Sailing: the many plans of François Verdier

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

Issu du match racing et de la Coupe de l’America, l’Héraultais François Verdier se lance maintenant dans la course au large qu’il veut développer dans la Baie de Camargue.

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

"After the Baccalaureate, I took a sabbatical year, I went to Australia and among my projects, I had that of’ rsquo;embark on a boat to visit all the Loyalty Islands in New Caledonia. It’s there that I caught the virus", explains the Héraultais who grew up in Mas-de-Londres.

Also read: Sailing: Med Max Occitanie Saïdia Resorts will connect one continent to another

Who went from the drama conservatory to the sports college with a sailing option. "I had a low level and I had only done rugby and athletics before", remembers the native of Montpellier, convinced of having found his way. "I started sailing on the Etang de Thau at the Mèze club with Christophe André as coach, specializing in match racing. I also interviewed in a crew", recalls François Verdier.

World Match Racing Champion

He will then experience an upward trajectory since three years later, he is part of a good French crew and has the status of a high-level athlete by being detected in 2005. The sailor will participate in the Coupe de America under the colors of China Team then being an active member of the French match racing team with a world champion title in 2009 with Damien Iehl, who takes care of the DIO with him .

"I’I held the position of number 1 a lot which is very physical but also because the coxswains appreciated me because I’ had a good image of the tactical game, particularly during departures, he specifies.

The Brissagol is part of the French projects for the America's Cup with Bertrand Pacé and Groupama Team France as crew. Then following financial reductions, 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 La Grande-Motte Yacht Club but his passion for the open sea tickled him. "I take great pleasure in sailing offshore solo." A project which should lead him to compete in the Route du Rhum in 2026. On the former boat of Kito de Pavant since he will co-skipper with Anthony Streicher who bought him.

"He’is the head of a company that deals in business networking. We freelanced together last year on Jean-Pierre Balmes' boat during the Paprec 600. "  Their goal through the Phare 40 sailing association is to sail wounded members of the gendarmerie and the army on a professional sailboat, which will be possible on the crewed races of the Mediterranean Class40 circuit in 2024. The pair will also depart from the Med Max Occitanie Saïdia resorts in October.

"This is 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 training structure for this class in the Bay of Camargue. "We have a great playground with this body of water and we must develop it", hopes François Verdier, proud of these roots and its territory.

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

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