Three years after having been the Tactician with Le Defi Areva in the 2003 America’s Cup, Sebastien Destremau has come out of self-imposed exile, emerging aboard Team China in the 2007 America’s Cup in Valencia, Spain.  

Sebastien has spent the past three years as a freelance journalist and the Sailing & Development Manager at Fremantle Sailing Club in his hometown of Perth, Australia. He has focused on organizing and managing sailing events like the Clipper Race, Etchell World and Velux 5 Oceans. “I am a yachtsman first and foremost whether competing on the water or involved in event management off the water!” he said. 

"When you are addicted to the America’s Cup it is pretty hard to stay out of it for too long." That's how Sebastien explained his decision to join Team China.

With numerous titles to his name including four World titles, Sébastien has prepared one Olympic games campaign, participated in the Whitbread around-the-world-race, finished first in the Kenwood Cup, competed with Team New Zealand as Co-skipper and sailed the infamous 1998 Sydney-Hobart aboard Ausmaid. He is now a veteran of three America’s Cup’s however he is widely known as a keen match racing Skipper and skilled Tactician.

It’s no surprise that Luc Gellusseau, one of the integral figures behind Team China, tapped him on the shoulder last year to come back and participate onboard the “Red Dragon” for the 2007 edition. “It was fantastic to sail with like minded people again. I am excited about being part of Team China. We really will be enjoying this America’s Cup for the right reasons even if we all know it will be hard to avoid being at the bottom of the leader board,” said Sebastien.

Ranked 13^th in the world as a tactician, Destremau was a wanted man however he chose Team China because “With a very young family (3 year old twins), I didn't want to spend the last two years training in Europe and testing two boats. China Team with a very short program suited me perfectly this time around”

The yachting races consist of 12 teams representing nine countries and will be held this European spring in Valencia, Spain.  The America's Cup begins in April with the Louis Vuitton Cup races, which narrow down the field of challengers from eleven to one. By early May, seven of the eleven challengers will pack up and go home. The one challenger left sailing at the end of June will race against Alinghi, the Swiss team that won the last America's Cup in 2003.

When the America's Cup is over, Sebastien and his family will spend a bit of time in Europe before returning to Perth full time. “Why would you live anywhere else? It's a great place to be, and who knows maybe one day Australia will have another crack at it" he concluded. 

Mrs Carroll 

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 10 January 2007 )