"I was attacked by pirates in the Caribbean" • The odyssey by GV

Wanderlix presents the Odyssey of Daniel, a family father who has sailed 17 years around the world, on board a boat built in his garden! A story marked by many anecdotes, including the attack of pirates in the Caribbean, one evening in 1996...

The beginning

It is this idea that pushes Daniel to undertake the construction of a boat at the bottom of his garden. By wanting to travel, first, but especially by wanting to discover new things. This adventure began in 1978.

So a technician for the Grenoble glaciology laboratory, Daniel performs a demanding job, marked by several months’ missions on the Kerguelen Islands and Antarctica. The purpose of these missions? Conduct various scientific measures (speed, accumulation, ablation...) that will characterize the climate and composition of our atmosphere over tens of thousands of years.

It is therefore at 35 years, after years working in this laboratory, that Daniel decides to change his life. We are in the late 1970s, the boat trips became a habit for him... This passion pushes him to build a boat from his own hands at the bottom of his garden!

A project that sees the day when the construction started in 1978. It will end 5 years later, in 1983, after long days working on the making of it (a steel boat, made from plans of Patrick Van God , famous Belgian browser missing at sea in 1977.

The desire to discover the Mediterranean brings it to sea for the first time with its boat in 1983. Daniel is then far from imagining the many adventures that await him a few years later...

The first navigations in the Mediterranean and Africa: click

Daniel began navigation very early – at age 14 – at the Bourget du Lac, so this world is familiar to him. He decided to survey the Mediterranean, alongside his partner Christine, to discover new cultures and horizons.

This trip will last seven years. The opportunity for him to discover many countries like Morocco , Tunisia , Turkey or the Greece .

These years of traveling with the wind awaken in Daniel a true passion. A passion that drives him to go further. Two choices are offered to him: sell his boat or prepare it so that he can sail in the high seas. We are in 1989, Daniel chooses the second option. Here he left for a year of work where he made numerous adjustments on his boat.

The great departure took place in 1990, when Daniel walked towards Guinea-Bissau. A country that marks it as there are a few months left to work on projects. He particularly appreciates the beauty of his national parks and discovers paradise islands, of rare beauty: the Bijagos Islands.

Located away from the world, these islands offer exceptional landscapes. They mainly enable him to observe a preserved nature, a treasure of Africa. It is not surprising if a few years later, these islands were recognized as the Biosphere Reserve by Unesco in 1996.

This journey, first, and that in the Gambia, where it will remain for 10 months, push Daniel to pass the Atlantic to discover the Caribbean. A new journey began for his companion and he in 1992 when they took the road towards Fernando de Noronha, an archipelago close to the Brazil . They left to face the Atlantic, where 3 weeks of high sea navigation await them to arrive on this beautiful archipelago.

It is the beginning of a dream, which takes place when they discover this small island, inhabited by less than 3,000 people. A reserve where they enjoy unsuspected and indescribable pleasures such as swimming with dolphins, every evening at the end of the day.

After a month on this island where time seems to be suspended, Daniel and Christine are obliged to return to the sea, the reserve status of the archipelago allowing them to stay only one month on site. They then multiply the journeys, sailing at the wind and stopping in exceptional places like the Bay of Salvador de Bahia, “a magical place” according to Daniel’s words.

The Caribbean and the attack of pirates

After a few visits to the most beautiful islands of the region (including the Martinique , Guadeloupe or even Barbados), the journey extends when Daniel – who works in Saint-Martin during this period – is contacted by Didier, a French resident also on the island. The latter is then looking for a construction project leader for the construction of 49 pavilions. Daniel accepts the post, it is the beginning of a beautiful and long adventure in the Caribbean!

Ten years in which Daniel alternates between work for 6 months on the island of Saint-Martin and travels the other 6 months of the year. In particular, it benefits from discovering all the islands of the Caribbean and its surroundings. Tourtuga Island Venezuela the mark especially.

A desert island, not inhabited, where they meet with friends to spend a few weeks there. These moments shared in the middle of the Caribbean Sea are one of Daniel’s best memories. Hunting, lobster fishing, and relaxing on paradise beaches become its daily life... dream!

Yet, this dream almost shifted to the nightmare one night in November 1996... While Daniel and Christine go to Recife in Brazil to find a friend, their boat will undergo an unexpected event!

At the heart of a peaceful day where a sense of serenity and tranquility reigns, the wind is the great absence of the day. They take advantage of it to spend the afternoon reading out to the sun.

But while the day follows its course, Daniel sees in the distance the silhouette of a boat, which seems to be that of a fisherman. Having used to cross other boats, there is nothing to suggest at the moment, any incident.

But Daniel has a bad feeling. The fishing boat follows exactly the same direction as its own, which never happens in the high seas. Surprised by the turn of events, he decides to change his edge to avoid what seems to be a haven.

But nothing is done there, this boat continues tirelessly to get closer to Daniel and Christine. A scream then settles, and dives them a few months before, when one of their friends had been attacked by pirates. An attack without consequences because they had taken everything from him, leaving behind them a simple can of can...

At nightfall, Daniel decided to slow down the cruising rhythm, seeing that this boat was well decided to join them. As he approaches, he sees 5 men with a disconcerting tranquility... And surprisingly! They're pirates, and they seem determined to steal the boat!

Seeing these individuals seize their ropes, a deep concern then arises in the spirit of our 2 travelers. In a spirit of courage, Daniel decides to try everything for him while going to look for a lead carbine, which is not even loaded.

Neither one nor two, Daniel points his weapon in the direction of the pirates, before they walk on the boat, showing them that he will not be allowed to do it. Far from being confident, he tries this totally crazy poker shot. He knows at the bottom of him that this deterrent weapon is not loaded... And, as surprising as it may seem, these improvised pirate fishermen seem to be panicked and decide to repel the path. Maybe it was the night that troubled them? Or Daniel's insurance? Actually, we'll never know.

If some will evoke the chance, others will greet the courage of a man, who by reflex and pure bluff managed to deter these pirates, and get out of a situation that could have turned to drama.

The desire to continue despite the risks

Quickly fear leaves room for joy. The one that came out of such a situation, first, but above all the impression of having a good star.

What would have happened if these men were armed? If it were not just amateurs? Daniel and Christine ask a lot of questions, but one thing is sure: their journey will not stop there!

First because they were aware of the risks before leaving, but also “because the loop was not yet closed” according to Daniel’s words. When you cross so many countries, the zero risk does not exist. But is this not the price to be paid to live such an exceptional adventure?

Their journey thus continues in the Caribbean, with the feeling of avoiding the worst and the best is to come. 4 years then, 4 years to enjoy an extraordinary destiny, 4 years filled with happiness and discoveries! Notably Venezuela, Daniel particularly appreciates the diversity of his landscapes.

Between the mountains, including the famous Pico Bolívar at 4,978 meters above sea level, the heavenly islands and the Venezuelan coast... The beauty of this country remains engraved forever in the memory of our 2 adventurers. It may even be their most beautiful souvenir of travel!

After several years of navigation, the loop appears to be closed at the beginning of 2000. It is time for Daniel and Christine to return to France, tired by this train of life, but filled by these 17 years spent at sea. The two adventurers return to the country to find their children, families and relatives.