With two children on Arctic expedition? Brave or crazy?
BARBARA: Ms Périé-Bardout, you will travel with your husband and your two children from the Arctic Ocean across the Pacific and the Atlantic to Antarctica. Is it boring at home?
Emmanuelle Périé-Bardout: Not really. I like to be at home, even though I'm running around the whole day between school, job and kindergarten. It's easier on board. And thankfully, all my loved ones are gathered in the same place.
Her sons Robin and Tom are 4 years and 9 months old. They will be part of the whole expedition. A risk or completely normal?
I already have Robin on our schooner WHY? lived, so I have experience. And Tom, I raised the first months of his life on board. Of course, I'm always wondering if that will work, but I'm confident. But we would not embark on such an adventure if we had doubts. I'm just wondering if Tom can walk before the trip starts or if he will learn it on board.
What will be the bigger adventure? to sleep in a polar bear at minus 50 degrees or bring the kids to bed?
Currently it is definitely Tom to bring to bed, he is resisting. Incidentally, I personally slept better in the tent at the geographic North Pole than at the moment.
What is the goal of your expedition?
To extend the boundaries of underwater expeditions. With this project, which ends only 2020, we travel the whole world. The focus is on, for example, scientific programs for the study of deep-sea corals, biofluorescence and sharks. We will try to be underwater as much time as possible.
Does not sound quite safe?
It is not possible to exclude any risk, but it can be minimized. We are not hotheads and always try to make safe ways on our expeditions. For deep-sea diving and polar water you need experience, the right technique and commitment. My husband is an underwater cameraman and polo search specialist. He knows exactly what he is doing, has learned everything step by step. And he is monitored by doctors and physiologists.
You will be traveling as a skipper on this expedition. What exactly is your job?
Like every crew member, I'm polyvalent. For one, am I the captain of the ship? with the support of the first officer and my husband, who knows our schooner inside out. Second, I'll take care of the kids and teach Robin. But we also have an au-pair girl who helps me with the children.
Your expedition ship can accommodate twelve crew members and can overwinter in pack ice, among other things. Not afraid of a storage roller?
No not true! For it is still something new for me to live in a house. Until recently, we only had our schooner. I feel at home on board. As for the other crewmembers, the team is made up of passionate and dedicated people who are totally aware of the particular situation on board. And we often go for a walk on the floes.
