Charline Picon’s first steps in 49er FX

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Five meters in length, three sails, two navigators … For Charline picon, there are plenty of new things to get used to on the 49er FX. The two-time Olympic windsurfing medalist has taken on a new challenge in view of the 2024 Olympic Games: change discipline! A challenge for which she is preparing alongside sailor Sarah Steyaert, laser radial world champion (a single-handed dinghy) in 2008.

The 49er FX, on which the two sailors train. La Rochelle, November 9, 2021. © Radio France
– Solene Gardré

Focus on technique, before thinking about strategy

“For the moment I have my head in the handlebars!” In La Rochelle, Charline Picon has started training for 49er last September. “It was the project, I promised it after the Tokyo Games!” reminds the sailor. a challenge “crazy” for La Rochelle, because “three years is a very short time to master a new discipline.”

Training is therefore almost daily at France Sailing Pole Rochelais, and for the moment Charline Picon is revising her “technical ranges”. On a 49er FX, many parameters differ from a windsurfing board. “Before, I was alone on my board, which is rather small … There, the boat is five meters long, it has two wings … Everything is different!”

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Sarah Steyaert, back on the sea

In this course, she can count on her teammate, the sailor Sarah Steyaert, laser radial world champion in 2008. “She has sailed 49ers before, her experience is invaluable”, explains Charline Picon. “For the time being, I often let myself be guided by Sarah. “

Sarah [Steyaert] knows the 49er well, because she did the Rio Games on it. She tries to guide me as much as possible so that we get to the international level fast enough “- Charline Picon

Sarah Steyaert already has experience with 49er FX. Here, on the left, in 2016 at the Olympic Games in Rio, with Aude Compan.
Sarah Steyaert already has experience with 49er FX. Here, on the left, in 2016 at the Olympic Games in Rio, with Aude Compan. © Maxppp
– Olivier Hoslet

Sarah Steyaert had stopped his career few years ago. “But Charline did not give up”laughs this adopted Rochelle. “She asked me many times to be her teammate!” A teacher, Sarah Steyaert thinks about it several times before embarking on the adventure. “I had not lost the desire to sail”, she smiles.

She said to herself “confident” for preparation for the Olympic Games. “In just 20 sailings, Charline has gained experience and is already taking initiatives. And things will get better!”


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