GC32 Racing Tour - Team ENGIE – A few points short of the podium

by Sébastien Rogues on 16 May 2017 The first stage of the GC32 Racing Tour started well for Sébastien Rogues with a fine victory on the first day. Competing against very regular Swiss teams, experienced lake sailors, Team ENGIE finished at the foot of the podium after 11 hard-fought rounds. Finishing fourth in Riva on Lake Garda, Sébastien Rogues and his team will have to work on race constancy and management to achieve their goal this season, a place on the final podium.

All sailors know it - consistently practicing high-level racing is the key to doing well in the overall ranking. The team, that is made up of five members; Sébastien Rogues, Gurvan Bontemps, Jean Baptiste Gellée, Antoine Joubert and Benjamin Amiot, had a promising start, winning the fourth race. This Italian stage in Riva on Lake Garda was going well for the French Team ENGIE, who finishing first and third overall on the first and second days of racing. Unfortunately the last day of racing on Sunday did not live up to the team’s expectations and so they dropped down the leaderboard to fourth place overall. With 54 points in total, including 21 credited in three races on the final day, the result does not put them in the best position. The team however is just nine points from third place. In the overall ranking, the three Swiss teams, Realteam, Team Tilt and Armin Strom Sailing Team occupy the top three places with 30, 34 and 45 points respectively.

Team ENGIE know that it boils down to hard work and will continue to train hard to achieve the level of performance required at this top level of competition. The potential is there, it just remains to manifest itself on the next events. The weather conditions when sailing on a lake are different (enclosed stretch of water with high mountains), but were not, however, a hindrance to Team ENGIE’s results. Accustomed to this type of competition, having competed in several events on Lake Garda in 2016, Sébastien Rogues managed the wind conditions beautifully. It blew between 10 and 16 knots on average with the first day being cancelled due the wind being too strong.

“We really started the race well. With 11 boats on the water and a very high level we can be proud of our performance. We have moved into the second phase of our flying catamaran progression. We now have to work on how we manage the race. We need to be intelligent about tactical and physical manoeuvres. We have proven our potential and we are quite capable of winning races. We are ranked between first and fourth place. A lower ranking would be an underachievement. We are frustrated about this last day but it proves that consistency is paramount on this circuit. We must be alert at crucial moments. It is up to us now to do well in Villasimius”, commented Sébastien.

Team ENGIE head to Sardinia at the end of June

After the magnificent setting of Lake Garda, Team ENGIE will attempt to gain a place in the top 3, in Villasimius, in southern Sardinia, not far from Cagliari. Always aiming as high as possible, this margin of progression is not so complicated to cross for this united team of undeniable talent.

“We are no longer outsiders. We now have our place on this circuit, and now we must get the most out of our experience”, concluded Team ENGIE’s skipper. The adage 'Give up nothing, because nothing is impossible” is the team’s motto.

Overall Ranking GC32 Riva Cup 2017

1 - Realteam – Switzerland – 30 points
2 - Team Tilt – Switzerland – 34 points
3 - Armin Strom Sailing Team – Switzerland – 45 points
4 - Team ENGIE – France – 54 points
5 - Team Argo – USA – 60 points
6 – I’M Racing Movistar – Spain - 70 points
7 - Mamma Aiuto! – Japan – 73 points
8 - Team France Youth – France – 77 points
9 - Malizia – Yacht Club de Monaco – Monaco – 79 points
10 - Team BDA – Bermuda – 96 points
11 - Codigo Rojo – Argentina – 115 points