trip, which was a crossing over to Corsica. Right now I am manager for META Yachts, a shipyard in Port Saint Louis du Rhone where we are specialized in building, repairing and maintaining aluminium yachts.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Still in Port Saint Louis, where we met the first time, right? So, Frederic, tell me, when and how did you get to know about “La Longue Route” and what made you decide to inscribe for this race?”
Frederic Switala: “It was back in 2018 during the last edition of La Longue Route. I was so thrilled and followed all of the participants for the duration of the race. Fantastic! Somehow a desire grew within me to do the same. To have a circumnavigation by my own but to also participate in this race. So, consequently, I bought a used aluminium yacht and started to work on the refit for that boat. My initial plans got a bit stirred up. After my last Atlantic crossing on the Cigale 16 in 2020, you know, Covid came and the “Global Solo Challenge” announced their edition for 2023. So I tried to be ready for this one. You know what refitting a yacht really means … and so I had to skip this as well to go for La Longue Route in 2024. Which is cool for me: In this I can have my start right here in Port aint Louis du Rhone at my doorstep, if you will. Nice!”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Did you read Moitessier´s book? What comes into your mind when you think of it – or of his name?”
Frederic Switala: “Come on, Lars, I grew up in a sailing family here in France, so Moitessier, Tabarly and Antoine´s books were among my beloved literature when I was a kid. To read about the freedom, the feeling onboard, the storms, the calms … it blew me away and took me into a world I still very much appreciate.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “There is another race, the Golden Globe or GGR – why didn´t you consider inscribing for this event in the first place? Where are the big differences between GGR and La Longue Route?”
Frederic Switala: “You see, The GGR is a huge event. It has so many restrictions and rules, it is so big, that it comes with a lot of work and concessions. Many of which I for many reasons do not accept. For example, you know, we live in 2024, right? So I´d say that technological achievements like an auto pilot, modern – and safe! – GPS-navigation or the latest technology in sails-garments are things I wouldn´t trade for participating at an event. I´d on the contrary say that most of these are essential for a fast and overall safe sailing journey, so why skip them? After so many years of sailing I also know that most aspects of a boat´s safety and sailing comfort (more so: Seakindness) are directly proportional to the length of a boat. I have nothing but the full respect for people like Pierre-André Huglo on his Contessa 32 but for me personally, this does not really look like a safe and comfortable navigation.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Do you have any solo-sailing experience prior to this event? How do you prepare yourself to endure a solo circumnavigation?”
Frederic Switala: “Yes, of course. I wouldn´t start a project like this out of the blue. I did my first solo Atlantic crossing back the year 2010, some solo practice in wintertime and racing of course. My dream to sail around the world comes true now with MAN OF WAR, as I christened my yacht. Right now, rather than practicing, I focus on acquiring the essential equipment for this kind of trip – which, as usual, is a really tough task when budgets are restricted.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “… and I know for sure that the waters around Port Saint Louis can be really, really tough!”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Anyway, Frederic, please tell me more about the boat you are going to use for this race? What kind of yacht is it and which special things did you change/add/take away to do the race?”
Frederic Switala: “I am sailing a 44 footer built in 1985 in Australia. She is a German Frers design. Just to give you an impression of her capabilities, she came in at Sydney-Hobart race of 1986 under her first name CONTRACTOR as 9th place in real time. Not too bad, right? Under International Offshore Rules she became a race boat based in New Zealand. There being re-fitted as a 48-footer, she 1992 received her new name which I keep: MAN OF WAR. She came to Europe and had another refit in 2007 from a shipyard in Spain. I bought her back in 2019 to modify her interior and make her solo-sailing ready.”
Frederic Switala: “My efforts are various. For example, I fitted a much lighter crash box in the bow and installed two watertight bulkheads. Another nice detail is a central, aluminium-made storage area in the saloon for boxes, a new table that also functions as a safety grab. I´ve also re-done the running rigging and overall sailing layout up on deck: A new central position for the winches, completely new rigging with staysail, babystay and backstay in Dyneema for example. A new stronger bow sprit to attach the asy spis … so much done already and still some details to do before I start in 14 days.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Tell me a bit more about your food: Dried high-tech high-energy astronaut´s food or the classic way with cans?”
Frederic Switala: Laughs “Well, Lars, unfortunately I am not a very talented chef myself … As I plan with a circumnavigation lasting between five and six months, I´ve stocked up 180 dried food rations, a number I am going to double up until the day of the start. I try the food, it´s okay and the taste gets better by the day. Fresh provisions won´t last longer than 15 days I guess, then it will be for the astronaut´s stuff. There are also some uncommon things, for example, I´ve discovered really tasty dried eggs from a German brand, also Spirulina is not bad I guess. I have also the standards, like Pasta, rice, cereals, chocolate and nuts. Lots of it. Thanks to the valuable advice from Jean-Luc van den Heede who is a very valuable source for hints. I also have the Power Survivor 35 to make fresh water out of the salt water, and being a Frenchman myself, of course, some bottles of a good red wine and Champagne for the Atlantic crossing, the passages of the big capes and the Christmas eve of course.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Fast forward a few weeks, you are racing. Envisioning yourself in this, what do you think will be the most beautiful part of the race? To what or which things are you especially looking forward to?”
Frederic Switala: “To be honest, the one thing I am looking absolutely most forward to is the sensation of my boat sailing fast and smooth in the Southern Ocean. I also think that maybe in memory of Monsieur Moitessier, the enjoyment of myself whilst sailing will be something totally new and beautiful. You know, when I do sailboat races, I never really enjoy it – like, battering the boat, sailing under stress and so aggressive. Also, seeing the boat suffering in the elements. So, a bit, or maybe much, of traquility is the thing I look forward to the most. And, thinking about it a bit, I think that passing the Cape Horn will be a special occasion for sure. I know there is going to be a lot of wind, but that´s better anyway since I literally hate calms …”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Vice versa: Are there any things you are maybe afraid of or stand in awe?”
Frederic Switala: “I don’t think that I have fears in this sense. The thing that really makes my gears grind is the uncertainty if I can make it to the Indian Ocean in good shape. Staying up, awake, aware and alert all the time, day after day … so for me, reaching the Indian Ocean will be a crucial point for sure.”
Lars Reisberg | NO FRILLS SAILING.com: “Official start time window from Lorient will open at August, 11th – when do you think will you set sail?”
Frederic Switala: “I have a deal with the organizer, concerning this. I am allowed to start from Port Saint Louis du Rhone, not from Lorient. As my boat has a faster average speed potential, I will have my start window something around mid September, which gives me roughly one month more time to prepare and organize everything in my job at home. Also, if I´d start mid and all works well, I would be arriving too early at the Cape of Good Hope for the sailing season … and we don´t want to do that.”
Thanks Frederic for this insight, I wish you an MAN OF WAR all the best, safe passage, fair winds and may you have the trip of your life, my friend!
You may also read these related articles:
Preparing for the Golden Globe Race: A dash out with Andrea Lodolo
A Voyage for Madmen – reading the one and only book about the Golden Globe Race 1968/69
Interviewing Sir Robin Knox-Johnston, winner of the GGR 1986/69