For 35 years, Bertrand Dumortier has worked with athletes and crews at the very highest level, combining high standards with teaching, guidance and emotional support. On the eve of a Grand Prix, he shares his view of the coach’s role - balancing performance management, race analysis and a passion for the sport that remains as strong as ever.

On the eve of a Grand Prix, what is a coach looking to sense within the crew?

At that stage, it’s about feeling that the regatta is drawing near and seeing that the crew are ready. There’s a particular energy about them: they know they have the cards in hand, they know they’re capable of delivering a strong performance, and above all they’re eager to get out there. But at this point, the most important thing is to channel that energy. You have to avoid wasting energy in the final hours, avoid playing the match before the match, and above all avoid overdoing things. That’s often where the danger lies: trying too hard, wanting to control everything too much, and ultimately making unnecessary mistakes.

They know their strengths, and they also know where they need to stay alert. The challenge now is to remain within their own rhythm and normal way of operating, to communicate well, especially in a complex environment like a lake where the wind can be unstable. There will be moments when everything works perfectly, and others when it doesn’t. And in those more difficult moments, you have to accept that it’s simply part of racing.

Frustration exists - and it’s perfectly normal. But it has no place in the heat of the moment. It can be understood and talked through later in the evening, once things have settled. During the regatta, you simply have to keep sailing, in the straightforward way they know how.

What is the key challenge for a coach between races during a regatta?

The main challenge is to remain positive, whatever the situation. Once a race is over, it cannot be sailed again. There are always things that went well and always areas that can be improved, but the key is to focus on what can immediately help for what comes next.

For example, if a start was poor, we’re not going to relive the entire race. We’ll look instead at what can be adjusted straight away for the next start, in practical terms. On the other hand, some aspects take time — they won’t be fixed between two races. Those are kept for later, for the overall analysis and preparation for future regattas.

So between races, you have to be precise, constructive and, above all, positive. The aim is to give momentum rather than create doubt.

What is it that still fascinates you most about this profession?

I’ve been doing this job for 35 years, and the passion is still there.

What drives me first and foremost is performance. When a crew wins, it’s a raw, intense emotion. Those are rare and powerful moments that give meaning to everything else. We experience emotions with an intensity that very few professions can offer - perhaps even emotions that very few people ever experience at all.

There’s also the teaching aspect. Watching people improve, understand, learn, and sometimes achieve things they once thought impossible, both in sailing and in their personal lives… there’s something deeply human in that. Perhaps that’s where the real value of it all lies.