Marseille (AFP)

French star of the Olympic sailing, the pair Marie Riou and Billy Besson has offered a new adventure this year aboard real racing cars racing at nearly 100 km / h, with the SailGP, new circuit that concludes its inaugural season Sunday in Marseille.

"I really think it's a new story that starts, the places we're going are just magical, and these boats are just fantastic, they're beautiful to see, to steer and what we're doing is amazing!" rejoices Billy Besson with AFP.

Quadruple world champion in Nacra 17 alongside Marie Riou, the sailor and his partner launched themselves in February in this circuit, fully funded by multi billionaire Larry Ellison, craftsman of the American victories on the America's Cup in 2010 and 2013.

The principle: 6 teams - each with a budget of $ 5 million - who compete in match-racing in 5 stages (Sydney, San Francisco, New York, Cowes and Marseille) aboard ultra fast catamarans capable to fly 2 meters above the water (the F50), inherited from the last America's Cup. With the end of the story, a million-dollar jackpot for the winner.

"Sailing on these boats, at around 50 knots (95 km / h) is crazy, but I did not think I was going to sail that fast," says Marie Riou.

"It's close to the edge, it's spectacular, everything is together for people to hang on and follow this circuit, it's a 3-run pattern, it's short, and when you're maneuvering near the breakwater, 'is nice,' she continues.

- Tokyo Olympics 2020 in perspective -

Victorious in 2018 with the Dongfeng crew of the world tour crew with stopover (Volvo Ocean Race), Marie Riou discovered a new universe that enchanted her.

"We had the chance to go to the most beautiful places to go sailing, we started with Sydney Bay which is beautiful, we went on to San Francisco that I did not know and mythical place of the Cup of the America And then, there was New York between the buildings, it was great to see people really close, in Manhattan, all along the wharf.A Cowes, there were sailors everywhere. from Marseille to finish, I love sailing in Marseille ", explains the sailor.

For the tricolor duo, associated with 3 other crew members, learning was not easy when none had ever had to do this type of boat. In last place in the overall standings dominated by Australians and Japanese, however, they progressed through the stages.

What motivate participation in the next season. But the year 2020 looks already dense with the Olympics in Tokyo. And Marie Riou and Billy Besson are very eager to get the medal they could not hang at the Olympics 2016 when Besson suffered from a herniated disc.

After the final day of Sunday race in Marseille SailGP, where they intend to ensure the show in front of family and friends, Besson and Riou will spin in Brittany to find their Nacra 17 in view of the Olympics.

© 2019 AFP