Five times French radio-controlled sailing champions, they want the world championship in Vendée

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This section is the smaller of Sablais Water Sports, and yet she represents the club in the most major championships sailing radio controlled.

Romain Dubreuil, at the helm of the section, relaunched it ago twelve years oldit counts today nine members distributed throughout the Pays de la Loire, gathered in Sables-d'Olonne.

In twelve years, the section has grown and improved until today it obtains five French champion titles and send three of its members to represent France at the world championships.

The last ones took place in Australiain Galdstone, in mid-October and these are the 10^ethe 6^e and the 4^e place which were gleaned by the Sablais, in the Class 1 meterthe most widespread.

The means to put in place

If, faced with the IMOCAs which are currently sailing on the oceans of the worldthe comparison is big, it is no less meaningless.

“We all have our own equipment, they are our own investments, some are even sponsored a little,” says Romain Dubreuil.

Because for these skippers on a stretch of water, the categories of expenses remain similar to more common sized boats.

You have to pay for travel, registration for regattas and renewal of equipment.

We play sailing games from time to time, we change our hull, a bit like any other skipper. I draw the parallel with the Vendée Globe. They are building a new boat, we are the same thing. You shouldn't see them as toys, a 1 meter Class boat, efficient and ready to sail, is worth around €4,000.

Foils on radio-controlled boats

To perfect their boat, skippers must also put on a handyman cap. “We spend almost as much time tinkering and optimizing as we do navigating,” because the goal remains to go faster than the others.

To push optimizationsome do not hesitate to use the machines available today.

“Some are starting to manufacture boat hulls using 3D printing and some fittings. It’s something that lowers the cost of discipline,” says Romain Dubreuil. And even, drawing inspiration from technologies on racing boats like foils.

“Some people have fun building boats with foil, but it’s not easy to compete with this kind of boat.”

A world championship in 2028?

In this sport, the world championships are held every two years.

In 2024, it was in Australia that the competition took place. And for those of 2026, the Sablais club had submitted your file. The competition which brings together 76 competitors from 24 nations would have taken place in La Ch'noue. Finally, it is England that they will play each other.

“We will perhaps reapply in 2028we were motivated for 2026, we’ll see,” concludes Romain Dubreuil.

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