Perth 22nd August 2002 - SportsCom interviewed Australian Sailor Sebastien Destremau during his short holiday break in Perth.

For further questions to Sebastien, feel free to contact him on +61 (0)412 144 564 or 106121.3563@compuserve.com

SportsCom: Sebastien, you are on your way to Auckland (New Zealand) where you will be competing with the French Team-Defi Areva in the America's Cup starting 1st October. Tell us how it feels to be back home and where are you at with the French Challenge?

Sebastien: To be back home after such a long time away from Perth is like coming back to paradise. In France it was raining most of the time and since I've arrived here a couple of weeks ago (Winter time here) it hasn't rained once. God bless this part of the World.

I've been involved with the Defi Areva since June 2001 and although it has been 15 months of incredible hard work ... I've enjoyed every minute of it and I am really looking forward to the next bit in Auckland. The two boats and the 320 tons of material should arrive next week in New Zealand and we will be ready to sail on the Hauraki Gulf early September.

SportsCom: And how fast are your new boats and how do you see your chances?

Sebastien: We had some difficulties with FRA69 at the beginning due to technical reasons and we've lost some valuable time ... We had to work around the clock to fix them and then to play catch up! Performance wise, we had two solid references back in France with 6thSens (FRA-46) and Black Magic (NZL-32) and I can tell you that the speed of our new boats are where we expected them to be. That is very encouraging ..... and sorry if I don't say anymore than that. However,as we have been in France for the duration of our preparation we have absolutely no idea how fast the opposition is so ... we keep our fingers crossed. The team is getting together very nicely and the great thing is that there is no rock-star in it ... the team is the star.

SportsCom: How far you guys are expecting to go in the competition?

Sebastien: Remember last time when the powerful American broke in half and nearly sank and this time around, there will be joys, tears and lots of dramas on the Hauraki Gulf. We are one of the smallest challenge with a very tight budget but I'm hoping that we will still be around in December and then who knows .... the sky's the limit.

SportsCom: The maiden sail of your first boat, FRA69, was delayed after it was damaged in a ramming incident by Greenpeace anti-nuclear protesters. What do you think could happen in New Zealand?

Sebastien: We have heard that protestors are going to give us a hard time in Auckland ... but really none of this is my business and I prefer to leave these issues to my bosses. That's their job. Mine is to focus on sailing, getting ready to go out there, compete against the world elites in the best yachting event on the planet, and help the team to go as far as possible into the competition.

SportsCom: Who will be skippering the Defi Areva's yacht? Who will be in the afterguard?

Sebastien: The final composition of the sailing team should be announced mid September. Our philosophy is that the Skipper is not necessarily driving the boat. My bet is that our driver will be either Pillot or Presti however I will be in the afterguard. As Skipper? Tactician? Strategist? To be honest with you, I don't even know myself.

SportsCom: Finally, isn't it sad that there is no Australian Challenge for the first time in forty years?

Sebastien: This is effectively very sad as Australia was the first country to break the American superiority 20 years ago. I believe that we do have the necessary resources in this country to have a strong challenge, unfortunately it is not going happen this time. On the positive note there are some rumours that Australia will be back in the game for the 2006 America's Cup and that would be fantastic.

SportsCom: Thank you and all the best to you and the Defi Areva!