Please select your home edition
Edition
Maritimo M600

France SailGP Team introduces its roster for 2020

by Virginie Bouchet 23 Jan 2020 20:58 AEDT
FRA SailGP Team, helmed by Billy Besson during a race condition practice session. Race 1 Season 1 SailGP event in Sydney Harbour © Eloi Stichelbaut / France SailGP Team

With less than 40 days before the opening of Season 2 of SailGP in Sydney, the French team is aiming to reach its 2020 objectives as early as possible in the season.

The objectives are twofold, to perform well at each event and ensure that it is among the best teams in the global championship by the end of the season. The team, which is now managed by Bruno Dubois, wants to build on the experience of its first season, while also embracing new opportunities, to ensure the highest level of performance in its second year of global competition.

Introducing the class of 2020:

New flight controller

After finding out that they have not been selected for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, the news concludes the end of Billy Besson and Marie Riou's Olympic partnership in the Nacra 17, and also marks the latter's departure from the France SailGP Team. The pairing, who together have won four world titles, remain close friends despite reaching the end of this chapter together. Riou will be replaced in the key position of flight controller by the multihull expert, François Morvan.

"François was our backup flight controller in 2019 and despite not having sailed much on the boat, has already demonstrated his skillset. He has taken part in simulator sessions and lived with the team, so he knows how we work and therefore was a logical choice," comments Besson. For Matthieu Vandame, François' enormous experience in multihulls (both large and small, inshore and offshore) as well as his skills as a trimmer and helm, make him the man for the job.

New coach

There has also been a change on the coaching front with the arrival of Thierry Douillard. A multiple winner of the Tour de France à la voile, an offshore racer, coach of the Oman Sail team and weather router for Sodebo Sailing Team, he was the obvious choice to replace Franck Citeau and Stevie Morrison, who have both moved to other activities.

"Thierry has had an impressive career and he has exceptional qualities: he is familiar with the technical aspects of the boat and data analytics, as well as being comfortable in an Anglo-Saxon environment. His profile absolutely matches what we are looking for," comments Besson. "He will bring a lot to the team."

A fourth grinder

Finally, the sailing team welcomes a new kid on the block in Jules Bidegaray. The 25-year old is the winner of the competition launched in Marseille in the autumn, to recruit a young grinder. Hailing from France's Youth Team and a previous competitor in the Tour de Voile, Bidegaray will join the other powerhouses of the team - the very experienced Olivier Herledant, Devan Le Bihan and Timothé Lapauw. "For us," says Besson, "the most important thing is that the team is fully operational from the get go. These are very demanding positions that require you to be fit and fresh - you have to be physically and mentally prepared to work hard."

A new modular wing in the Spring

Referencing the new make-up of the team, Besson explains: "The idea is to try to get a second wind, new energy to move forward and achieve our clear performance objectives. But also we didn't want to turn everything upside down!"

Matthieu Vandame, one of the core members of the team, remains as wing trimmer. However, this year he will have the additional challenge of handling and managing the settings of the new modular wing, which will be used from the second event of the season in San Francisco (2-3rd May). The retractable wing (decrease to 18m high and expands to 24 m high), can be adapted to a wider range of sailing conditions. With breeze and in reduced configuration it will allow the F50 to reach higher speeds - "so we should still gain a few knots!" promises Vandame.

"Baring our teeth"

As for the boat's skipper and helm, he is starting this new season with an enormous appetite to do battle. 2019 was a year of discovery for the French team and 2020 will be the year when they come of age. In its first season, the team ticked lots of boxes: tamed the F50 in most wind and sea conditions, almost capsized, took textbook starts, and experienced both the top and bottom of the ranking. "This experience allows us to be more confident - we now know we will be able to attack hard, without being concerned," comments Besson.

Pending the start of training on the F50, scheduled from 20th February in Sydney, with the actual event on the 28th and 29th, the France SailGP Team will be together for a number of events over the coming weeks (two simulator sessions, Global Sports Week event etc.). With less than one month before the start of racing there is already a sense of intense energy in the team. "We are all very, very motivated and Billy has the bit between his teeth!" concludes Vandame.

France SailGP Team crew for 2020:

Billy Besson / Helmsman - Age: 38 - Hometown Sevrier, France
François Morvan / Flight Controller - Age: 36 - Hometown: Nantes, France
Matthieu Vandame / Wing Trimmer - Age: 37 - Hometown: Rennes, France
Olivier Herledant / Grinder - Age: 39 Hometown: Douarnenez, France
Devan Le Bihan / Grinder - Age: 36 - Hometown: Hennebont, France
Timothé Lapauw / Grinder - Age: 27 - Hometown: Antibes, France
Jules Bidegaray / Young Grinder - Age: 24 - Hometown: Hyères, France

Related Articles

SailGP: Roger Federer inspires Swiss SailGP team.
Roger Federer joins forces with Switzerland SailGP Team to inspire success One of Switzerland's greatest sporting icons, Roger Federer, features in the newest episode of Racing on the Edge, SailGP's official behind-the-scenes docuseries, produced in partnership with Rolex. Posted on 27 Jun
Rolex SailGP Championship 2026 dates confirmed
Including a return to fan-favorite destination, Auckland SailGP has released further details of forthcoming 2026 Season, including the return of fan-favorite locations, multi-year hosting agreements secured across all regions, and an evolved regional structure to raise the stakes for athletes and fans alike. Posted on 26 Jun
SailGP opens tender process for two new teams
SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment. SailGP has confirmed 2026 expansion plans, unveiling details of a tender process to seek investment for ownership of two new teams entering the global racing championship next season, alongside available stakes across existing national teams. Posted on 23 Jun
Russell Coutts explains SailGP's investor value
Russell Coutts explains the growth of SailGP and why investors are chasing a slice of the action. SailGP co-founder and CEO Russell Coutts discusses the hard to understand investment, and growth of SailGP. The growth multiples hoped for SailGP have been achieved, on paper, by the same investors in other sports. Posted on 12 Jun
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix overall
Spain SailGP Team claims second consecutive U.S. win Diego Botin and the Spain SailGP team have punched their way to the top of the Rolex SailGP Championship, taking the win on Sunday in New York. Posted on 9 Jun
SailGP: Spain win in New York - Day 2
Diego Botin's Spanish crew scraped into the Final, and then took their second successive SailGP win. The Spanish crew led by Diego Botin staged a comeback in the last race after losing an 8pt lead to squeeze into the Final, only taking the lead halfway through the three boat Final. Full race replay here. Posted on 9 Jun
SailGP: Spain lead in New York - Day 1
Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix Spain top the leaderboard after the first day of racing in the Mubadala New York Grand Prix, after a consistent day's sailing on the murky and rainswept Hudson River. Full replay and leaderboard in this story. Posted on 7 Jun
Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix day 1
Spain overcomes storm clouds, topping the standings Diego Botin's Spain SailGP Team leads the fleet after a stormy and tactical opening day of the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix. France, ROCKWOOL Denmark and New Zealand are all hot on his heels for all-important leaderboard points. Posted on 7 Jun
Russell Coutts reports ahead of SailGP New York
The New York Russell Report: Coutts on fleet-wide wing repairs and top picks for New York podium SailGP has returned to New York for the third time ahead of this weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix on June 7/8. Ahead of racing, SailGP CEO Russell Coutts reveals his behind-the-scenes insight of the fleet. Posted on 7 Jun
SailGP to Kick Off Summer in New York
With this Weekend's Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix An unforgettable weekend of high-speed, close-to-shore racing and world-class entertainment will take place this weekend when the Mubadala New York Sail Grand Prix takes place in front of the most famous skyline in the world. Posted on 5 Jun
Cyclops Marine 2023 November - FOOTERB&G Zeus SR AUSX-Yachts X4.0