Sailing World Cup Final - A good result for Groupama

by Groupama Sailing Team on 1 Dec 2014 ISAF Sailing World Cup Final Abu Dhabi 2014 - By finishing fourth in the Medal Race ahead of Besson - Riou, the crew of Groupama secured tenth place in the overall ranking for the Sailing World Cup in Abu Dhabi, whilst the other three French crews monopolised the podium.

We knew it already some months ago but the results of the Sailing World Cup finale confirm it: the French are at the very top of their game in the Nacra 17 series. Billy Besson and Marie Riou have bolstered their world number one ranking and now the performances by Ogereau - Vandame and Vaireaux - Audinet, who have also secured a podium place, doubtless come as a great source of satisfaction to Franck Citeau, coach to the French team.

Slightly set back from their sparring partners in the French team, Franck Cammas and Alizée Desbordes put up a creditable performance: 'Aside from the first day, Alizée and I sailed rather well. Despite our build being overly geared towards light airs due to us being very light in weight, I'm happy with our performance. Out of the ten races contested, we beat Billy four times, which hasn't happened since the start of the year. We weren't expecting to do so well'.

Coming from the mouth of the skipper of Groupama, these words may come as some surprise. And yet no, this tenth place is not a failure: 'Sophie's absence forced me to choose a new crew for this event. It's always interesting to discover another way of sailing. Alizée learns quickly and very rarely makes the same mistake twice. We were pretty good both in terms of manoeuvres and tactics. All that we were lacking was speed upwind,' adds Franck.

Happy to have sailed in some favourable conditions, in a fairly cool atmosphere and with little pressure, the crew of Groupama will quickly head back to France. At the airport, Franck will probably link up with his crew Sophie de Turckheim, who's just won the World Military Sailing Championships in Doha in the 470 having teamed up with Mathilde Géron. As such it will be an opportunity to celebrate as they wait to hook back up in the Nacra 17 for a pre-Olympic season, which promises to be very hotly disputed, both among the French team and on an international level.

1/ Besson - Riou (FRA) with 34 points.
2/ Ogereau - Vandame (FRA) with 42 points.
3/ Vaireaux - Audinet (FRA) with 50 points.
4/ Macgregor - Walsh (GBR) with 52 points.
5/ Zajac - Frank (AUT) with 55 points.
6/ Bühler - Brugger (SUI) with 56 points.
7/ Saxton - Groves (GBR) with 58 points.
8/ Bissaro - Sicouri (ITA) with 61 points.
9/ Salvà - Bianchi (ITA) with 68 points.
10/ Cammas - Desbordes (FRA) with 74 Event website