After more than three months of rest in Lima, adventurer Louis Margot is preparing to resume his human-powered world tour on November 12. His goal is to reach Indonesia by rowing, a challenge within the challenge that is expected to take nearly a year.

“I feel socially recharged and eager to get back to the sea,” stated the native of Morges during a press conference held on the eve of his next challenge: rowing across the Pacific Ocean. These few months of rest allowed the Vaudois to recharge, prepare for the journey ahead, and also reconnect with people, including his brother and cousin who visited him in September.

Sailing by sight

Louis aims to reach the Marquesas Islands (French Polynesia)—a journey expected to take over a hundred days—where he plans to stop for 1-2 months to wait out the end of cyclone season before “heading up” towards Indonesia. However, while this is the ideal route for the sailor, it is far from guaranteed, particularly due to winds that will blow northward during the first part of his crossing.

“I’ll have to fight against the wind,” says Louis, who is set to become the first Swiss to cross the Pacific by human power. The risks that the winds pose to his trajectory have compelled him to load his boat with over 250 days of food. “That should be enough to reach Vanuatu.” He adds, “If I can’t make it to the Marquesas, I’ll keep going and plan to stop at the first island that comes along my route.” This complex decision will be managed in coordination with his route planner.

“For now, I’m not telling myself I’m going to cross the Pacific, but rather that I’m going to live on my boat for six months,” shares the athlete from Morges, who is approaching the crossing with some apprehension. “The risk is that there will be problems beyond my control. I have to prepare for everything to avoid that, but I’m not immune,” he told La Côte. However, drawing on his experience on the Atlantic Ocean, the adventurer already knows what awaits him psychologically at the start of the journey. “Psychologically, it takes about two weeks to adjust to the sea and feel more or less okay, and about a month to get full nights of sleep.”

Total Disconnection

And he’ll need to find ways to stay occupied during the hundred days he’s about to spend alone on his boat. One thing is certain, though—he’s committed to disconnecting, at least for the first few months. “I’m going to turn off all my WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and I won’t reply to messages.” Only his team, of course, will receive updates from him. When asked if he’s worried about isolating himself too much from the world, he says it’s important to stay in his bubble. “I don’t want to start thinking about the events I might be missing at home.” This mental disconnection aims to help him focus on his journey—time will tell if it has a positive impact on his mental health.