“When you look at the people who have been sailor of the year, there are a lot of big names. Olympic champions, people who have won the Vendée Globe …” Maëlenn Lemaître, 28, still can’t get over her name on the list of nominees. This Cherbourgoise was chosen by the French Sailing Federation with her Match Racing crew – small regattas between two boats on equal terms.
The five young women were sacred world champions in early November in Cherbourg-en-Cotentin, which allows them to have their place. The winner (s) will be unveiled this Monday, November 6 in Paris during a ceremony at the Olympia.
Already a beautiful CV in sailing
Maëlenn Lemaître is the only manchoise in the running. “I never said to myself ‘one day I’ll be selected’, it was really a surprise and an honor. It’s also a reward after all this journey, all these hours of training and all these good times”, points out the competitor, arrived in Cotentin in 2016. For her, the history in sailing began in Brittany, in Locquirec, a small village in the Côtes d’Armor.
From the age of six, the skipper “made her first rounds” in optimist competition. Then follows a course at the Pôle France in Brest, specializing in Olympic sailing, which brings together many young athletes. On small boats 4.20 and 4.70 the manchoise is doing quite well. She becomes vice-world champion at 14 then world team champion at 19. For five years, Maëlenn Lemaître has put down her bags in Normandy, to evolve in Match Racing.
“It was really my sporting project that brought me here, then also my life, my husband is from Normandy and also does Match Racing. We have no plans to leave”, continues the sailor. The adopted Cherbourgoise also works at Naval Group, when she is not on the water..
“Good prospects”
For her, being in the running to become sailor of the year is already a consecration therefore and even if her team is not sacred “It’s already super important to see that the federation considers our discipline. And at least if it is not this year, it gives good prospects.” In the list of nominees, we find in particular Franck Cammas and Charles Caudrelier, recent winners of the Transat Jacques Vabre in the Ultim category, but also in the Rolex Fastnet Race in August at Cherbourg-en-Cotentin.