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Nine young sailors from the Saint Barth Yacht Club, accompanied by Cindy Brin, flew to France for a week-long training camp with international coach Didier Butault (April 3–10), followed by the Optimist National Spring Cup (C.N.P.) taking place in Carantec (Finistère—April 11–19).
In preparation for the Carantec National Spring Cup (C.N.P.), nine young sailors from the Public sailing school are participating in a one-week Optimist training camp on-site with Didier Butault, an international coach. The delegation consists of the Minimes Stanley Haes, Lourenço Rolo Couto Jorge, Tao Carmona Bouvrais, Lewis Maxor, Léo Favreau, and Nathanaël Basset; the Benjamins Ethan Blanchet and Axel Vanden Eynde; and the Poussine Louisa Vanden Eynde. During this training camp, they will practice under competition conditions, including the very weak ocean currents in Saint-Barth, crowded starts on the water, and the race course.
Then it will be time for the C.N.P., which will bring together nearly 300 sailors aged 10 to 15, among the best young French hopefuls. Five young sailors from Saint-Barthélemy are in the top 80 nationally: Tao Carmona Bouvrais (2nd in the national rankings out of 676 Minimes), who qualified during the Semaine Nautique de Schoelcher, as well as Stanley Haes and Lourenço Rolo Couto Jorge (6th nationally), who qualified during the Opti Cup Cap d'Agde. Not to mention Lewis Maxor and Léo Favreau. “It’s simple: this has never happened before. Never, since the club’s competition group was created,” emphasizes Cindy Brin, proud of her protégés. “Five young sailors who can aim for a spot on the national team. It’s more than just a performance. It’s a generation. It’s hard work, commitment, and extraordinary determination. After several years of hard work, the efforts are paying off. Behind every training session, behind every sacrifice, there is always learning, progress, one more step toward the top level. Hats off to the boys!”
The goal for the young sailors from Saint-Barth is now to secure two spots for the Optimist European Championships, which will take place this summer from July 23–30.
Organized by the Carantec Sailing Club, the C.N.P. 2026 is sponsored by Charlotte Yven, the first woman to win the French Elite Offshore Racing Championship, as well as the winner of the Concarneau-Saint-Barth Transat - on the Macif skipper’s boat in 2023 with Lois Berrehar and the 2025 edition in a duo with Hugo Dahlenne.
