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19 Apr 2011

Catching up with Nicolas Charbonnier (FRA) - Video Interview

Top 470 sailor, Nicolas Charbonnier of France has an impressive pedigree – not least due to his 2008 Olympic Bronze Medal in the two-person dinghy men's event. Nicolas has just won the 2011 Princess Sofia Trophy and before heading back to France to prepare for Semaine Olympique Francaise, the next event on the ISAF Sailing World Cup tour, he took some time out to chat about his past 470 career and ambitions to secure as he put it “a better colour” medal at the 2012 Olympics.

Photos by Christophe Launay

Nicolas is now sailing with new crew Jeremie Mion – who himself has an awe inspiring pedigree for such a young sailor. Mion won the 2009 and 2010 470 Junior World Championships and the 2009 and 2010 470 Junior European Championships. They have already proved themselves as a formidable combination and will next be heading to Semaine Olympique Francaise where they are planning to defend the gold medal Nicolas won in 2010.

Nicolas' sailing pathway saw him on the international sailing stage from an early age and he steered his way to 3 medals in the ISAF Youth Sailing World Championships - two gold and one bronze (Gold – 1999 and 1997, Bronze – 1998). Only one helmsman did better, securing three gold ISAF Youth World medals in successive years (1978 and 1979 – 420, 1980 - Laser II) - Chris Dickson (NZL). Dickson went onto America's Cup fame, most recently on BMW Oracle Racing, the Volvo Ocean Race, Match Racing World Champion and Olympian.

Charbonnier made the transition to the 470 in 2000, the year after his last gold medal at the Youth Worlds and has been on peak form since. Holding an ISAF Sailing World Ranking of #11, he has only recenty dropped out of the world's top 10 where he had secured himself for a number of years. A world class sailor who is still at the top of his game – Nicolas is on a mission for another Olympic Medal – who can resist?

When not campaigning for the Olympics, Nicolas sails a range of other boats from multihulls to America's Cup, but puts his adaptability and skills in the other types of sailing down to his 470 background.

James Boyd of thedailysail.com gets an insight into what makes Nicolas tick:

 

 

All images © Christophe Launay www.sealaunay.com