TEAM
Team of Odyssee 2005-2006
The success of a solo project relies on a competent and united team.
Anne-Henri
le Gouvello
President of the ODYSSEE DU VENT association, eldest of a family of ten, is more than a brother for Raphaëla. As adviser and mentor he has accompanied his sister on all her adventures, has shared both the hard times and the good times. Anne-Henri has a lot of experience. He worked for over twenty years in maritime transport and ship building. For Raphaëla and her team he brings serenity, enthusiasm and his knowledge of the sea. In particular he checks and clears each and every aspect concerning safety.
Hélène
André
Secretary and treasurer of the ODYSSEE DU VENT association, Hélène is also there for all of Raphaëla’s adventures, right in the thick of the action, she supports the windsurfer unstintingly from start to finish, day after day. She takes care of the daily telephone radio contacts with Raphaëla and then uses that information to write up the daily bulletin on the internet site. Their close relationship clearly contributes to Raphaëla’s success.
Anne
Combier
As Associate Director of the Hickory agency and with the team (Frédéric LEONARD and Alexandre DURAND) she deals with the general coordination of the global project, logistics, organizing the christening, transporting the board to the other side of the world, maintaining relations with partners and the press, drawing up partnership contracts and establishing a press book. Specialized in the management of top sporting events, the agency accompanies the sportsmen and women at every stage, enabling them to concentrate their energies on physical and mental preparation.
Jean-Claude
Belot
Jean-Claude is a physiotherapist and a sports enthusiast; he has worked with Raphaëla every week since 1999 to strengthen her joints and give preventive and curative treatment. It can truly be said that our physiotherapist knows his patient well!
Jean-François
Bonnin
It is Jean-François Bonnin who will ensure the difficult task to guide Raphaela and his board in the meanders of the tropical meteorology of the southern Indian Ocean. Southerner of birth but Breton of adoption, Jean-François works with the sailing world since a few years. It will make profitable his 10 years of experiment in meteorology and his navigations on various oceans around the sphere to make it possible to the windsurfer to arrive at good port, at the Reunion Island.
Hélène
Chevreuil
Is the doctor ready to listen in case of problems! Hélène Chevreuil is a GP specializing in nutrition. Hélène Chevreuil and Raphaëla have worked together since 1999. Thanks to her skills and enthusiasm, our windsurfer has accomplished all her crossings so far without losing a single kilo. The nutritionist had a real challenge there – successfully taken up!
Sébastien
Destremeau
An Australian citizen of French nationality, Sébastien represented France in the 2003 America’s Cup as a tactician for the “Défi Areva”. Aged 40, he has a long list of impressive sporting achievements, holding four world titles. He has organized, managed and participated in many major nautical events. From 2003 to 2005 he was responsible for the marketing, promotion and commercial development of the Ozboys Challenge. He is currently director of “Sailing and Development” at the Fremantle Sailing Club. Sébastien will be our correspondent in Australia, in charge of preparing the arrival of the team and the sailboard in Australia. He will be assisted by the Australian, Scott McAllister.
Cyril
Ducrot
Cyril Ducrot is a well-experienced sailor. For instance, he just finished at the 18th rank in the last Mini Transat Edition (solo on a 6.50 meter monohull, La Rochelle to Salvador de Bahia in Brazil). This 29 years-old sailor combines his professional skipper and sailing instructor background with his job experience with the technical high level teams in 2003 and 2004 (several "FIGARO" and two "Vendée Globe" ,Temenos and Benefic, 60 foot monohulls). Cyril is a calm person, with a good team spirit; these qualities associated with a broad and acute expertise in technical matters make him a key team member with the right profile to assist Raphaëla. He will help the windsurfer in all the crucial steps of the project, in particular all technical and nautical aspects related to the preparation of the prototype sailboard and the Indian ocean crossing.
Scott
McAllister
This 53 year-old Australian began his career as a navigator during the late 1960s as part of the youngest crew participating in the Sydney-Hobart regatta. Since then he has taken part in many international regattas all over the globe, (Sweden, Sardinia, Hong Kong and Australia) winning both the Sydney-Hobart and Hobart-Auckland races. He has also been five times a challenger in the America’s Cup. Scott alternates his activities as manager and crew member for the races and continues to extend his list of achievements, confirming his position as an experienced navigator on seas all over the world.
Jean-Claude
Menard
through Françoise Lecourtois, who prepared Raphaëla’s previous crossings and is the official trainer of the French windsurfing team, Raphaëla met Jean-Claude Menard whose remarkable skills lie in the field of physical and mental preparation. An intensive and perfectly adapted period of preparation has been underway since December 2004 and will continue through to spring 2006. it includes many kilometers of running, cycling, rowing and swimming for Raphaëla to be at the peak of her form for this new challenge! Jean-Claude trains many top level athletes. In particular he works with windsurfers Faustine Merret (Olympic champion, 2004) and Julien Bontemps (World champion, 2004 and 2005).
Véronique
Millour
Aged 52, is an artist and sculptress and a very old friend. As a member of the ODYSSEE DU VENT association, she has always “lent a hand” in emergencies and for all Raphaëla’s windsurfing adventures. An experienced qualified sailor, she works regularly with the technical team and assists Laurent Chateignier with preparation. In the field she manages all the minor logistical details for the team to function well while they are away.
Rémi
Weyl
As webmaster of all the Internet sites concerning Raphaëla’s different crossings, Rémi is once again using his talent to set up the official web site for the 2006 Indian Ocean crossing.
Base
Nautique 
Fremantle
Sailing Club
Club
Nautique de Pénestin