The Road to Rio with Billy Besson & Marie Riou (FRA)
by Jonny Fullerton, Grand Prix Sailing 25 Apr 2015 21:38 BST
25 April 2015
Billy Besson & Marie Riou (FRA) at ISAF Sailing World Cup Hyères © Christophe Favreau / FFVolie
Jonny Fullerton of Grand Prix Sailing is in Hyeres to talk to Billy Besson & Marie Riou of the French Nacra 17 French team.
Jonny Fullerton: Billy you have won many catamaran sailing championships, two Nacra 17 Worlds and an F18 World Championship so how would an Olympic medal compare in Rio 2016?
Billy Besson: Only if it is the right colour! laughs, you never can compare it, as a sportsman you want to compete at this competition, it is the highest level and very important.
Jonny Fullerton: Marie you have sailed dinghies before including the Elliots in the last Olympics, but it is very different racing in the Nacras?
Marie Riou: Yes, I have also sailed in 420s, 470s and match racing we used to sail at about 5 knots boatspeed, but in the catamaran it's a really fast boat, it's different because you have to think quickly and make decisions fast and it's a really fun boat to sail.
JF: And a lot more physically demanding?
MR: Yes exactly, for the arms especially! I work the mainsail and the spinnaker so it's hard to trim.
JF: Some partnerships sail with the female steering and some prefer the men to helm?
BB: Yes, but it's split about 50/50 at the moment so I think it's very cool for a mixed boat.
JF: You have such strong French teams trying to qualify for Rio. The competition must be really tough between you?
BB: Yes, for the French team it's very hard because we have a very good team, all trying to get the card to Rio.
MR: With this team our group has to work so hard it makes us stronger than our other competitors.
JF: What do you think of the sailing courses in Rio?
BB: We raced at the Test Event and again in December in Rio, it's a perfect spot for sailing and the area is surrounded by the city, that makes it a great spectacle. It's a very spiritual place with the surrounding mountains and landmarks.
JF: Apart from qualification what are your main goals this season?
MR: Our major objective will be the world championships, we are racing for our third championship victory in a row!
JF: And Billy I understand you are also racing in the Flying Phantom foiling cats at Eurocat in Cannes with Franck?
BB: Yes, but not in the same boat! (laughs) No way, he is too small to be crew (joking)! I think it's very important to do other cat sailing. Everybody wants to go foiling now, it's not the same as racing the Nacra 17 but it's the same sensation.
JF: Merci Beaucoup et bon chance.
BB & MR: Merci
Become a fan of Grand Prix Sailing at www.facebook.com/grandprixsailing