October 2008

Hello everyone,

September has been a busy month in various ways for Banana Split and its captain : when Tahiti's outline rose on the horizon, I suddenly felt like accepting the invitation the French Navy had extended me, and sheltering for a few days in Papeete's Navy base, where famous French sailor Olivier de Kersauzon's trimaran had just remained for several weeks. Moored among huge gray-painted ships, awakened in the morning by the "branle-bas" on the bugle, I enjoyed a warm hospitality, and help to solve a few small technical problems, but, most of all, I worked at obtaining the progress I wish will come true : that the atoll of Mururoa, whose access has been forbidden since yesteryear's nuclear tests, may become again available as a stopover for cruising boats in case of contrary winds, fatigue or breakdown, in this region of the Pacific ocean that offers no other shelter.

Then, in a small peaceful marina in the Society islands, I have taken on big cleaning, painting and renovating jobs : you can admire on one of the photos below my brand new cockpit : I had to do something, as its paint and non-skid dated back to more than ten years !

Then I put into my suitcase one of Banana Split's engine reductors (this big metallic contraption did pose a small problem to security at Papeete's airport), and flew back to Europe, and all things got off to a flying start :
First I took part in a very big Tv show on Italy's Rai Uno television, where I sang two of my Italian hits of the sixties, Pietre and La Tramontana ; I took time to enjoy some fettucine all'Alfredo, eaten with the golden spoon and fork once given to the original Alfredo by Hollywood stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford, and to pay a nostalgic visit to the very beautiful island of Ventotene, offshore from Rome : I had made a wonderful stop there at the end of my first circumnavigation, in 1980, in the picturesque Roman harbour, dug out from the volcanic rock called tufo; the island is almost as magical as Procida, in the bay of Naples ; I warmly advise a visit there, especially oiff-season, for a pleasant stay, away from any consideration of time, and yet close by.
Then I came to Brussels, from where I send you this message, to co-present ( in the presence of Miche Brel and their two daughters, Isabelle and France, but also several big French singing stars) a great portrait of French singer Jacques Brel to be broadcast on Belgian television on october 9. A great opportunity to remember my wonderful encounter with Brel in a marina in the Canaries on Chrismas day, 1974 !

This week, I will also star in a "Coups de coeur" TV show in Geneva, then I'll begin touring France with my films about Madagascar and Tahiti... 50 lectures in 25 towns... didn't I tell youi was getting off to a flying start ?