VOLUNTEER TESTIMONIALS
EDITION 2025
Interview with a volunteer member of the IYCH Sailing Club in Hyères, involved in the "Sea" and "Land" parts of the Toulon Provence regatta 2025.
You volunteered for the Toulon Provence Regatta. What made you decide to do so? What are you volunteering for?
I was asked if I could help, as I'd already worked on the Europa Cup in Hyères. I know some of the boats and the Skippers and I'm used to working in the organisation of regattas.
My role on the Toulon Provence Regatta is to be the 'go to' person. I'll be in constant contact with the teams and skippers, most of whom are from abroad. I'm bilingual and there aren't many of them in the region, so I'm making myself useful.
Are you close to the world of sailing? If not, is this a real discovery for you?
I'm a native of New Zealand, which is a country renowned for its passion for sailing and I love the community around the regattas and the boats.
I've always been into board sports and I love sailing.
Have you volunteered for another event of this scale?
Last year, with the IYCH, we organised the Europa Cup with the 12 Mji in the bay of Hyères and it was a success. I've also been a volunteer with the SOF in Hyères for a number of years.
Is volunteering important to you?
It's important to give something of yourself to the community and it allows you to do interesting activities and meet new people. It's also important to challenge yourself a bit.
Would you like to say a few words in particular about your participation?
I'm delighted to be part of this event with such wonderful boats from all over the world. There are so many serious things going on at the moment and we live in a world that loses the value of real things that coming here makes me forget all that and I feel like I'm reliving something magical and real for a week.
Interview with a volunteer member of the Club Nautique de la Marine in Toulon, involved in the 'Sea' part of the Toulon Provence Regatta 2025.
You are
volunteered
to volunteer during the Toulon Provence Regatta. What made you decide to do so? What are you volunteering for?
Passionate about the maritime world and a keen sailor, I got involved with the CNMT in the organisation of the TPR 2025. As a member of the CNMT and its training and sailing committees, I was quick to respond to the call for this event.
My volunteer work is mainly focused on the sea part of this event. I'm in charge of booking, retrieving and training the geolocalised buoys that mark out the regatta courses. These autonomous buoys are controlled from an application, and don't need to be moored, to help protect the seabed. I also took part in the active search for a race committee in consultation with the FFV. I'm due to take delivery of the rigid boats hired for the occasion from the CNMT.
You are members of the Club Nautiques de la Marine in Toulon, are you close to the world of regattas?
Regattas have been one of my main activities since I became a member of the CNMT. I've put this activity to one side recently for professional reasons.
Have you volunteered for another event of this scale?
Yes, I helped organise a qualifying round of the 2016 Louis Vuitton America Cup Series. I was also involved in organising the Tabarly regattas for the 'Esperance Banlieues' schools within the CNMT.
Is volunteering important to you?
Yes, it keeps me in touch with this environment that I'm particularly fond of. Without the commitment of volunteers, this type of event and the smooth running of the CNMT would not be possible.
Would you like to say a few words in particular about your participation?
I would like to thank Admiral Coindreau, President of the CNMT, for promoting sailing and this type of event within the CNMT. Captain (R) Thierry Meillour, who initiates and orchestrates this type of event, not only showcases the CNMT, but also the city of Toulon, the YCF and the entire maritime environment of Toulon.
Interviews by Emmanuel Guyétand
OUR PARTNERS
