53rd WMC Sailing - Brest (FRA) - Opening Ceremony

BREST (FRA) – After the welcome of the delegations and the training on the sea, the Opening Ceremony of the 53rd World Military Sailing Championship took place at the Naval Training Center of Brest!

The members of the 7 participating delegations (Canada, Denmark, Spain, France, Greece, Poland and USA) attended the opening ceremony which took place in the presence of the following authorities: Navy Captain Spyridon Andriopoulos, CISM Official Representative for the event and member of the Board of Directors; Navy Captain Jorge G. Flethes, PCSC Sailing; Rear Admiral Xavier Tourneux, Commander of the Defense Bases of Brest and Lorient; Captain Emmanuel Mauban, Chief of Staff CECLANT; Lieutenant Renaud Corbay, head of sports CECLANT; Colonel Sylvain Nogrette, representative of the CNSD; and international and local authorities.

Navy Captain Spyridon Andriopoulos took the floor to welcome the participants: "I am grateful to be here in Brest for the 53rd World Military Sailing Championship as the Official CISM Representative. After the three difficult years we all faced due to the pandemic, we can now take off our masks and start CISM events again. It is very important for military athletes to meet on the sports field and not on the battlefield."

He also added: "I would like to thank the French Delegation to CISM for their efforts and congratulate the local organizing committee for their excellent work. I can tell you that all the small details have been taken into account and I am convinced that we will have a great week here in Brest. I wish all the athletes good luck and I am ready to see you reflect the CISM motto: "Friendship through Sport".

Rear Admiral Xavier Tourneux, Commander of the Defense Bases of Brest and Lorient, also took the floor to welcome the participants: "We are proud to have been selected by the International Military Sports Council to organize the 53rd edition of the World Military Sailing Championship, as it was already the case in 1949 and 2005. We would like to thank the Council for this choice and the trust placed in CECLANT to organize this major event." 

"This decision is particularly wise because the Brest harbor is one of the most beautiful sailing area in the world. The Grand Prix de l'Ecole Navale, which just ended last Saturday, is a wonderful illustration. The sponsor of the competition, the seaman Quentin Delapierre, will also be able to testify to this I think. This beautiful stage is now ready! We are all looking forward to some exciting racing, combining suspense, tactics, commitment and energy. I am sure we are going to experience a very beautiful, unifying and sporting event." ended Xavier Tourneux.

Now it's time for the competition! Until Saturday, June 4, the 7 nations will compete in match racing at the Moulin Blanc in Brest! We will note the presence of Petty Officer 1st Class Jean-Baptiste Bernaz who has just been crowned World Laser Champion in Mexico and will embark with his teammates to defend the colors of France once again.

See you today for this amazing competition!

All the pictures of the event will be available on the CISM Flickr account !

Press Kit

Dowload the press kit of the 53rd WMC Sailing here !

(Source: Sillages Communications & French Delegation to CISM)