Rochefort: Sud Ouest tested the jump into the great void from the top of the Accro-mâts for you

At the Rochefort arsenal, Accro-mâts offers treetop adventures in a boat. The course ends with a 30-meter free fall. Our journalist tested it for you.

"I hope you're not afraid of heights," which immediately puts me in the mood, as I put on a harness to climb the Accro-mâts . Around 2 p.m., the boat, a sort of replica of "L'Hermione" , where the treetop adventure course is installed is far from full: only two other families are there. So no, I'm not afraid of heights, but when one of the trainers tells me that no one will be able to come and help me on the highest course, I freak out.

As a treetop adventurer, I still go through the safety step before climbing. I follow my trainer to a lifeline (cable to which the harness carabiner is attached during the course), so he can explain how to attach myself. Here, the lifeline is continuous, which means I don't have to detach and reattach the hooks during the course, so there's no risk of being unsecured at any point.

A few meters further on, at the front of the boat, is the entrance to the first course. As with the other levels, it is accessed by a rope that you have to climb. Once I reach the first gangway, I move forward confidently. I easily pass the first wooden bridge, the two rope obstacles, and even the hanging wire. Wow! Proud of this first achievement, I tell myself that completing the three courses will be incredibly easy. But when I try to go back down, everything gets complicated. I have to go from the inside of the net (which leads to the gangway) to the outside, where the lifeline is. A maneuver a little too technical for my taste, especially since I wouldn't want to look ridiculous by finding myself stuck and suspended in the void.

As I struggle to get back down, I pass a mother who is enjoying the relaxation areas offered on the boat. "So, not too hard? Do you plan on doing the other levels?" Given my position, I ask myself the same question. Accompanied by her two daughters, she admits: "I stopped at level 2, the height was too hard for me." With my lack of ease in the descent, it's not a done deal for me either... But too bad, now that I'm here, I have to finish!

"Oh, damn! Be careful, your harness isn't attached... Don't fall!"

So I headed towards runway 2. While I was in the air, several people arrived: many families, but also a few groups of friends. One of the staff members laughed, gently mocking a group of friends: "Oh, damn! Be careful, your harness isn't attached... Don't fall!" Once again, it was very easy to climb, and the course remained accessible. The height was still more impressive, but nothing paralyzing. This time, I learned from my mistakes, and the passage to the outside of the rope seemed much simpler.

The final stage remains... Arriving at the top, I understand that I haven't seen the end of my surprises. The course is much higher than the previous ones, and above all, it only goes up to the final point: the free fall. Too bad, no turning back possible, I take off. Very quickly, I find myself following Orianne, 11 years old, much more comfortable and faster than me. In addition to the height, it's the wind blowing that makes some of the crossings difficult, especially the sections where you have to walk at the very tips of the masts... I'm almost at the end. I only have one more obstacle before the jump into the void: a skateboard section 30 meters high. After bringing the board towards me, I start to settle in, not feeling very confident. No choice: I launch myself. And then, disaster strikes. As I reach the other side, I don't have time to put my foot on the ground before I'm thrown back. Here I am, suspended in the middle of the void, forced to pull myself up by the lifeline to reach the platform. Clever.

As I set foot on the wooden platform, I have the final descent left: the leap into the void. This 30-meter free fall is the only way to leave the highest point of the Accro-mâts. Two solutions: jump or sit down and let myself slide. Brave but not foolhardy, I naturally choose the second option. There I am, sitting on the platform, my feet in the void. I launch myself, accompanied by the screech of the pulley holding me. I reach the ground on my butt, but very much alive to close this afternoon of tree climbing.

Courses are accessible from 6 years old for 16 euros per person. During the summer, the courses are open every day from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m. Reservations are possible on the Accro-mâts website .