Crowned European champions in Knokke in July, the 18-year-old from Geneva and Nyonnais are sailing on cloud nine in their final Nacra 15 season.
Text: Grégoire Surdez
No, the Nacra 15 is not dead. Many thought that the series would suffer as a result of its withdrawal from the Youth Olympic Games program. But that’s not the case. Because it remains a fantastic learning tool for embarking on an Olympic campaign in Nacra 17,” says Marie Mazuay. And above all, it’s an extremely fun medium that remains affordable.” Up to the age of 18, it’s an ideal platform for forming mixed pairs.
With Clément Guignard, Marie Mazuay forms a golden pair. Having reached the end of their cycle in this category this season, they are clearly among the leaders. So it was with undisguised ambition that they set course for the Europeans in Knokke-le-Zoute, Belgium. “We got there a good week before the competition and were able to train in all kinds of wind conditions. But the most important thing for us was to get used to the current, which can be very strong at sea. It’s a parameter we don’t come across very often, as we do a lot of sailing on Lake Geneva!”
Having been partners since 2021, the two sailors from Lake Geneva are enjoying a banner year in 2023. World vice-champions in February in the United States, and first European crew since the title went to Americans Cody Roe and KJ Hill, they logically imposed their science of regatta on the complicated waters of Knokkele-Zoute. Two wins, two 2nd places and a consistent top-10 finish, except on the final day, enabled them to claim gold ahead of Belgium and the USA. “A nice revenge on the team that beat us in February,” says Marie Mazuay. In Belgium, 74 boats and fifteen nations competed. All of which adds real sporting value to this golden medal. The sailor from Club Nautique de Versoix now hopes to end her Nacra 15 career on a high note at the ISAF Youth Worlds in Brazil in December. Only one crew per nation qualifies. Switzerland should therefore logically send its new golden duo to the coalface. But before that, the Genevan will have to go through the qualification process with Alinghi Red Bull Racing. Selected for the final phase, she has her sights set on the Women’s or Youth America’s Cup. “It’s a great reward to have been chosen, but it’s only the beginning and I know I’ll have to give it my all to keep dreaming.”
The Nacra 15 is alive and well. It can even take you all the way to the Cup. “And above all, next year Clément and I will be launching our Olympic project by switching to the Nacra 17.”