CAPTAIN | 10
The Black Pearls
Their playground is the Pacific Ocean
Proudly Polynesian, fiercely Oceanian
Located in the middle of South Pacific Ocean, Tahiti is the largest island of French Polynesia. Since Tahitian Sailing Federation split from France’s in the 1980s, a handful of local sailors reached Sailing highest level including World Champion Billy Besson and Team Tahiti skipper Teva Plichart, 2007 European Match-Racing champion and Areva’s wincher at the Louis-Vuitton Challengers. In 2017, team « Trésors de Tahiti » finished 2nd of Tour de France à la Voile. Pitman Manutea Mahai, a young local fisherman, was part of this unorthodox crew nicknamed « the Tahitian Rastarockets » after the 1990s blockbuster by the French press. The SSL Team Tahiti will be a reset of this fantastic project that mixed Tahitian pro with local young amateur sailors. Their objective is to surprise European best teams as perfect underdogs. Tahitians are never as good as when they get together to show the rest of the World their sailing skills.
Statistics
THE COUNTRY
- 20000 nautical fans
- 2500 sailors
- 7 sailing clubs
- 18 Olympic medals
- 5,000,000 km2 of maritime territory
ACHIEVEMENTS
- 7 World Champions
- 2 Podiums on Tour de France à la voile
- 30 Pacific Games Champions
Ssl ranking
- Year's best ranked woman:
- Year's best ranked man:
- Year Nation's best ranking
MAIN EVENTS
- Tahiti Pearl Regatta > 100 participants (2019)
- Grand Prix Pacifique des Jeux > 40 participants (2018)
6
Despite its small population (220,000 inhabitants), four Tahitians have become World Champions in their category including Billy Besson in Nacra17.
The captain
Teva Plichart
After racing in Hobie Cat in Tahiti, Teva joined the French national Match-Racing Youth team. He then raced as professional with Paolo Cian winning European Championship in 2006. In 2007, he skipped “Tahiti et ses Îles” on Tour de France à la Voile reaching 2nd place. He renewed the result 10 years later with « Trésors de Tahiti ». From 2016 until 2019, he sailed on Yliam Comptoir Immobilier winning the famous 2021 Bol d’Or.
THE LEADERS
Yann Rigal
Match-racing specialist, Yann was with Teva Plichart on Tour de France à la voile in 2007. He now lives in New Caledonia and had the opportunity to race at the Sydney Hobart.
Manutea Mahai
He learnt sailing only in 2015 but Manutea became a legend in his country when he reached 2nd place at the Tour de France à la voile 2017 and won the local Tahiti Pearl Regatta 2016. With his short but consistent record, he is a reference in the team.
THE YOUTH FACTOR
Tom Lamotte, a promising young Polynesian sailing on France’s Youth Nacra17 team.
Confirmed Athletes
Potential Team Position
|
1
BOW
Yann Rigal
|
2
MID-BOW
Manutea Mahai
|
|
3
PIT
Alexis Gayet
|
4
GRINDER
Teriimana Degage
|
|
5
TRIMMER
|
6
TRIMMER
César Villa
|
|
7
MAIN TRIMMER
Tom Lamotte
|
8
HELM
|
|
9
TACTICIAN
Teiki Hacheche
|
10
CAPTAIN
Teva Plichart
|
|
11
FLOATER
Heimoana BERNARDINO
|
|
1
BOW
Yann Rigal
|
|
2
MID-BOW
Manutea Mahai
|
|
3
PIT
Alexis Gayet
|
|
4
GRINDER
Teriimana Degage
|
|
5
TRIMMER
|
|
6
TRIMMER
César Villa
|
|
7
MAIN TRIMMER
Tom Lamotte
|
|
8
HELM
|
|
9
TACTICIAN
Teiki Hacheche
|
|
10
CAPTAIN
Teva Plichart
|
|
11
FLOATER
Heimoana BERNARDINO
|
SQUAD
| Teva Plichart | Yann Rigal |
| Manutea Mahai | Hervé Cunningham |
| Teriimana Degage | Tom Lamotte |
| Teiki Hacheche | César Villa |
| Alexis Gayet | Heimoana Bernardino |