Au grès des voiles · video

What this video covers

Visitors to the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou tour the launch zones for Ariane 5, Soyuz, and Vega rockets, including the massive concrete flame trenches designed to deflect exhaust.2:44 The facility receives Soyuz components manufactured in Samara, Russia, which arrive by rail in Saint Petersburg before completing an 18-day sea transit to French Guiana.1:36 Following the space center tour, the crew visits a local equestrian center before sailing to Îlet la Mère.2:59 This island, a former 19th-century penal colony, currently hosts a population of Saimiri, or squirrel monkeys, originally introduced by the Institut Pasteur in 1981 for malaria research.19:09 The monkeys, now under the care of the Conservatoire du littoral, frequently approach visiting sailboats.19:49 The crew navigates the tidal constraints of the area, noting that vessels must time their departures from Îlet la Mère to avoid becoming grounded in the mud at low tide.24:35 The transit concludes with a return to the marina at Dégrad des Cannes to take on water.22:53

More from Au grès des voiles

Avec Manon au coeur de notre rêve PolynésienApr 2026Strawberries in sandponicsApr 2026Heading for Aquaponics, our adventure beginsFeb 2026After 3 Years at Sea, Our Adventure Isn't Stopping, It's Changing CourseJan 2026

From Au grès des voiles — see the channel’s boat, crew, and every analyzed video.

The Sailing Directory Newsletter

One email with the fleet's best finds — the moments, boats, and stories worth your watch time. Enter your own address to get your own copy.