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Sailing: François Verdier’s many plans

François Verdier et Anthony Streicher vont naviguer sur l’ancien Class40 de Kito de Pavant. Phare 40 sailing

Coming from match racing and the America's Cup, François Verdier from Hérault is now launching into offshore racing, which he wants to develop in the Bay of Camargue.

“I'm like a land and sea salad,” jokes François Verdier when he introduces himself. He has found his balance between Brissac in Hérault where he lives and La Grande-Motte where he works as project manager for the Inshore Occitanie System (DIO). One of his many activities in sailing, he who had almost never set foot on a boat at the age of 18.

“After my Baccalaureate, I took a sabbatical year, I went to Australia and among my projects, I had to embark on a boat to visit all the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. That's where I caught the bug”, explains the Hérault native who grew up in Mas-de-Londres.

Read also: Sailing: Med Max Occitanie Saïdia Resorts will connect one continent to another

Who went from the dramatic arts conservatory to the Faculty of Sports with a sailing option. “I had a low level and I had only done rugby and athletics before,” recalls the Montpellier native, convinced that he had found his way. “I started sailing on the Thau lagoon at the Mèze club with Christophe André as my coach, who specialized in match racing. I also joined a crew”, recalls François Verdier.

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Match racing world champion

He would then experience an upward trajectory since three years later, he was part of a good French crew and had the status of high-level athlete by being detected in 2005. The sailor would participate in the America's Cup under the colors of China Team and then be an active member of the French match racing team with a world champion title in 2009 with Damien Iehl, who took care of the DIO.

“I played the number 1 position a lot, which is very physical, but also because the helmsmen liked me because I had a good image of tactical play, especially during the starts,” he explains.

The Brissagol is part of the French projects for the America's Cup with Bertrand Pacé and Groupama Team France as crew. Then following the financial cuts, he embarked on solo sailing with two seasons of preparation at the Mediterranean Training Center in La Grande-Motte on Figaro 2s.

On Kito de Pavant's boat

François Verdier then became sports director of the Yacht-club de La Grande-Motte but his passion for the open sea tickled him. “I really enjoy sailing offshore solo.” A project that should lead him to compete in the Route du Rhum in 2026. On Kito de Pavant's old boat since he will co-skipper with Anthony Streicher who bought it.

“He's a company boss who does business networking. We did a freelance job together last year on Jean-Pierre Balmes' boat during the Paprec 600.” Their goal through the Phare 40 sailing association is to have wounded members of the gendarmerie and army sail on a professional sailboat, which will be possible on the crewed races of the Mediterranean Class40 circuit in 2024. The duo will also be at the start of the Med Max Occitanie Saïdia resorts in October.

“It's a package that suits me well since the boat will stay in Port-Camargue and Kito will accompany us for two weeks”, assures the 42-year-old skipper whose long-term goal is to create a structure training on this class in the Bay of Camargue. “We have a great playground with this body of water and we need to develop it”, hopes François Verdier, proud of his roots and his territory.

And who sees in his journey a form of resilience like the phoenix drawn on the Class40.

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Teilor Stone

By Teilor Stone

Teilor Stone has been a reporter on the news desk since 2013. Before that she wrote about young adolescence and family dynamics for Styles and was the legal affairs correspondent for the Metro desk. Before joining Thesaxon , Teilor Stone worked as a staff writer at the Village Voice and a freelancer for Newsday, The Wall Street Journal, GQ and Mirabella. To get in touch, contact me through my teilor@nizhtimes.com 1-800-268-7116