ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres - Road to Rio with Besson and Riou

by Jonny Fullerton on 25 Apr 2015 ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyeres - Jonny Fullerton of Grand Prix Sailing is in Hyeres to talk to Billy Besson and Marie Riou of the French Nacra 17 French team .

Jonny Fullerton: Billy you have won many catamaran sailing championships, two Nacra 17 Worlds and an F18 World Championship so how would an Olympic medal compare in Rio 2016?

Billy Besson: Only if it is the right colour! Laughs, you never can compare it, as a sportsman you want to compete at this competition, it is the highest level and very important.

Jonny Fullerton: Marie you have sailed dinghys before including the Elliot’s in the last Olympics but it is very different racing in the Nacras?

Marie Riou: Yes, I have also sailed in 420’s and 470’s and match racing we used to sail at about 5 knots boat speed but in the catamaran its a really fast boat, its different because you have to think quickly and make decisions fast and its a really fun boat to sail.

Jonny Fullerton: And a lot more physically demanding?

Marie Riou: Yes exactly, for the arms especially! I work the mainsail and the spinnaker so its hard to trim.

Jonny Fullerton: Some partnerships sail with the female steering and some prefer the men to helm?

Billy Besson: Yes but its split about 50/50 at the moment so I think it’s very cool for a mixed boat.

Jonny Fullerton: You have such strong French teams trying to qualify for Rio the competition must be really tough between you?

Billy Besson: Yes for the French team it’s very hard because we have a very good team, all trying to get the card to Rio.

Marie Riou: With this team our group has to work so hard it makes us stronger than our other competitors.

Jonny Fullerton: What do you think of the sailing courses in Rio?

Billy Besson: We raced at the Test Event and again in December in Rio, its a perfect spot for sailing and the area is surrounded by the city, that makes it a great spectacle. It’s a very spiritual place with the surrounding mountains and land marks.

Jonny Fullerton: Apart from qualification what are your main goals this season?

Marie Riou: Our major objective will be the world championships, we are racing for our third championship victory in a row!


Jonny Fullerton: And Billy I understand you are also racing in the Flying Phantom foiling cats at Eurocat in Cannes with Franck?

Billy Besson: Yes but not in the same boat! Laughs, no way, his is too small to be crew!! Joking. I think it’s very important to do other cat sailing. Everybody wants to go foiling now, it’s not the same as racing the Nacra 17 but it’s the same sensation.

Jonny Fullerton: Merci Beaucoup et bon chance.

Billy Besson and Marie Riou: Merci