a Martinican team linked England
A team from Martiniquais crossed the Channel in a round skiff on Tuesday June 14 for the first time in history. The twenty couriers made the crossing between Dover in England and Calais in Hauts-de-France in 3h27. A historic feat in optimal sailing conditions.
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This is a big first. The first time that such a crossing has been imagined, attempted and successful aboard the traditional Martinican boat, classified as an intangible cultural heritage by Unesco. The skiff GFA Caribbean was launched in Dover a little after 3 p.m. (French time) on Tuesday June 14, 2022, and the Martinican couriers landed on Sangatte beach in Calais at 6:26 p.m. About twenty crew members took turns aboard the skiff GSA Caribbean to cover the forty kilometers that separate France from England at this precise point in the Channel.
The start was given in Dover under a bright sun. There wasn’t a lot of wind on Monday, around 18 to 19 knots. “It’s not too strong, it’s good, the guys can sail quietly”assures Hubert Noreskal, president of the Bwa Viré association, which has been preparing for the event for about six months. In the 10m50 skiff equipped with a 50m² sail: between 14 and 18 crew members. Relays were made possible thanks to the follower boats which accompanied the boat throughout its journey.
The Martiniquais started a little after 3 p.m. (French time).
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The team was made up of seasoned yogurts, as well as students from the Croix-Rivail vocational high school. Arrived straight from Martinique, they were able to train on a lake on Sunday, before heading to Calais on Monday. There, they tested the skiff in the waters of the English Channel, a few hours before starting this historic challenge.
look here departure of the crossing:
Find here the pictures of the arrival :
To be able to attempt this unique challenge, it took a lot of discussion. Regulations in UK waters are drastic. After a few meetings and twists and turns, Christophe Dédé, PE teacher behind the challenge, finally obtained permission to cross the Channel from Dover to Calais in one go. Members of the Calais yacht club were present alongside the Martiniquais. They guided the team, gave instructions as to the direction to take.
Tuesday morning, it was necessary to reach England from where the departure was planned. Some team members took the ferry from Calais, others boarded inflatable boats. One of the boats was rerouted by the authorities because of a migrant boat spotted on the way. The start, which was to be given at midday, finally took place a little before 3:30 p.m. (French time). To cross the channel, the French authorities asked the organizers to tie up the skiff so that it could be handled by a speedboat.
The “cross-Channel” challenge has been brilliantly taken up. But the skiff adventure GFA Caribbean does not stop this Tuesday evening for all that. On Wednesday, 60 to 70 children will be able to discover the legendary Martinican boat in the Calais basin.