Black Lion

Back in Nouméa After a Second Circumnavigation!

Since 2010, Magalie and Cyril have been sailing the oceans around the world. Their first circumnavigation took them six years, with their son Jonathan, who has since set sail on his own! A second trip around the world began in 2018 and was to last seven years. They returned to Nouméa, their home port, on July 9 this year.

Black Lion

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Published 26/09/2025

By Mary Nicholas

Issue: 204

Published: nov. / dec. 2025

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Who: Magalie & Cyril
Where: Nouméa, New Caledonia
Multihull: Catathai 40
YouTube : @catamaranblacklion

“Have you ever wondered about casting off? Sailing around the world? Living your dream? For us, the adventure began 15 years ago. Thanks to a lot of willpower and determination, my husband Cyril, our son Jonathan, and I made our sailing debut in the New Caledonian lagoon on Pirates.com, our boat. We never imagined our lives would change so quickly. Captivated by the oceans, the idea of setting sail quickly became our goal. Over four years, we did everything we could to cast off: relentless daily learning, life on board, sailing, entering and leaving ports, new responsibilities very different from our former life ashore. After several months of learning to sail in a paradise setting, we set off to discover this wonderful world, taking you with us on this fabulous adventure...” says Magalie.

Since then, a large community of followers, enthusiasts, and other world travelers have been following the adventures of this slightly crazy couple, as they like to remind us. Magalie and Cyril regularly interact with all these people, their “Bananas Lovers,” through various media: their Facebook page, Instagram, YouTube channel, and more. From discovering the flora and fauna to engine breakdowns, bad weather, encounters with locals, injuries, and other health concerns, they share their daily lives and generously immerse us in their world.

They’ve even created a special channel dedicated to cooking on board their catamaran, La cuisine de Jacouille (alias Magalie): “Cooking on board is a real passion for me,” she admits. “I’ve always enjoyed treating my crew and our guests to delicious meals, wherever the winds take us and wherever we stop. Whether the sea is calm, the ocean is rough, or we are at anchor, my casserole dish and mixer always come in handy, and my oven regularly fills the air with the aroma of freshly baked bread. As we travel around the world, my recipe book is diversifying with new flavors, exotic tastes, and distant aromas... Depending on the provisions on board, I adapt, transform, and invent so that mealtimes are always a delight for the palate and enjoying good times.”

And to recount the couple’s many adventures in detail, no less than two books have already been published, both written by Magalie: Hisser les voiles jusqu’au bout de ses rêves [Set Sail to the End of Your Dreams], published in 2019, and À la poursuite d’un vent de liberté [In Pursuit of a Wind of Freedom], published in 2023. From New Caledonia to the Caribbean, via Australia, Southeast Asia, the Indian Ocean, East Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, Brazil, and French Guiana, they have many adventures to recount, including when the pandemic forced them to lockdown in the lagoon of Mayotte – worse things happen at sea! The author also describes their fascination with marine flora and fauna, which they film and photograph extensively in order to share their discoveries on social media.

Their latest project is coaching for Blue Water Cruising: “Having completed two trips around the world, sailed thousands of miles, and above all received hundreds of messages from sailors seeking advice, we thought: why not offer ultra-personalized support on board to help those who dream of setting sail? That’s how our “Grande Croisière” coaching service was born: 10 days of immersion aboard the boat of future adventurers, to help them prepare, organize, secure, and above all, live their project serenely, without stress and without unnecessary hassles.” To be continued...