Episode 20: and what does the teacher say?

Dear readers,

Our 2026 adventure is taking shape and progressing rapidly. It will begin on 6 September, and we will reveal more details in our next article.

In this article, we hear from Christine, a French teacher in class 10VP1 at the Cugy secondary school. Christine was one of our invaluable behind-the-scenes partners for our 2025 adventure.

As the project’s initiator, I always wanted to incorporate a learning component. My hope is that this adventure extends beyond the boat and our crew. I hope it brings positivity, joy and a moment of escape; that it connects people and fosters new encounters. I also hope it sparks reflection and inspires ideas. With this in mind, the chance to engage with young people within the creative and supportive environment provided by Christine was a wonderful opportunity.

Originally from the Marseille area, Christine naturally held a very special place in our hearts as we set off. A big thank you also to Laure Kloetzer, a dear friend, for putting us in touch.

To conclude our trilogy on the 10VP1 from the Cugy School of Physical Education, we now hand over to Christine.

Cugy Vaud

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When she heard about our adventure, Christine Saupagna Isler, their French teacher, immediately got on board with our adventures too.

 Valérie: What made you want to get involved in this project?

Christine: The desire to offer my pupils a different kind of project that would take them off the beaten track to meet Ella Maillart. Then, following you at sea and interacting with you seemed like a wonderful adventure for my pupils to experience.

 How did the pupils react?

Almost all of them were enthusiastic about working in a different way. Captivated by the novelty, they were keen to get involved...

 What were the main challenges you faced?

Perseverance among some of my pupils, whose interest in your journey quickly waned. There was also the difficulty of exploring the concepts related to your project in greater depth.

Furthermore, I showed the 1973 documentary on Ella Maillart entitled “The Journeys of Ella Maillart”. The encounter with Ella Maillart, whose personality put many of them off, was difficult: almost all of them struggled with a woman who didn’t fit the reassuring, maternal image they were used to...! Surprising...

 In what ways was this project useful from an educational perspective?

In many ways that I won’t list here—but discovering Ella Maillart, meeting you and learning to sail with you, writing the texts, preparing the interview, the presentation—in short, they must have required a wide range of skills.

What were your favourite moments?

Without a doubt, the video interview out at sea. The pupils let out a lovely little cry of delight when the connection was made and they saw you out at sea...

And if you had to do it all over again?

I would have managed the very temporalities for us and for you better...

2026 with another class?

We’ll have to discuss it...