Meet
Pierre!
After a year of preparation, 42 days at sea, and a million strokes of the oar, this modern-day adventurer achieved his dream: crossing the Atlantic, from Dakar to Cayenne, powered solely
by his arms.
“I believe in adventure — for the unknown it brings.”
What has framed your own trail?
Before I crossed the Atlantic, I had my share of adventures working for various companies.
My greatest adventures were always at small companies, where success hinges on trust, team alignment and agility. As a tiny mosquito up against corporate giants, you have to be quick, strike when the time is right, and withdraw gracefully. My passion lies in building and developing projects, nurturing them and watching them start to grow. Taking risks is a lonely road at the start. But once something takes off, a swarm of opportunists arrives to tell you how it should be done. That’s when I bow out — as elegantly as possible.
What do you believe in?
I believe in adventure — for the unknown it brings and how it connects us to the awe-inspiring beauty of nature.
Conversely, what’s the belief you’ve totally ditched?
I thought I could battle the sea’s might, but I learned that resistance is futile. The sea is one of the last great spaces of total freedom left, but when you’re out there, you feel like you’re trapped in a washing machine that won’t stop spinning. If you fight the elements, they’ll show you what you really are: nothing. The key is to shift your perspective and become one with the forces around you. Your survival depends on taking care of yourself. Your body and mind need to be protected — pampered, even. Sometimes, the smallest comforts keep you afloat: drinking your coffee while it’s hot, three drops of essential oils in the cockpit, or the feel of fresh sheets.
“If you want to do something, it’s all on you.”
How did the idea of crossing the Atlantic come about?
At a boat show in 2011, I met a man in his fifties who showed me the tiny boat he had rowed solo across the Atlantic — no stops, no assistance. I always thought these extreme adventures were for madmen or giants, but he was neither. He simply said, “If you want to do something, it’s all on you.” That struck a nerve. Two weeks later, I called him back and told him I had decided to do the crossing — on his boat! I didn’t have the cash to buy it, I hated water, and I knew nothing about navigation, but I was determined.
What does it take to succeed in such an adventure?
The Three Ps: People, Preparation, and Plan. First, the people — your “precious ones”.
These are the supporters, experts and confidants you bring on board. Without their trust and expertise, you’re nothing. Second, preparation: it’s about rigor, attention to detail, repetition and organization, everything it takes to build confidence and anticipate the unexpected — even though nothing ever goes as planned. Finally, your plan: keep it simple and stick to it. For me, it was to get across. That’s all. To enjoy the journey.
Got any words for a “non-believer”?
We have the power to believe in all kinds of nonsense, but also to see the magic in nature, do things that matter, and break away from the herd. During my 42 days at sea, I became deeply aware of the Earth’s beauty. Each day on the water felt like a year on land. Beyond missing my loved ones, I longed for the natural world I had taken for granted. Since then, I’ve chosen to spend more time immersed in nature rather than glued to a screen.
Find Pierre Mastalski on LinkedIn or follow his adventures at Ici commence l’aventure
