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PRESS RELEASE
– Tuesday, May 12, 2015
SEBASTIEN ROGUES’ DIAM 24 TRIMARAN AND GC32
CATAMARAN TO FLY NEW ENGIE COLORS
THE GDF SUEZ DIAM 24 TRIMARAN AND GC32 CATAMARAN WILL SOON HAVE A
NEW NAME AND A NEW LOOK TO REFLECT GDF’S SUEZ’S NEW IDENTITY: ENGIE.
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THE NEXT DIAM 24 EVENT IS THE GRAND PRIX DE L’ECOLE NAVALE DE BREST, TO BE
HELD FROM THURSDAY, MAY 14, TO SUNDAY MAY 17. THIS WILL BE FOLLOWED BY
THE SECOND GC32 EVENT OF THE SEASON, THE AUSTRIA CUP, WHICH WILL TAKE
PLACE FROM THURSDAY, MAY 27 TO SUNDAY, MAY 31, ON LAKE TRAUNSEE,
AUSTRIA.
THE DIAM 24 ENGIE: FIT FOR BATTLE
For this 14the edition of the Grand Prix de l’Ecole Navale, the Diam 24 continues to take center stage,
as it has throughout the numerous early season challenges. Its entry into the competition has
attracted a great deal of interest, with no less than twenty boats expected to take part, skippered by
Mock-up of the Diam 24 trimaran
ENGIE © Design Hickory
such renowned names in sailing as François Gabart, Armel Le Cléac’h, Vincent Riou, and Lionel
Lemonchois. The Diam 24 Series, which began in April on Pornichet Bay, will enter its fourth stage in
Brest harbor, the final stage prior to the much-anticipated Tour de France à la Voile in July.
Sébastien Rogues, Bertrand Castelnérac and Mathieu Richard will be going up against increasingly
tough competitors because the level, high to begin with, only continues to rise with each new
challenge. The Brest event promises to be very intense, both physically and tactically. One-design
sailing levels the playing field; the boats are identical, so the crew makes all the difference. This
makes it one of the best schools for upgrading skills and reaching the highest levels in sailing.
Sébastien Rogues can barely contain his enthusiasm for these nautical sparring matches, which
Mock-up of the GC32 catamaran
ENGIE © Design Hickory
demand a competitive approach completely different from that of offshore racing.
A WORD FROM SÉBASTIEN:
“This is the final stage of the Diam 24 circuit before the Tour de France à la Voile, and we hope to
advance against some very talented crews. Bertrand and Mathieu and I are extremely motivated. We
are aiming to move our trimaran, with its new ENGIE colors, to the top of the rankings.”
CREWING WITH SÉBASTIEN ROGUES IN DIAM 24
Bertrand Castelnérac (age 34) – Club Stade Français
Originally from France’s Lorient region and passionate about sailing his entire life, Bertrand was
French Crew Offshore Racing Champion in 2010 and 2011. As an eight-time participant in the Tour
Sébastien Rogues © C.Breschi
de France à la Voile, mounting the podium six times and winning the overall ranking in 2014, he is
Sébastien’s favorite co-skipper. In 2014, he participated in every crewed race of the Class40 GDF
SUEZ. The mainstay of the crew, Bertrand will also be present at every race on the GC32 circuit.
Mathieu Richard (age 38) – Club APCC Voile Sportive de Pornichet
At age 38, Mathieu is France’s number one match-racer. This two-time World Vice-Champion, who
hails originally from Nantes, is always where the action is. In 2010, he came within a hair’s breadth of
victory when he was nosed out by British sailing legend Ben Ainslie in an unforgettable Malaysian
finale that is still talked about today. Mathieu is no stranger to the Tour de France à la Voile, having
Bertrand Castelnérac - © C.Breschi
won the title four times (2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009). His experience and talent bring authentic skill
to the crew.
GRAND PRIX DE L’ÉCOLE NAVALE RACE SCHEDULE
Thursday, May 14, 3:00 p.m.: Races or speed crossing begin
Friday, May 15, beginning at 11:00 a.m.: Races or speed crossing
Saturday, May 16, beginning at 11:00 a.m.: Races or speed crossing
Sunday, May 17, beginning at 8:30 a.m.: Races or speed crossing – 3:30 p.m.: Awards ceremony
THE DIAM 24 TRIMARAN, THE NEW OFFICIAL BOAT OF THE TOUR DE
Mathieu Richard - © C.Breschi
FRANCE À LA VOILE
The Diam 24 is a one-design, 7.25-meter trimaran that has the unique feature of being able to be
dismantled in just an hour and 15 minutes. Thus, every crew starts with an identical boat. The boats
are sailed by three-person crews whose combined weight may not exceed 260 kilograms.
Crew of the Diam 24 ENGIE
SÉBASTIEN ROGUES - 2015 RACE SCHEDULE
- May 27 - 31, Traunsee Austria Cup – Austria (GC32 crewed)
- June 11 - 14, Normandy Sailing Week (Diam 24 crewed)
- June 24 - 27, Cowes Cup – England (GC32 crewed)
- July 4 - 26, Tour de France à la Voile (Diam 24 crewed)
- July 30 – August 2, Kiel Cup - Germany (GC32 crewed)
- August 27 - 30, Trofeo di Roma – Italy (GC32 crewed)
- September 30 – October 3, Marseille One Design – Marseille (GC32 crewed)
SÉBASTIEN ROGUES - ACHIEVEMENTS
At age 29, this Baule native already has a vast record of successes, dominating podiums and
achieving victories for several years in mini 6.50 and Class40 races.
2015
- 20th Grand-Prix Atlantique (crewed – Diam 24)
- 7th Spi Ouest-France (crewed – Diam 24)
- 7th Martinique Cata Raid (two-handed with Matthieu Souben – catamaran F18)
2014
- 2nd Marseille One Design (crewed – GC32 foiling catamaran)
- Winner, Qualif SNSM Solidaire (single-handed– Class40) and qualification for the Route du Rhum
- Winner, Normandy Channel Race (two-handed with Bertrand Castelnérac – Class40)
- Winner, Tour de Belle-Île (crewed – Class40)
- Winner, Grand Prix Guyader (crewed – Class40)
- Withdrew from the Route du Rhum due to equipment malfunction, after leading the race for 3 days.
2013
- Winner, Transat Jacques Vabre (two-handed)
© C.Breschi
- Winner, Rolex Fastnet Race Class40 (crewed)
- Winner, Sables-Horta-Les Sable (two-handed)
- Winner, Record SNSM (crewed)
- Winner, Armen Race (crewed)
- Winner, Grand Prix Guyader (crewed)
Find the latest news of Sébastien Rogues on the social networks:
www.sebastienrogues.com
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Tab: Rogues Sébastien Skipper ENGIE © Required
ABOUT THE ENGIE GROUP:
The ENGIE Group has supported Sébastien Rogues since 2009, accompanying him in his rise to the highest levels of competitive sailing. This partnership
is based on shared values embodied by Sébastien Rogues: respect for the natural environment, commitment, drive and surpassing one’s limits.
ENGIE has been a major sports sponsor in France for over 20 years through two spheres of activity: community involvement and solidarity. The Group
has been mainly active in women’s tennis, through its partnership with the French Tennis Federation (FFT) and Roland-Garros, and in soccer alongside the
legendary Paris-Saint Germain team since 2014. Finally, since last December, ENGIE has sponsored ten top athletes: 5 French women tennis players (Alizé
Cornet, Caroline Garcia, Kristina Mladenovic, Pauline Parmentier and Virginie Razzano) 4 members of the French National Olympic Sailing Team (Hélène
Defrance, Sofian Bouvet, Noé Delpech and Pierre Lecoq) and one member of the French National Track and Field Team (Mickaël Zézé).
The Group’s four sports sponsorship objectives are:

To promote Group visibility and involvement at the local level, and stimulate socio-economic activity in the regions. As a local operator, ENGIE
supports over 600 partnerships and over 200 sporting events throughout France, thereby promoting sports activity all over the country.

To promote athleticism, team spirit and performance. The Group sponsors sports federations and plays a leading role in the development and
promotion of international, national and local sporting events.

To provide long-term support for athletes through every stage of their career.

To promote social inclusion through sports, the Group supports such associations as “Fête le Mur” (encouraging social and economic
integration through tennis), “Gol de Letra” (assisting children and young persons in the suburbs of Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to find a new
way of learning), “Un but pour l’emploi, un but pour la vie” (youth employment through sports), and “Académie Bernard Diomède” (a high
school soccer academy).
www.engie.com
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