The Captain

Sailing solo to the ice. Observe. Transmit.

Captain 500 UMS (STCW), I have been sailing for over 25 years in southern latitudes (Patagonia, Antarctica). Down there, method matters more than momentum: anticipate, simplify, endure.

Odyssey of AION combines three requirements: committed solo navigation, useful data collection (weather, ocean, ice, acoustics), and authentic imagery — without artifice or staging.

Experience25+ years in the South
Distance80,000+ miles
Drake5 crossings
Certification500 UMS • STCW
“To explore is to remain humble.”
In the Southern Ocean, the environment does not forgive approximation: precision is a matter of survival.
Professional Background

A background forged by the sea — and proven in the field

Trained in marine biology, I quickly shifted to professional navigation: captain’s license (200 then 500 UMS), STCW certifications, command, crew management, and safety. The South then imposed its rules: cold, humidity, isolation, short weather windows — and the need for a methodical approach.

A defining period: a 25-metre aluminium sailing vessel made available to me, followed by regular scientific convoys to southern regions. That’s where I reconnected with observation: continuity, rigour, patience. My repeated stays in Antarctica and Patagonia enabled me to develop field expertise on orcas (ecotypes, hunting strategies, behaviours).

In 2019, the sale of the vessel triggered the construction of ARION: aluminium, lifting keel, retractable in the bulb, autonomy and discretion. Inspired by the proven Oxygène 46 plans (Joubert/Nivelt, with permission), it was adapted to the demands of the far South. Over 80,000 miles sailed and five Drake crossings consolidated this trajectory.

Odyssey of AION is its culmination: a mobile platform to rigorously document — and share — rare data at the heart of a rapidly changing ecosystem.

  • Foundations
    Marine biology (observation methods)
    Captain licenses 200/500 UMS • STCW
  • Command
    Professional skipper (yachts, offshore)
    Crew management, safety, demanding navigation
  • The South
    Scientific convoys in southern regions
    Extended observations, field orca expertise
  • ARION / AION
    Aluminium construction for extreme autonomy
    Solo expedition toward the Ross Sea
Operational Skills

The extreme allows no mistakes: redundancy, simplicity, anticipation

In cold zones, everything hinges on reliability: what cannot break must be simple; what can break must be repairable alone. The goal is clear: keep going.

Navigation & Decision-Making

  • Weather routing and opportunistic windows.
  • Austere coastal navigation: anchorages, confined waters.
  • Long-duration solo sailing: routines, fatigue, clarity.
  • Risk management: ice, squalls, reduced visibility.

Technical & Onboard Autonomy

  • Multi-source energy, redundancy on vital functions.
  • Thermal & humidity protection: human and electronics.
  • At-sea diagnosis and repair, without workshop.
  • Aluminium/rigging maintenance: preventive and corrective.
Visual Narrative

The Documentary Film

Odyssey of AION tells a complete journey: Patagonia, Drake Passage, then immersion in ice. The film highlights raw reality: slowness, weather, solitary decisions, technical constraints — without artifice. Filming is designed for safety and endurance (cold, salt, shocks), with discipline and reliable backups. Planned distribution: festivals, screenings, post-expedition media.

Learn MoreSupport the Film
Scientific Contribution

A discreet presence — time-series data that large ships cannot provide

A light sailboat allows long stays in the same area, year-after-year returns, and continuous observations. Value lies in repetition, traceability, and sharing.

Advantages of the Sailboat

  • Fine mobility and adaptation to local conditions.
  • Long-duration presence in areas of scientific interest.
  • Complementarity with institutional campaigns.
  • Low environmental impact.

Data & Transmission

  • Time-stamped / geolocated measurements (weather, ocean, ice, acoustics).
  • Logbook + reference images.
  • Sharing via Data Hub for collaborations.

Study of Antarctic Orcas

Orcas are a central focus. ARION’s discretion and mobility allow multi-day stays near a group, documenting rare sequences and collecting useful acoustic and visual data.

Antarctic orcas using wave-wash technique to hunt a seal
Photo-identification, hydrophones, behavioural tracking: every encounter becomes a scientific opportunity.
Discover the Orca Program
Data Hub Access Propose a Collaboration Become a Partner The Film
The Call of the South

Where everything comes down to deciding rightly

Southern seas strip away the superfluous. What remains is a simple mechanism: read the sky, hold the sea, preserve energy, observe and transmit.

“The Impasse” designates the ultimate goal: reaching, via the Antarctic Peninsula, the southernmost latitude ever recorded by a sailboat on this route. An impenetrable ice pack will then mark the maritime limit — the fulfilment of the odyssey.

What I Wish to Transmit

  • The cold violence of wind and sea at high latitude.
  • The austere beauty of ice and extreme light.
  • The solitary daily life: preparation, decision, execution.
  • The value of data collected as close as possible to reality.
Discover The Impasse
Overview

Patagonia Between Sky and Sea

Drone excerpt from a recent expedition — a visual reference for the Odyssey of AION film.

Aerial view of Patagonian channels: scale, relief, weather — the visual grammar of the project.
Personal Archives

Field Evidence (2019) — raw, unfiltered

Two raw phone captures in real conditions. They do not seek the “perfect shot”: they show wind, sea, ice — and what the expedition entails.

Exit from Deception Island
Fragmented ice sea (phone capture, 2019).
Drake Passage
Heavy wind and rough seas (phone capture, 2019).

Join the Odyssey of AION

Technical, scientific, or media partners: every collaboration strengthens the expedition’s robustness and the reach of its story (images + data + field).

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