- SailGP’s Inspire Careers pathway program provides international youth with hands-on work experience opportunities at France Sail Grand Prix
- Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for 35 young sailors to showcase their skills racing WASZP and RS Feva class boats on SailGP F50 racecourse
Saint-Tropez, FRANCE - September 3, 2021 - On the heels of its hugely successful event in Denmark, SailGP’s Inspire Careers and Racing programs are ready to take on a new cohort in Saint-Tropez, France for the fifth event in the global championship’s calendar.
The famous French Riviera coastline will be buzzing with sports fans and onlookers for a weekend of intense sail racing action, while the future of the sport delivers additional excitement showcasing their skills both onshore and on the water.
Well on its way to reaching its target of impacting 10,000 youth by 2025, Inspire is SailGP’s global youth and outreach program offering Careers and Racing programs that have far reaching potential drawing in both young male and female candidates. The France Sail Grand Prix will feature successful career candidates hailing from France, Netherlands, Ireland, and from its legacy program during SailGP Season 2’s opening event in Bermuda.
Inspire Careers candidates
Presenting a pathway to career opportunities is one of three ways in which Inspire builds on its better sport tenet. The Careers program offers students and young professionals a work experience opportunity within SailGP through hands-on roles supporting the teams and events fundamental to the success of the overall sport.
Joining the careers pathway in the SailGP technical team from France is Loic Mazel, working in the wing department; Katya Castellanos,(Guatemala), in the hydraulics department; Milly Jinks (U.K.) in the boat building department; and from Bermuda as part of the Inspire legacy program are Tre Maxwell for ropes and rigging; and Christian Roque for on-water operations.
Inspire Racing candidates
Situated in the Gulf of Saint-Tropez, 35 youth sailors - a mixture of males and females aged 9-23 - will take to the SailGP F50 racecourse. With 19 sailors - 16 paired, and three spare sailors rotating into the lineup - aboard eight RS Feva boats, and 16 individuals racing on-board foiling WASZPs for the first time, crowds will be treated to witnessing potential SailGP athletes of tomorrow in-the-making.
Working alongside Ligue SUD de Voile, the ten pairs of RS Feva sailing teams were nominated from a range of clubs throughout France’s southern region. These young individuals are considered to be rising stars based on their sailing abilities and their passion for the sport.
Ligue SUD de Voile president Claude Lebacquer said: “The Ligue Sud is delighted to have partnered once again with SailGP, a major and internationally renowned global championship happening in our region and contributing to the promotion of our sport. About twenty of our best under 14 year old sailors, supervised by our trainers, will take part in the SailGP Inspire Racing program ahead of the F50 races, and fully enjoy the show.”
Sailing in the RS Feva class will be: Raphaël Robert, Paul Grandmottet and Marin Geneix from Club Nautique Saint-Raphaël; Ilan Vedel , and Come Jacquinod from Yachting Club Pointe Rouge; Virgile Bausset, and Victor Gruson from Club Nautique de Sainte-Maxime; Anna Floch (Société des Régates d'Antibes); Louis Jallabert (Centre Fosséen de Voile); Théo Sarrat (Yacht Club Villeneuve-Loubet); Molly-Ella Marshall (Club Nautique Nice); Joane Ezraty, and Juliette Peyre from La Pelle Marseille; Emma Petit, and Chloé Petit from Yacht Club Saint-Tropez; Léa Raoux, Dinah Gallo, and Joana Alves-Lourenco from Cercle de Voile de Martigues; and Ainoa Philippe-Sasiain (ASPTT Marseille).
RS Sailing France representative Nicolas Honor said: “As it was with SailGP in Marseille in 2019, it is an honor to have our RS dinghy used to promote youth sailing, learning, and racing through the SailGP Inspire program. The RS Feva is a great boat in this respect - French sailors (team Lissandru & Thomas from Corsica) won the Feva world championship in Travemunde July 2021, after being European Champion 2019. It is our hope that the young people involved from La Ligue SUD de Voile and FFvoile continue to follow this path.”
16 WASZP sailors were selected by a jury which included members of the French Sailing Federation (FFVoile). Representing France will be Victor Samson, Marion DeClef, Joseph Lamiot, Manolo Geslin Grimaud, Emilie Bouchet, Thomas Proust, Eliott Coville, Gruet Hippolyte, Emma Jonsson, Lena Kurbiel, Theo Michez, Lilyan Bretagne, and Oscar Pean. From the Netherlands are Eliott Savelon and Paul Hameeteman; and from Ireland, Charlie Cullen.
SailGP will race for the first time in Saint-Tropez on September 11-12. Complete event details for the France Sail Grand Prix, including ticket sales, can be found at SailGP.com/France. For those unable to attend, visit How to Watch for information on broadcast coverage and streaming in over 175 territories. The award-winning SailGP APP can be downloaded - App Store and Google Play - giving the ultimate viewing experience with full customization, access to data, and live commentary.
