The French sailing team have the wind in their sails!

Tuesday, 22 august 2023

The World Sailing Championships were held in The Hague from August 11 to 20. Banque Populaire, a long-standing supporter of the French Sailing Federation and a Premium Partner of the Olympic & Paralympic Games Paris 2024, pays tribute to the athletes' outstanding performance.

Official recognition of Lauriane Nolot, a kitefoil specialist supported by Banque Populaire Méditerranée, the new World Champion in her discipline.
In the men's event, Axel Mazella, supported by Banque Populaire Méditerranée, won a bronze medal.
Two very promising medals with less than a year to go before Paris 2024.

In the ILCA 7 (Laser class), Jean-Baptiste Bernaz, backed by Banque Populaire Méditerranée, ended the World Championship with a victory in the Medal Race. It wasn't enough to get him on the podium, but he finished in 4th position overall.

Philippe Mourniac, director of the national French Team, went out of his way to emphasize the quality of these results, just a few weeks after the Test Event in Marseille, which was the season’s true objective.

For the 80 other countries, these world sailing events provided an opportunity to have their boats qualified for the Olympic Games Paris 2024. It's a great source of pride for France, as the host country of Paris 2024, to be able to present one boat per series in these championships.

The French team came away with 11 TOP 10s, including 3 podium finishes:

Lauriane NOLOT (supported by Banque Populaire Méditerranée): GOLD MEDAL/KITEFOIL
Ange MARGARON and Olivier DUTRUIX: GOLD MEDAL/ Para sailing: RS Venture connect sailing dinghy
Axel MAZELLA (Banque Populaire Méditerranée): BRONZE MEAL/KITEFOIL
Jean-Baptiste BERNAZ (Banque Populaire Méditerranée): 4th/ILCA 7 (Laser class)
Hélène NOESMOEN (Banque Populaire Grand Ouest): 5th/IQFOIL class
Gauthier BRIL: 6th/Para sailing: Hansa 303
Coline ROBERT: 7th/Para sailing: Hansa 303
Poema NEWLAND (Banque Populaire du Sud): 8th/KITEFOIL
Louis PIGNOLET: 8th/IQFOIL class
Benoit GOMEZ (Banque Populaire Aquitaine Centre Atlantique): 10th/KITEFOIL
Thomas GOYARD (Banque Populaire Méditerranée): 10th/IQFOIL class.

For further details: you can also click HERE to read the interview with Philippe Mourniac, Director of the French Sailing Teams, who talked to us about the potential and ambitions of French Olympic sailing at the Olympic Games Paris 2024.