Claudie Haigneré "In space or on the water, we feel part of humanity."

Claudie Haigneré, you are this year's patron of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR Le Havre Normandie. Why did you sign up for this adventure?

Claudie Haigneré: You know, I was born in Burgundy, so I'm more land-bound than sea-bound. However, I've been lucky enough to visit a few ocean race starts, and each time, the excitement of these intense moments was shared by everyone who remained on shore, united in this magnificent adventure. What I first liked about the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR are these sailors, explorers looking for their limits, who push and surpass themselves. It's an individual or crewed story in a collective partnership, similar to our astronaut training. And we share this awareness of our connection to an environment beyond our normal: magnificent, fragile, sometimes hostile: nature, the planet and its oceans, space. And the third aspect that convinced me was the village that hosts the race. For a week, the educational activities, meetings, and conferences held in Le Havre will inspire understanding, questioning, and stimulating our capacity for curiosity and wonder to fully experience the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR.

As you mentioned, with the organization of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR, you both share a shared attachment to the planet. Does one have a different view of our environment and ecosystems from space?

CL: The view of Earth from orbit (whether the view of satellites or the eye of an astronaut) could be compared to that of a sensitive and vigilant guardian angel. We admire its beauty but also its fragility, its vulnerability through the window: there’s the thin protective layer of the atmosphere that allows life, sandstorms, cyclones, volcanic eruptions, and mega-fires. Of course, we circumnavigate the planet in 90 minutes, because we're traveling at 28,000 km/h, so we're going a little faster than sailors! But we have time to consider that our Earth is like a spaceship carrying our humanity on its journey through the solar system. We become aware of the planet's finite nature and all of our responsibility as the ‘crew’ of this ship to preserve it.  We have a magnificent planet: Earth. I was already aware of this on Earth and even more convinced in orbit. The point isn't to leave Planet A to find Planet B to settle on. We're not here to give up and flee, but to preserve this common good of our humanity and understand our exceptional luck to be here. I'm happy to see that this theme of environmental responsibility is being highlighted for the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR. It's important that awareness of our responsibility doesn't necessarily come through regulations or political speeches, but that it can also be a tangible experience for everyone. When we talk about it from space, when we talk about it from the sea, when we talk about it while bearing witness to the human adventure, with our emotions, our perspective, our words, I find we have a much greater impact.

We know you're a renowned astronaut and scientist. What projects are close to your heart today?

CL: I'm in "institutional" retirement, even though I don't have a very peaceful retirement! I like to share with the younger generation how essential science and technology are in life. Learning them teaches us the scientific approach, rigor, and excellence, and cultivates our critical thinking. That's why I work with the "La main à la pâte" Foundation, which supports teachers in their scientific and technological activities for young children. They will also be present at the village. I'm also very involved with the L'Oréal Foundation, helping young girls dare to explore scientific careers and choose their own lives. It's a role I gladly accept, having been the first woman in a somewhat masculine environment. Even though I'm not a militant feminist, I'm committed to ensuring that women are valued for their talent and expertise, and that they enrich our societies and businesses. And this is precisely what characterizes the two sailors of the Cap pour Elles project that I will be supporting.

Indeed, this year you are serving as both sponsor of the edition and the Cap pour Elles project. You were very active on the jury during the selection phase. How did that go?

CL: There were many applications, all very good. But we converged, almost unanimously, on Aina and Caroline because, beyond their qualities as sailors and engineers, they had a story to tell with passion and enthusiasm. They demonstrated their values, their commitment, and know how to tell it very well. I'm very sensitive to stories that can inspire us and connect with us.

What really struck me in their videos was their sincerity, their generosity, and their joy. You can feel that they truly enjoy themselves, even in difficult times. I find this passion even more inspiring than simply saying I'm going to push myself. They tick all the boxes and have that extra spark.

Now unfortunately Caroline has had to leave the project for personal reasons, and with Aina, they suggested Axelle Pillain. I sincerely hope that the chemistry Aina and Caroline had is reflected in this new duo, but I'm not worried. Axelle has all the qualities to make a wonderful team, and I wish Caroline the best of luck.

How will you help them?

CL: It's wonderful to be able to support this desire for the sea and ocean racing in an all-female crew. Even though they already have considerable expertise, they may not yet have all the skills that the more seasoned sailors have accumulated through their experience, and that we each want to share at our own level. And this isn't a project that can be accomplished at the snap of a finger. The preparation is long and varied. Embarking on a career as a sailor or astronaut is no small undertaking. It's a complete commitment; you're changing your life. There's a whole team that will support them to find the right connections, the right solutions, to bring partners together, to assist them with logistics, communication, and training, and of course to develop confidence, gain momentum, and be at their best on the starting line and throughout the race.

Does this new "position" make you want to sail, to cross the Atlantic?

CL: You know, in space, it takes 20 minutes. To cross the Atlantic, we go a little faster than the sailors! I've already sailed with Roland Jourdain, and I was Marc Guillemot's patron on Safran. For the moment, I don't want to embark on an offshore voyage, or at least a race. But I have mentioned the possibility, perhaps, of a return delivery since the boats won't be brought back on cargo ships.

And do you have a preference for this potential adventure?

CL: Aina and Axelle's boat, of course! But that's just an idea for now. Above all, I think it's an exceptional opportunity to experience such an adventure on the ocean. It gives us the ability to distance ourselves from our condition as individuals entangled in everyday problems. The "greater than oneself" gives us the opportunity to elevate ourselves and the opportunities to grow further, in responsibility and solidarity, in confident audacity, and undoubtedly also in wisdom. We become humble again in relation to this nature, this environment that surrounds us and a beyond the horizon that remains mysterious but attractive. Whether in space or on the water, we feel part of humanity.