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SailGP: "Saint-Tropez is in the back of my mind," says French pilot Quentin Delapierre, almost two months before the French Grand Prix.

SailGP: "Saint-Tropez is in the back of my mind," says French pilot Quentin Delapierre, almost two months before the French Grand Prix.

The twelve exceptional catamarans of the Sail Grand Prix have set sail for Portsea Island, the only island city in the United Kingdom. From the stands along the Solent, the view of the sailing stadium, the English Channel, and the Normandy coast is breathtaking. To the left, Southsea Castle seems to dominate the spectacle of the F50s (15m).

The French team is heading into the British Grand Prix today with a vengeance. Having twice finished third in the last few American races (San Francisco and New York), Quentin Delapierre's crew came close to victory and showed great potential. The French driver hopes to secure another podium finish in Portsmouth, less than two months before the Saint-Tropez race (September 12-13).

What is your assessment of the American campaign?

The overall result is quite positive. Los Angeles was only our second Grand Prix of the season (1), we had to get into the swing of things. We had a very good first qualifying round there, before suffering a technical problem with the foils. Then we were in the running in San Francisco and New York, we felt very solid. I'm a little frustrated after the San Francisco final, seeing as we were in the lead until the last leg. But there are a lot of positives, especially after the small changes we made, in preparation and on board, it was stimulating to sail.

From an accounting perspective, and with your goal of finishing third in the grand final in Abu Dhabi, what would be the perfect European tour?

The ideal would be to string together finals, regardless of the position. We know that, from a financial point of view, it's a good deal in the general classification. And then, we have to make the jump, get closer to winning. The Spanish are walking on water at the moment, but they're not invincible, and we'll continue to try to get closer to them and approach these Grand Prix with humility.

The Spanish seem untouchable, boasting very high flight times. Why?

What they do well is that when there's a cut, a performance to be made, it swings in their favor. It's not luck. The level of confidence they display and their level of performance give them a good head start.

Did the boat repairs after the Australian wing incident at the end of March reassure you?

Yes, there are no problems now. It's true that the Australians' accident was traumatic for us and the entire fleet; it could have hit one of the sailors and caused serious injuries. But today, everything is fine.

What do you expect on the Portsmouth waters, which you will discover aboard an F50?

It's a body of water I'd describe as agricultural, with quite a few currents and prevailing winds coming from the open sea. These are conditions we've hardly ever seen on the circuit, so we'll have to adapt. And then, we're expecting a huge amount of enthusiasm at the Port Solent site, the country's largest sailing school, and that makes you want to perform.

Are you already thinking about the French Grand Prix in Saint-Tropez?

Yes, of course. Along with Sydney, it's the best Grand Prix of the season for me. It's a jewel of French culture and its gentle way of life; it's a great place to be, and the foreign crews are having a blast. I'm counting down the days, and winning there is at the back of my mind. It's a real goal.

1. The French were deprived of the first two Grands Prix of the season. In Dubai, United Arab Emirates, the organizers were unable to deliver the French F50 on time. Then in Auckland, New Zealand, the boat suffered wing damage during transport.

The French dream of winning in Saint-Tropez in less than two months. Photos by Jean-Marc Rebour and Camille Dodet
French F50 driver Quentin Delapierre hopes to perform well this weekend in England.
Var-Matin

Var-Matin

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