A training course to make the sails of the boats
The Roz Glas vocational high school in Quimperlé in Finistère will open a complementary training program for multipurpose sailmaker in September 2019. Accessible to holders of a Bac Pro Fashion and Clothing Trades and available in Parcoursup, it combines theoretical training, such as computer-assisted design or technical English, general culture related to rigging and sails and practice in the manufacture of the wardrobe of sailing ships. The 20 weeks at the school are completed by 16 weeks in a sailmaker's shop.
An opportunity for sewing specialists
"Our students at the Roz Glas vocational school in the fashion and clothing industry do many internships in companies. Some of them went to sailmakers where the process is quite similar to the garment, from CAD to printing, through cutting, assembly, finishing or quality control. When we visited the sailmakers to assess their internships, we realized that there was a crying need for personnel on the floor," explains Patrice Guérin, the school's director of professional training.
Versatile master sailors needed by companies
The training program was launched after a survey of the fifty or so Breton sailmakers. Although the Ateliers de l'Enfer in Douarnenez, which is geared more towards adults and traditional sailing, offers a first recruitment pool, it is not enough. Companies are still facing hiring difficulties. "We observe two profiles on the floors of sailmakers: workers from the textile and sewing industries who learn on the job the specificities of sailing and others from the nautical industry who learn sewing on the floor. The positions are also very fixed. When an employee on the drawing board is absent, the one on the floor cannot replace her. But the staff is very volatile. The idea is to develop versatility for better personnel management," observes Patrice Guérin.
Partnerships have been established with sailmakers such as North Sails, All Purpose, Le Bihan Voiles or Sails Solution.
Open house
Interested students can inquire at the Roz Glas High School open house on March 8 and 9, 2019.
