Team Winds changes hands
Well-known in the ports of La Trinité sur Mer, La Rochelle and Marseille, Team Winds is now under new ownership. Loïc Fournier-Foch, manager of the boat rental company, and his partner Antoine Croyère have announced that they have sold the company. The company is separated into two independently owned entities.
Team Winds Atlantique, and its 31 Grand Surprises based in La Trinité and La Rochelle, are now managed by Dimitri Caudrelier, brother of skipper Charles Caudrelier and owner of the consulting company Quantis, in association with Harold Baseden, currently Managing Director of Technique Voile.
Team Winds Méditerranée sees the arrival at the helm of Julien Boisson and Guillaume Abou, associated with a collective. Julien Boisson created in 2018 Ishua, a "new generation" sailing club.
The transferor continues the support for 6 months.
Easier management
Loïc Fournier-Foch considers this configuration to be more optimal than a block sale: "The two entities had bought the company, motivated to take over the activity in their own region. I have always managed from a distance, moving from Marseille to the Atlantic and I see how difficult it is in a small structure. So it seems to me to be more suitable like this."
Sailing school and environmental awareness for companies
Atlantic and Mediterranean have different development plans, while continuing the event activity that is part of Team Winds' history. Various choices, in line with the fleet of boats, as Loïc Fournier-Foch explains. "These are two interesting and different developments. In Marseille, there is a strong desire to develop training courses leading to a diploma, but also training courses in regattas for yachtsmen. It is interesting to encourage access to sailing, but also to train these new sailors. In the Atlantic, the owners want to use Team Winds to teach companies about eco-responsibility, in line with their advice to companies. And to do this, they also want to make the Grand Surprise fleet last and evolve. This is interesting and financially efficient. The yachts are 15 to 20 years old and well maintained, perfect for this program. It's a way to set an example and that there's not necessarily a need for very new boats."
