Interview with Guillaume Florent, China Team

by China Team media on 17 Jan 2007 Guillaume Florent: In sailing there have always been excellent opportunities, I believe there is a future for us.

At 28 years old, and a five time French champion in Finns and Lasers, runner up in the Europe and Finn classes in Sept 2006, engineer in material physics, Guillaume Florent is in charge of trimming the mainsail onboard China Team and also takes on electronics and embedded computer technologies onshore. For him, to do the Cup, is a long awaited dream.

Lasers and Finns were your emphasis this year, why the Cup?

There are three great races I have always dreamed of doing: The Volvo Race (race around the world), the Olympics, and the America’s Cup. So, when I met Pierre Mas and he suggested coming to Trieste to race in a match race, the Sfida Cup, one in which five America’s Cup Teams were participating, I jumped at the opportunity. Afterwards, he offered the chance to stay for the Cup. I was ecstatic!

Have you already sailed on board an America's Cup Class Yacht?

Yes, with the Italian team, +39, when they first started their campaign and then during the September training on board CHN 79. For sure, the two boats are very different to get to know. When I raise my head and I see the height of the mast, or when we have to perfectly coordinate the movement of 17 people on board, it is extremely impressive... it is entirely another level.

When you see CHN 95, what is it that impresses you?

When I look at CHN 95, I say to myself it looks rather normal. On the other hand the thing that makes me nervous is the timing. We really must push to get our boat handling to perfection in order to sail quickly. Every day we gain onshore, gives us another day to practice on the water.

To enter into the America's Cup for the first time, in certainly an original team at the bottom of the leader board and less money than others, isn’t it frustrating?

For me, honestly…not really. If I had joined a big team, I would have found myself in a restricted role. The advantage here is that I can see the project in its entirety. It is a super adventure and we have everything to gain… I also think that there is a future with China.....

Fdb/Lh

Full interview at http://www.china-team.org/