Hortense Debussche

Aeronautical Engineering Student

Hortense young sailor

Image Ć  ajouter

Early beginnings and clear goals

I started sailing at the age of 8. I have sailed in optimist, windsurfing, catamaran, dinghy and habitable. These different navigations have allowed me to gain experience and push my ambitions even further by launching my ocean racing project.

Hortense skipper

Image Ć  ajouter

An ambitious and determined Breton

My passion for sailing, passed down by my parents, has been guiding my life choices for several years. Whether it's sailing or other sports I practice, I have always loved competition, with my competitors but especially with myself.

Training and experience

Training

  • āž™ Currently studying aeronautical engineering in Poitiers
  • āž™ Weather, racing rules and sail repair training with the Centre Excellence Voile in La Rochelle
  • āž™ Coastal license
  • āž™ CQP Sailing Instructor
  • āž™ CRR
  • āž™ World Sailing

Professional experience

  • āž™ 3-month internship in a sailboat construction yard in Lisbon (composite, rigging, design office)
  • āž™ 1-month internship with the Biotherm team at Lorient la Base (rigging, hardware, logistics and design office)
  • āž™ Teaching light sailing at the Rennes sailing club (Saint-Suliac) in Northern Brittany since summer 2020

Races and navigation

Races

  • āž™ Atlantic races season 2025
  • āž™ Season 2025 races on my mini (n°914 - Petit Tonnerre)
  • āž™ Navigatlantique Trophy November 2023 in J80 at La Rochelle
  • āž™ Evening races in 2021 in Open 5.70 at Saint-Malo
  • āž™ RS500 races

Coastal navigation

  • āž™ Inshore and offshore training at the Centre Excellence Voile in La Rochelle, year 2024-2025
  • āž™ Skipper since July 2024 of the mini 6.50 Petit Tonnerre
  • āž™ Figaro 3 deliveries in July and August 2024
  • āž™ Concarneau-Les Sables d'Olonne delivery in Mini 6.50 September 2023
  • āž™ Coastal navigation and training on 8 to 10m sailboats in Southern Brittany

Light sailing

  • āž™ Open 5.70 competition from 2019 to 2021
  • āž™ Year-round dinghy sailing (Laser, RS500) from 2018 to 2019
  • āž™ Year-round catamaran sailing from 2016 to 2018
  • āž™ Regular windsurfing/windfoil practice

Goals

2025-2026: Continue training at the Centre Excellence Voile in La Rochelle and participate in qualifying races in spring 2026 with my mini 6.50
2027: Mini-Transat 2027 in mini 6.50

Languages and international experience

Languages

  • āž™ French: native language
  • āž™ English: C1 good level and fluent
  • āž™ Spanish: B1 level

International experience

  • āž™ 3-month internship in Portugal at the age of 21
  • āž™ 6 months of classes in the United States at the age of 12
  • āž™ Visits to various European countries: Germany, Spain, Belgium, Italy, Finland and England