Adventure-wise, not such an easy introduction
PROLOGUE, NEJJAKH-NEJJAKH
For the prologue of this 28th edition of the Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc, the teams had to find three checkpoints placed around Nejjakh.
Dominique Serra, founder and director general of the event, gave the send-off at 2 o’clock sharp. Marina, Carole and Maud, the three organizers in charge of team relations, were also at the start line with last-minute advice and to reassure the more anxious Gazelles. It was time to focus. “Even though we’ve done the Rallye before, we’re not counting our chickens; the desert holds many surprises.”
As part of their warmup, the Gazelles encountered sand early in the leg. Some quickly got to know camel grass, the famous humps of sand and roots. Five minutes after the start, Team 21 (Laetitia MARCON / Emmanuelle MOUNIER)found themselves stuck in the sand. Fortunately, solidarity showed its head in the form of eight other Gazelles who stopped to give them a hand. “It’s pretty embarrassing, just one kilometre from the start line, but better now than later. That way, we won’t make the same mistake again, at least I hope not!”
The teams had different routes to prevent them following each other. Team 202 (Jeanette JAMES / Emmanuelle TARQUINI DOS SANTOS - Bumper Off Road Jeep) was the first to reach checkpoint 1 on Route D. “When we saw the flag just behind the dune, we stopped to give each other a hug. Wait, are you sure it’s the right one? Jeannette and I are getting to know each other; it’s great, I have a good teacher in the vehicle,” smiled Emmanuelle. This is Jeannette’s 10th Rallye but “it always has the same effect, it’s always just as enjoyable!” Team 203 (CHEN YUN ZI / Sophie NAYLOR - AMC Travel) was close behind them. The Swiss/Chinese team are also getting to know each other, and on reaching this first checkpoint, their confidence soared. “We worked pretty quickly; we don’t want to be too slow and get back to the bivouac at 9 o’clock tonight.” 10 minutes later, they were taking their next heading.
The first checkpoint was alive with shouts of joy, hugs and selfies: the Gazelles were allowed to keep their phones until the end of the Prologue. It was an emotional moment for many new Gazelles. Team 204 (Marion GEORGE / Emmanuelle VIALLET - INSO) couldn’t help crying: “We’ve been crying for three days; it took us a year to get here and here we are at last, it’s very moving.” Team 208 (Brigitte SOBANSKI-JOYEUX / Patricia CAPDEVIELLE - SOPRA STERIA AEROLINE) are no newcomers but still, “we’re getting back into it, we drove a good kilometre over the minimum.”
Sand, stones, black rock, camel grass: the Gazelles drove through a variety of landscapes. Some enjoyed the view while others dealt with problems. Heading for CP2, Team 198 (Wensi LIN / Florence KARRAS - KALAAPA) got stuck in the sand. Time to shovel! “Can’t you help us? joked one of them. Gazelles aren’t allowed to accept any outside assistance (even from organizers) – doing so could earn them a 200-point penalty! “It’s a good warmup: it’s a bad sign if everything goes too smoothly. We’re here to suffer a little.”
At the third and final checkpoint, Team 27 (Prune SALTI / Elisa BOULAND - ESAF) helped 182 (Alexandrine ANDRE / Amandine VIROULAUD - Beam Suntory) (Alexandrine ANDRE / Amandine VIROULAUD – Beam Suntory) take their heading and find their checkpoint on Route C. “We got stuck for an hour and a quarter at the start and lost our momentum: then you start to question yourself.” “They should call it the Rallye Aïcha des Galères” [galère=problem], joked another Gazelle.
They were not the only team to get stuck in the sand. Team 133 (Julie Oudina Blaise / Meredith Grosset - Normandie Chauffage), who got stuck no less than three times, are getting to know their Jeep: “It’s great in the rocks, but on sand, it pulls a lot. We have to get used to it. Apart from that, the navigation is going well.” On reaching the CP, Team 103 (Sonia AUVITY / Caroline DESSEIGNE - SA AUVITY MERCEDES MOULINS) immediately took off again: it wasn’t the right checkpoint. “I feel like crying. I didn’t think it would be like this. I don’t know what tomorrow is going to be like…”
Team 229 (Sophie LIOUST BARDY / Stéphanie GOURLOO) reached their final checkpoint: “We’re doing better than last year.” They enjoyed a break with some other Gazelles: “We’re lucky to be here.” But experience has taught them to remain vigilant: the day isn’t over until they are back at the bivouac! In the meantime, they got out their maps and compasses… Some found the day very long. After a comforting dinner in the restaurant tent at the bivouac, it was time to get some sleep before the first 4 o’clock wakeup call and the first leg of this 28th edition.
