ESCP ALUMNI magazine - Special Issue 2022 - 28

Cover Story ❙ Travel Story
But it was summer, so the temperatures
ranged from -5°C to 5°C, which is not that
cold. The big deal was that there was ice
everywhere and I had to stay outside all
the time to avoid icebergs. The sea was
calm, very calm. Katabatic winds from the
fjords can be dangerous though; they can
rise suddenly. Sometimes you cannot even
forecast them, they are tricky.
Sailing the Arctic is a constant
uncertainty, isn't it?
It is. The fog speaks for itself. It is always
there. It is so thick you can hardly tell
the ice apart. The radars cannot spot the
growlers, i.e., icebergs that are less than
a meter big. But 80% of their surface is
immersed; it is really dangerous for the
boat. In this area, the old, inaccurate, and
even wrong maps are also a source of
uncertainty, as well as the big routes and
the other boats.
How does one handle it?
You must deal with it in this type of
expedition. Our plan was to prepare as
much as possible, do our best before we
left, and set ourselves limits. For instance,
we received updated maps every day
and we had decided not to sail when ice
concentration was above 3/10, i.e., when
more than 30% of the surface was covered
in ice. We had many thresholds of this kind,
just to make sure we did not go too far and
limited the damage because when you are
tired, you are not quite clear-headed. Such
uncertainty is hard to deal with, you must
try to keep it to a minimum.
Is it imponderable on a boat?
Sailing is uncertain, even when there is no
ice. Many elements can break on a boat,
there is always something to repair. Some
say there is one problem a day on a boat.
You must deal with unexpected events
every day.
What is the best way to handle
a damage, a difficulty, or an
unexpected situation?
The key is to be a team, to trust each other.
It is important when times are rough, and
you are exhausted. You can then take a
break and know you can count on your
partner to make decisions because he/she
is lucid and focused. Honestly, you just
deal with problems one after the other
on a boat, otherwise it is impossible. First
things first!
What have you learnt from sailing
that helps you in your professional
life?
Sailing is a lot like business. Not that I am
an experienced entrepreneur, but in a way,
starting the Northwest Passage project -
finding sponsors, finding a boat, etc. - was
like starting a business. An entrepreneur is
like a sailor; there are problems every day.
As a sailor, I have learnt to take them one
by one and leave expectations aside. When
a situation comes up, the next 24 hours
are the most important thing. Of course,
you need long-term planning, but it starts
with solving everyday problems and being
responsive. You should break problems
down bit by bit. That's what I have learnt
from sailing. This is my mindset every day.
28 ❙
ESCP Alumni Magazine Special issue ❙ 2022
ESCP ALUMNI magazine - Special Issue 2022

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