Just a year ago, they crossed the Mediterranean Sea aboard the Belem, to accompany the Olympic flame in Marseille. They then knew nothing about life at sea. Manon and Yassine, two young sailors, come back to the impact that this adventure had on their lives.
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At 23, Manon Guariglia-Marseille found his way. She will be sea. She is currently in training to become a sailor, in Sables d’Olonne. And it is no coincidence, just a year ago, she was a scouting of the Olympic flame, aboard the famous ship Le Belem.
“It was the experience on the Belem that made me want to embark on this training. Being always in community and in cohesion, it encouraged me a lot“Explains the young woman.
Manon remembers the arrival in Corinth aboard Bélem, a “magical moment” she said. • © FTV
On board the Belem, Manon was at the helm. And yet, nothing intended this Varoise in the sea trades: “ I am not on the seaside, I have no family in the maritime. And even, I didn’t really like it, because in the south, it’s very touristy, there are too many people“. Today, she decided to make her her job:” It gathered me with the sea, now I love it !”
-And yet, this sailor formation is not a pleasure. Sometimes you have to carry heavy charges, know the maritime world, trade, rescue. Whatever, Manon is no longer afraid to throw himself in the water: “I have never been someone very physical, and today I am able to play sports, to make superhuman efforts, especially if I am well surrounded! I know today that I am capable of everything “she rejoices.
Team cohesion, mutual aid, surpassing oneself … values that it has discovered on the Belem, and which it finds today in her training.
Yassine Nassah is also “marked for life” by this crossing on the Belem. At 20, the young Marseillais admits that before this experience, he had “a little lazy“, In particular to carry out his studies in BTS of accounting.
Yassine Nassah aboard the Bélem in May 2024. It is the Olympic flame to Marseille. • © FTV
After 12 days at sea, to learn the basics of navigation, in calm weather as by storm, we can say that it is a new man: “Today, I finish my 2ᵉ year of BTS. It taught me that you shouldn’t give up. It gave me the strength to go to the end“Said the young person to here Provence.
A change, even in its relation to the other: “It taught me to go to people, to understand that we all have a different story, with trials, and that you have to be there for the other. It is important“.
In a few days, Yassine takes her lifeguard exam: “I trained all year round, I am already proud of myself“. When he thinks of May 8, 2024, we feel an emotion in his voice:” The arrival in Marseille, to see this crowd, it marked me for life!“
Manon and Yassine will return on the Belem this summer, for the Tall Ship Race. This is the race for large sailboats. At the start of Le Havre, they will find the great outdoors, and the cohesion of the crew which marked them so much. They will sail until Scotland, Norway and Denmark.
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