It was International Women’s Day recently, and what better time than to remember Florence Arthaud. Known as the ‘Little Bride of the Atlantic’, Florence sailed with some of the most respected French sailors, like Bruno Peyron and Jean Le Cam, who is a Barcelona World Race competitor. Arthaud and Peyron won the Transpacific in 1997, and she raced double-handed with Le Cam in 1996 in the Transatlantic AG2R, where they took second place. In addition to her competitive sailing accomplishments, Arthaud is also credited as being one of the founding members of the Jules Verne Trophy – an award given in recognition of the fastest circumnavigation of the globe
La petite fiancée de l’Atlantique – Little Bride of the Atlantic
Florence Arthaud earned this nickname when she single-handedly won a prestigious race known as Route du Rhum on the 18th of November 1990, when she was 33 years old. The Route do Rhum is a solo transatlantic race that starts in France and ends in Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. Arthaud sailed a trimaran named Pierre 1, and completed the race in 14 days, 10 hours and 10 minutes. Even though she made excellent time and won the race, the journey was treacherous. The spirited sailor did not give up, even after she suffered a hernia, her radio failed and her autopilot function stopped working. After this achievement, she was hailed as ‘Champion of Champions’ by a popular French newspaper named L’Equipe – a well-deserved accolade.
An untimely demise
Despite several harrowing encounters on the ocean, Arthaud was tragically killed in a helicopter accident on the 9th of March 2015 — she was only 57 years old. The accident happened while she was taking part in a reality TV series called Dropped in Argentina. Arthaud is greatly loved by the French public and sailing enthusiasts across the world. She will always be remembered as one of the greatest yachtswomen on earth.