The West Indies, already in the spotlight thanks to prestigious events such as the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe and the Transat Jacques-Vabre, are seeing the birth of an ambitious new project: Antilles Performances Sailing. The aim of this cluster is to pool skills and resources to develop ocean racing in the region.
A project born of the passion of two sailors
Rodolphe Sepho and Ulysse Pozzoli, two skippers living in Guadeloupe, have decided to join forces to make a common dream come true: to compete in the biggest transatlantic races. Rodolphe, who has competed in three Route du Rhum and one Transat Jacques Vabre, and Ulysse, who already has one transatlantic race under his belt, acquired Class40 boats to realize their ambitions. They quickly realized the benefits of pooling their efforts.
Ulysse points out: " To progress, to train, to structure ourselves on the water and on land, there's nothing better than bringing our two projects together and speaking with one voice". Rodolphe adds: "It's not easy to set up projects here, to have the financing, the infrastructure, the technical skills, and so on ".
Antilles Performances Sailing: a structuring hub
The Antilles Performances Sailing cluster will be inaugurated on June 8, 2024, in the presence of local elected officials, an event that will help legitimize the project in the eyes of future private partners. The new structure has already signed a partnership agreement with Marina Bas-du-Fort in Pointe-à-Pitre, which will provide skippers with essential logistical and technical support.
Towards new offshore races?
With a dedicated venue and official recognition, Antilles Performances Sailing aims to launch an ambitious sports program. Ulysse, who also coaches windsurfing, will be in charge of training. Discussions with Class40 and race organizers are progressing well, with the aim of creating a qualifying race for the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Route du Rhum.
In Guadeloupe and Martinique, other Class40 skippers are joining the project, including Yannick Rebuffat and Hervé Jean-Marie. Rodolphe and Ulysse also plan to organize a regatta around Guadeloupe and Martinique, forming a "small West Indian circuit". " It's difficult to structure ocean racing without having our own events and calendar, so that we can progress throughout the year "says Rodolphe.
Future prospects
With this new structure, Antilles Performances Sailing hopes to attract more Class40 skippers and boost ocean racing in the West Indies. By creating an environment conducive to training and organizing regattas, this center could become a nerve center for transatlantic sailing.
A promising future for West Indian sailing
The Antilles Performances Sailing initiative opens up new prospects for sailing in the West Indies. This ambitious project could transform the region into a major center for transatlantic racing, attracting more skippers and developing a real dynamic around sailing. The success of this initiative will depend on the ability to federate local players and structure a competitive calendar, but the first steps taken are promising. The passion and determination of Rodolphe Sepho and Ulysse Pozzoli point to a bright future for ocean racing in the West Indies.
