13 Mar Offshore racing revitalised with Massilia Sailing Academy
Together, we sail further. Working collectively in inshore or offshore racing is an excellent accelerator for improved individual performance. This same approach also offers the opportunity to raise awareness about preserving the biodiversity of the oceans. Since 2021, Massilia Sailing Academy’ efforts have focused on coaching and experience sharing, whether that involves optimising equipment or race management, with the goal of making everyone a stronger, more well-rounded, high-performance competitor.
By developing this idea, Ludovic Gérard, grand champion in multiple offshore races in the Mediterranean and the Atlantic, including the Transat Cap Martinique (double-handed in 2022, single-handed in 2024), has devised a new structure in Marseille that welcomes duos and solo sailors on various racer-cruisers.
Today, this collective has its sights on a fresh target for a young crew on a Sun Fast 30 One Design: a place in the Mixed Offshore Double Handed World Championship, which is set to be disputed in late summer in Cowes, UK.
Progressing and sharing knowledge
After a triumphant pairing with co-skipper Nicolas Brossay at the helm of his JPK1080 Solenn for Pure Ocean in 2022 in the first edition of the Cap Martinique, Ludovic Gérard singlehandedly secured line honours in May 2024. “I came to a point in my life as an amateur sportsman where I said to myself: what’s great about sailing is sharing experience. Professionally, I manage two companies in the maritime sector and it’s also a key element in the Merchant Shipping where I spent my entire career. As such, I was keen to continue with this guild-like transmission of knowledge, which has inspired me to invest time and energy into developing MSA.”
Launched in Marseille, the MSA association already boasts 50 members and unites two groups of racers. One group comprises owners of IRC boats measuring 9 to 11 metres, who are preparing for offshore races or transatlantic passages in double-handed or solo format, and includes a group of Mini 6.50 sailors, who recognise the benefits of preparing together. The winter training weekends featured eleven IRC boats, with coaches like Bernard Mallaret and Dimitri Deruelle, and the same number of Minis training with coaches Mathieu Claveau and François Jambou. The project’s relevance is reflected in the participation of boats from Hyères to the east and the Baie d’Aigues Mortes further to the west, consolidating the original ranks. They are accommodated through a highly effective collaboration with the Société Nautique de Marseille, the CNTL Marseille-Vieux Port, and the MSA’s founder club, the Union Nautique Marseillaise (Port de l’Anse de la Réserve), which also loan out their premises for briefings and workshops.
New wave: youngsters on the launching pad with the MSA
“When the Sun Fast 30 One Design project was launched by the Yacht Club de France, I thought it was a fantastic idea that very much tied in with my own values,” explains Ludovic Gérard. “I’ve invested in the future and, given that my company Alwena Shipping is performing well, I’ve chosen to commit to a sponsorship programme geared towards young people. This initiative is also backed by other sponsors like Crowe-Ficorec and Stream, Avocats & Solicitors.” The structure has acquired one of the first boat from the series. Despite certain teething issues, these have now been resolved by Jeanneau, allowing the original project to proceed with a young, mixed crew. “We announced our call for applications on social networks and through Marseille’s schools and universities and we subsequently selected Clara Bayol and Charles Hénon. In our view, they seem the most at ease on the boat and their profiles are the most in line with our values so they are ideal Pure Ocean ambassadors.”
Aged 23 and 22, Clara and Charles know there is still a long way to go before they can apply for one of France’s two spots in the Mixed Offshore Double Handed World Championship for one-designs. The former is a young engineer, chemistry and biotechnology graduate, and double world champion match racer, while the latter, her helmsman, has a bachelor’s degree in marketing management and is a familiar face on the Hobie Cat 16, J70 and match racing podiums. Both know they’re on the right track. “It really is an incredible opportunity…!” raves the young female sailor. “I’ve learnt a huge amount in lots of different domains since the start of the year. In addition to the on-the-water training sessions, we also have access to the theoretical aspect of training, which ranges from weather to the use of navigation software, to how to make composite or resin, so you can repair just about anything at sea.” “It’s remarkable,” her co-skipper agrees. “It’s an epic adventure and a great opportunity for youngsters like us who have a background in inshore racing, to get a leg up into offshore racing and learn to project manage.”
The provisional programme for the Sun Fast 30 One Design ‘Alwena for Pure Ocean’
Les 100 Milles de Port Grimaud (Yacht Club International de Port Grimaud)
Le Challenge Maurice Pommé (Société Nautique de Port de Bouc)
La Paprec 600 (Société Nautique de Saint-Tropez)
Les Dames à la barre (Union Nautique Marseillaise)
La Trinité – Cowes (Société Nautique de la Trinité sur Mer)
Cowes – Dinard (RORC et Yacht Club de Dinard)
Fastnet race (RORC)
In the event of a selection: World Sailing Mixed Offshore Double Handed World Championship
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Yohan Brandt
Massilia Sailing Academy
Treasurer: Nicolas Brossay
Based in Marseille, with the support of the clubs of the city’s Vieux-Port, the association organises on-the-water training sessions for sailors keen to improve their offshore racing skills. The academy aims to welcome more participants and promote ocean preservation with its members and the wider public.
Massilia Sailing Academy also champions the sharing and passing on of knowledge by training up a crew of youngsters in offshore racing and managing a sports project.
Massilia Sailing Academy organises the ‘24 heures Pure Ocean’, with the next edition playing out on 4 October 2025.
Alwena Shipping
Chairman: Ludovic Gérard
With the backing of its employees, in 2023 the company embarked on a sailing sponsorship campaign by making the Sun Fast 30 One Design Alwena for Pure Ocean available to young talent.