SSL Team FRA – By Sailors for Sailors

THE FOOTBALL WORLD CUP... IN SAILING

15 NOV - 13 DEC 2026 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Events

Upcoming

1/8 FINALS

G4 - Race 1

15:30

02 December 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R2D2

R2C1

ARG

FRA

Results

Upcoming

1/8 FINALS

G4 - Race 2

11:00

03 December 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R2D2

R2C1

ARG

FRA

Results

Upcoming

1/8 FINALS

G4 - Race 3

12:30

04 December 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R2D2

R2C1

ARG

FRA

Results

Upcoming

1/8 FINALS

G4 - Race 4

14:00

05 December 2026

BRAZIL

Participants

R2D2

R2C1

ARG

FRA

Results

See All Races

News

40 DAYS TO GO : THE ROAD TO RIO IS HEATING UP

Only 40 days to go until the SSL Gold Cup Final Series in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil The countdown is on, and preparations are moving into high gear. Our shore…

Date10.10.2026

LES BLEUS: Peyron Leads SSL Team France’s Charge in Rio

SSL Team France, known as LES BLEUS, is heading into the SSL Gold Cup with a strong mix of offshore experience, high-level fleet racing and youthful energy. Led by legendary…

Date09.10.2026

Guanabara Bay: The Stage for the SSL Gold Cup 2026

From Olympic waters to the world stage of nation-against-nation sailing, Guanabara Bay will provide the backdrop for the 2026 SSL Gold Cup. From 18 November to 13 December, 40 nations…

Date02.10.2026

LES BLEUS

THE SEA IN THEIR BLOOD!

Masters of lakes, seas and oceans !

Les bleus ! From tradition to innovation, they are always at the forefront!
Masters of the oceans and seas, French sailors have illustrated themselves in ocean racing and inshore regattas for decades. From Baron Bich to Loïck Peyron, Eric Tabarly, Olivier de Kersauson or Franck Cammas, France is rich with renowned sailors who have braved the elements around France and the world to engrave their name in history. Whatever the boat, from maxi multihull, windsurfing, monohull, dinghy or skiff, the French “savoir-faire” has delivered success! Many records have been broken! No less than 46 Olympic medals have been claimed since 1900 proving that France is one of the best sailing nations in the world. For the SSL Gold Cup, the French team will align some of the best among Olympic, inshore, match racing and offshore sailors. A strong team of women and men, les Bleus will be united under their flag and with one goal, to add another victory to France’s impressive sailing achievements!

Statistics

THE COUNTRY

1200 Yacht Clubs
98000 Club Members
France mainland is bordered by 4 seas and 9000 km coast

ACHIEVEMENTS

15 Olympic Gold Medals
12 Olympic Silver Medals
19 Olympic Bronze Medals
8 Vendée Globe’s and 8 Jules Verne victories

Ssl ranking

SSL best ranked woman: 14
SSL best ranked man: 1 (2019)
SSL nations ranking: 7 (07/2020)

MAIN EVENTS

Semaine Olympique Française
Tour de France à la Voile
Vendée Globe, Route du Rhum

300,000

Loick Peyron, SSL Team France Captain, had sailed around the world several times, and the sum of all his navigation is 300,000 miles!! 52 Transatlantic races and four round-the-world!

The captain

Loïck Peyron

Loïck Peyron is a living legend. From ‘round the World’, transatlantic and America’s Cup, few sailors have taken on so many challenges! Loïck with his spirit of sharing and helping the new generation is a true mentor for the French Team. His critical eye and mind see the potential in each sailor, offering the perfect advice, always with a note of humour!

THE LEADERS

Edward Masse

“Doudou” is Loïck Peyron first choice! The SSL Team France Captain, decided to select first the N.1, a tricky position requiring agility, speed and precision in action.

“Able to perform anything on board, physical and precise, fast and efficient, the N.1 is one the most important role on the SSL 47. Doudou’s experience in this position will bring confidence to the whole team.” Explains Loïck Peyron.
A role suited to Edouard Masse who at the age of 37 has competed in 5 Tour de France, many seasons in IRC and TP 52. At the head of his own sail loft, he is in his true element in this position dealing with sails and spinnaker, or on top of the mast!

Jean-Baptiste Bernaz

Recently crowed ILCA7 (Laser) World Champion, Jean-Baptiste Bernaz already has four Olympic Games on the clock, first Beijing in 2008 (8th), London in 2012 (10th) Rio in 2016 (5th) and Tokyo in 2020 (6th). He is now embarking on his 5th Olympic campaign, determined to win the first Olympic medal in ILCA7 for France. For Team France Captain, Loïck Peyron, JB Bernaz is a talented and accomplished athlete. “On the racing strategy as well as for the boat speed, JB will know how to bring his best to the whole team.”

Xavier Rohart

First selected through the SSL ranking, he has left his print on French sailing after 6 Olympic Campaigns in Finn and Star and a Bronze medal at the Athens Olympic Games. Coach for the French Sailing Federation, Xavier is also the SSL Team France manager, discovering talents in the rich diversity and potential of French sailors.

Xavier will bring his experience and calm to the afterguard where tactical decisions will be made to bring the French SSL 47 to victory!

THE YOUTH FACTOR

The New Generation is well represented in the Team France. Beside our Champions, the team was reinforced with three young sailors from diverse background: dinghy, Inshore, Match racing… Ange Delerce, Thimothée Rossi and Calixte Benoit have quickly transited from the dinghy to inshore and match racing. The intention is to optimize the group and work for the future bringing dynamism and freshness as well as transversal backgrounds.: This is the “Bleu” spirit!

Confirmed Athletes

Captain | 10

BOW | 1

TBD | TBD

MAIN TRIMMER | 7

HELM | 8

Pit | 3

Grinder | 6

TACTICIAN | 8

Floater | 14

FLOATER | 11

TRIMMER | 4

Potential Team Position

1 BOW EDOUARD MASSE	2 MID-BOW ANGE DELERCE
3 PIT JULES BIDEGARAY	4 GRINDER ANTONY MUNOS
5 TRIMMER EMERIC MICHEL	6 TRIMMER TIMOTHEE ROSSI
7 MAIN TRIMMER XAVIER ROHART	8 HELMS JEAN-BAPTISTE BERNAZ
9 TACTICIAN MATHIEU RICHARD	10 CAPTAIN LOÏCK PEYRON
11 FLOATER CALIXTE BENOIT

BOW

MID-BOW

PIT

GRINDER

TRIMMER

TRIMMER

MAIN TRIMMER

HELMS

TACTICIAN

CAPTAIN

FLOATER

SQUAD

LOÏCK PEYRON	EDOUARD MASSE
THIBAULT JULIEN	XAVIER ROHART
JEAN-BAPTISTE BERNAZ	JULES BIDEGARAY
KEVIN PEPONNET	CAMILLE LECOINTRE
ALOISE RETORNAZ	MATHIEU RICHARD
PACO LEPOUTRE	ANGE DELERCE
CALIXTE BENOIT	EMERIC MICHEL
TIMOTHEE ROSSI	ANTONY MUNOS