Yacht Club de Cannes: a formidable factory for champions!
by Jean François Cutugno 20 Apr 08:15 BST
In recent years, in addition to the French championship titles - you name it all - the young members of the Yacht Club de Cannes have got their hands on an enviable number of European and World titles and podiums, whether in ILCA, 470, RS Aero, or Wingfoil... It is one of the most awarded dinghy club in Europe thanks to its in-depth work and the brilliance of its racers.
470: three-time junior world champions (2022, 2023, 2024), two-time European junior champions (2022, 2023), bronze medallists at the senior European championships (2025), Matisse Pacaud and Lucie de Gennes, are at 24 years old not only the "spearheads" of both the YCC, and of the French Olympic team, with only nine members, having met the federal quotas, or finish in the top six of a world championship. They have everything to represent France at the next Olympic Games in 2028, and win a medal, despite the difficulties in obtaining a federal coaching worthy of their performances for more than six years.
Kitesurfing: Maxime Nocher, 32, finished third in the 2018 World Championships, in addition to numerous victories on the international circuit.
RS Aéro and ILCA 4: Louise Rahn was crowned RS Aero World Champion in Quiberon (U 17) in 2025. At 16 years old, she has just finished 3rd in the ILCA 4 European Championships in Murcia in mid-April.
ILCA 4: at only 14 years old, Nathan Werhle won the title of ILCA 4 (U16) world champion in Los Angeles in 2025, on the future race zone of the 2028 Olympic Games.
ILCA 4: a few days ago in Spain, Capucine Deltel (16 years old), was consecrated, becoming European champion ahead of the Northerners on this one-design that is as physically demanding as it is technically. Remember this name!
ILCA 6: Hermione Ghicas (Greece) and who chose to join the Yacht Club de Cannes for her excellence, was crowned World Champion last year in Los Angeles. She has all the makings of a future grown-up too.
Wingfoil: selected a few weeks ago for the French wingfoil team, Julien Rattotti did not take long to confirm his status, masterfully winning the European Championships in Naples last week after being world champion in big air. His successes on the world circuit are countless.
Optimist: Finally, the young Léane Barbarin, 12 years old, distinguished herself this week at the Optimist Spring International Cup in Carantec, a reference event that has seen all future champions perform, finishing second, and qualifying brilliantly for the 2026 European Championships.
For Jean-François Cutugno, President of the Yacht Club de Cannes, "these magnificent results in all these series testify in particular to the success of the "100% YCC" sector over the years. Capucine and Louise are the best examples, having started at the age of six in the club.
Between the support of the city of Cannes, the parents, the volunteers and permanent staff of the club, the great work of the coaches - Pierre Gueguen and Philippe Huguet in particular -, and of course the talent of our young sailors, we can only be admired and delighted!"