Join the Pro Sailing Tour OCEAN FIFTY – with Antoine Auriol in the HYMER Free 540 Blue Evolution

Antoine took us to the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the waters off the French and Spanish coasts, where the six participating teams excelled in sport and raised awareness of the environmental and social causes to which they are committed. But he also shared his everyday life on land with us, between the individual stages, where he found the necessary rest and relaxation in his "little house", as he so beautifully calls his travel companion, the HYMER Free Blue Evolution.

Antoine faced the challenges that the race brought with it. But it was for a good cause and he experienced a tiring time with completely new experiences. He was grateful that after every regatta his HYMER Free 540 Blue Evolution was available to him as a support vehicle and retreat where he could regenerate and recover from the exertion.

Destination
Course of the Pro Sailing Tour – OCEAN FIFTY

Model

HYMER Free 540 Blue Evolution

Off to new adventures!

It's not the first time that Antoine has shared his adventures with us. A few months ago, he told us about his tour along the coast of the Iberian Peninsula with the HYMER Camper Van Free 540 Blue Evolution - looking for the best and most diverse spots for kite surfing, mountain biking, snowboarding, slacklining, etc.

This time the adventure was even more daring: he took part in a sailing regatta, held both inshore and offshore, entirely dedicated to the Ocean Fifty Class, exceptional multihulls over 15 meters long that shoot over the waves quickly, powerfully, and spectacularly. Throughout the competition, Antoine lived in his HYMER camper van to be as close to the action as possible while enjoying freedom, independence, and unrivalled comfort!

The HYMER Free 540 Blue Evolution allows me to be free and flexible, to remain independent from the rest of the team and still always be close to them.
World kitesurfing champion, TV presenter and lover of luxury brands Antoine Auriol

Antoine took us to the Atlantic and Mediterranean, the waters off the French and Spanish coasts, where the six participating teams excelled in sport and raised awareness of the environmental and social causes to which they are committed. But he also shared his everyday life on land with us, between the individual stages, where he found the necessary rest and relaxation in his "little house", as he so beautifully calls his travel companion, the HYMER Free Blue Evolution.

Back to basics - before day X

The first regatta started on the French Atlantic coast in Brest. Antoine decided to get there early, to stop whenever he felt like it and to live at the rhythm of nature. He also took the opportunity to drive through Saint-Brieuc to visit his family and his childhood home. A place he loves and is very close to his heart. An emotionally very intense moment for Antoine...

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He also took the opportunity to show his family the HYMER camper van, his faithful companion for the next two months. Antoine also took his parents for a ride which they thoroughly enjoyed! Check out this fun moment in his video documenting the beginning of his adventure.

Antoine arrived in Brest the day before the start of the race to enjoy every moment. He was lucky enough to park his campervan right in front of his friend and skipper Thibaut Vauchel-Camus' boat. He couldn't have wished for a better place for this, because he was right in the middle of the action and could take up his role as an on-board reporter straight away! Antoine was one of six reporters who were each allowed to accompany the races on board one of the boats. He spent a last restful night in his cosy nest before the first regatta started the next morning.

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We continue - towards La Rochelle

he first race was a 24-hour stage that involved an atypical and uncomfortable night aboard the speedboat. Sitting on the hard epoxy in the hull of the boat, Antoine longed for the comfort of the stern bed in his HYMER, which at the time seemed a long way off! He was happy to return to his comfortable campervan after the end of this first regatta.

With this he made his way to the second venue of the race, where a four-day stage awaited the participants: La Rochelle. Just a stone's throw away from the boats, he found a perfect parking space next to the Pro Sailing Tour office - with a view of the harbour and the boats lying there. Simply magical.

At the stage location, Antoine spent the time he wasn't on the boat in his campervan and enjoyed "his little life": eating, sleeping, showering, cooking ... and creating a welcoming atmosphere around his campervan. Crew members also dropped in frequently to have a drink, rest, or catch up on e-mails, without having to stray far from the trimaran. The HYMER base was a warm place everywhere, where everyone felt at home - regardless of whether they were working or not. Antoine is a big fan of this concept! It allowed him to be free and flexible, to remain independent from the rest of the team and still always be close to them.

Short break in Spain

Antoine said goodbye to his team temporarily and spent a few weeks in Spain - always accompanied by his faithful companion, the HYMER Free Blue Evolution.

It was also time for the rest of the team to take a break. This was used to produce a series of reports on the Pro Sailing Tour and the extraordinary human adventures that the race entails. Based on the videos made by the on-board reporters during the previous races, the documentary series "OCEAN FITFY" was created, which will be broadcast from the beginning of 2022 on the channels of the Canal+ Group (French television).

It starts again!

After this break, the competition resumed in the Canary Islands. Antoine took the HYMER Free 540 Blue Evolution on a ferry to meet his team there. "An incredible journey and a pretty cool experience," to quote him. Unfortunately, Antoine was not allowed to sleep in his campervan during the crossing and had to make do with a bed in a cabin on board.

Since he couldn't park near the boats when he arrived in Las Palmas de Grand Canaria, he looked for a parking space on a nearby side street, which was not a problem due to the compact dimensions of his vehicle. He calmly set up his temporary home before the third regatta started.

The regattas were physically very challenging, especially when Antoine was filming in windy conditions and heavy seas. Then he could hardly wait to have solid ground under his feet again, to retire to his "little HYMER", close the door behind him and prepare delicious pasta dishes or pancakes.

After this strenuous stage of the race, Antoine was delighted to have two Swiss friends join him on his road trip. In the campervan they explored the island, followed the waves, the wind and the elements and just let themselves be carried away. They spent the night in a different place every evening – quite spontaneously, where they felt comfortable.

Antoine was grateful for the practical campervan, which allowed the three of them to experience their adventures in comfort and convenience.

Travel instead of reading?

Get to know the HYMER Free Blue Evolution now and start your own adventure today.

The best comes last

The upcoming finale of the Pro Sailing Tour presented an exciting offshore race that was to start in Toulon and end in the port of Brest. Before that, Antoine said goodbye to his friends and to Gran Canaria and took the ferry back to Andalusia to set off from there to the starting point of the last stage. On the way he was met by a yogi friend who accompanied him on the way to Toulon. The HYMER Free 540 gave them the feeling of "being at home everywhere" and along the way they found numerous beautiful spots for their yoga sessions so that they arrived at their destination relaxed and rested.

Antoine enjoyed the flexibility and independence that traveling in a campervan brought. The demanding rhythm of the race, which exhausts and exhausts body and mind, was suddenly far away! At the HYMER, Antoine had the opportunity to recharge his batteries for the next assignment.

The gruelling finale lasted a week. Afterwards, exhausted, and relieved, Antoine returned to his Free Blue Evolution in Brest and enjoyed the comfort the vehicle offered him.

"The HYMER Free 540 Blue Evolution has perfectly fulfilled its role as an adventure companion, as a place of retreat, as a small nest for regeneration and relaxation". Antoine remembers it with longing, as if one of his teammates had left him.

"The boat stands for the fight against the elements, while the HYMER stands for harmony with nature, freedom, spontaneity, comfort. You could define the boat that way on paper, but in the race it's really tough, you have to fight your way through. I love both, but if I had to choose just one, I would choose the HYMER Free Blue Evolution!"

Do you not only want to look good when travelling, but also feel good and have fun?

With the HYMER Free Blue Evolution, discover a campervan that stands out with its strong design and is second to none. Whether you're snowboarding on snow-covered roads or surfing in southern Spain - the HYMER Free Blue Evolution has the best prerequisites for every adventure.

The perfect HYMER for any adventure

You can experience stories like these with any HYMER.
In our model overview you are guaranteed to find a motorhome or a camper van that also goes with your travel plans.

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