We caught up with Swiss adventurer Etienne Messikommer before the Golden Globe Race #yachtracing

He paused preparations to give us a deck tour of his Tradewind 35, Bernard. ‘I see it as a triangle, boat-body-mind,’ he says of getting ready to sail around the world solo, nonstop, and unassisted. ‘With the boat, I’m getting the vessel ready with all the spares and tools that could be usable. Body-wise, I’m doing sport preparation like any athlete. Mind, I’m doing psychological therapy, as well as mind preparation with a coach.’ Etienne didn’t start sailing until he was 21, when an ‘astonishing’ outing on a catamaran started his ‘quest for more wind and bigger waves.’ That journey led him to shearing sheep in the mountains. Then he worked as a deckhand in the Southern Ocean, and later refitted and cruised on a 34ft steel yacht called SOUNDSGOOD. In 2021, he won the inaugural Globe 5.80 transat on a Mini he hand-built from scratch. And is now taking part in the GGR on special invitation. He named his Barney coloured GGR boat for Bernard Stamm and Bernard Moitessier, a major inspiration. ‘Moitessier named his boat Joshua in tribute to Joshua Slocum. He didn’t finish his voyage back to England, so let’s finish it. Let’s bring Bernard back around.’ You can follow Etienne’s progress in the YB Live Tracker and catch his regular livestreams on YouTube. Fair winds, Etienne! ---- Subscribe to Yachting Monthly's Youtube channel at: https://www.youtube.com/user/YachtingMonthly/videos Subscribe to the magazine at: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/subscriptions/yachting-monthly-subscriptions Read more sailing articles at: https://www.yachtingmonthly.com/ Like our Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/yachtingmonthlymag/ Follow us on Twitter at: https://twitter.com/yachtingmonthly Follow us on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/yachtingmonthlymag/