Louis Robein, the skipper of the stars and the breath of the sea

Louis Robein © Louis Robein

Louis Robein © Louis Robein

Two eyes as blue as the sea and looking into the distance, so far that they dream of sailing around the world solo. A big and generous heart that wants to share his passion for the sea and show the stars to others, even to those who have never seen them or can no longer see them due to a visual impairment.

Louis Robein, a French sailor approaching his seventies, had to earn the right to sail. Born in Moselle, a town home to coal mines in northeastern France, on the border between Germany and Luxembourg, he developed a passion for sailing late, around the age of 18, but then never stopped.

At 24 years old, when he started working, he began to consistently engage in sailing. In 1994, as an amateur, he took part in his first Solitaire du Figaro, one of the toughest and most demanding races in the solo racing circuit in France. Louis ended up participating in eight editions of the Solitaire.

"At the first edition I took part in, I discovered the thrill of competition because I was not used to racing, let alone solo. I came from recreational sailing, so from a safety point of view, I was very prepared but not competitive at all. My goal was to see what I was truly capable of doing. I was very well received by the organisation and then by the professionals, who encouraged me to persevere.

There were some very tough stages—the stages in the Solitaire du Figaro average between three and six days of solo sailing—with storms and difficult weather and navigation conditions. Why did I do so many? I became the mascot of the pro circuit. I liked that environment where there is a strong team spirit and everyone helps one another on land."

In 1999-2000, Louis skipped the Solitaire du Figaro to participate in the Transquadra Solo, a solo Atlantic crossing. It was a beautiful test to start the millennium in style, but it was not easy for the skippers. "In the winter of 1999, there were a series of three storms that hit Europe, causing severe damage. Sailing between these depressions on my small Figaro, I was at my limit. It was perhaps one of the most complex moments I experienced while sailing."

After 2002, the organisation changed the boat model for the Solitaire du Figaro, and Louis left the class but continued to sail, mostly cruising.

In 2020, while following the skippers of the Vendée Globe, Louis discovers the launch of the Global Solo Challenge (GSC). He felt that this event might be just right for him, as he had been dreaming of sailing around the world with a crew and in stages for years, but it is not easy to form a group to do so. "I immediately thought that with my preparation, I could do it. When I talked to people who know me, they immediately said that I would be capable of it. So I told myself, this is a great project, and I will do everything possible to make it happen."

In addition, his boat, an X-37 that Louis has owned since 2010, meets the entry criteria set out by the regulations. He signed up and began preparing his project, which is completely self-financed, with great sacrifices.

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