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.
In the Southern Ocean, the environment does not forgive approximation: precision is a matter of survival.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Patagonia Between Sky and Sea
Drone excerpt from a recent expedition — a visual reference for the Odyssey of AION film.
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.
Fragmented ice sea (phone capture, 2019).
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).