Michel's Role
Date of Birth: June 20, 1958
Nationality: France
Position: Design Executive – General Design, Appendage Design, VPP
Michel has been a member of the ORACLE Racing design team since the completion of the 2003 America’s Cup. His specialty is performance prediction and he’s also responsible for appendage design.
In 1985 Michel earned a PhD in hydrodynamics and in 1992 he was part of a research group in France working on unsteady flows around helicopter blades. He was also racing grand-prix yachts at events such as the 1991 Admiral’s Cup.
When Marc Pajot launched the Ville de Paris challenge for the 1995 Cup in San Diego he recruited Michel as a sail designer with responsibility for aerodynamics of the sail plan. When the Cup moved to New Zealand for 2000 Michel joined Italy’s Prada Challenge through the 2003 Cup.
Michel is one of the designers who has abundant experience on the racecourse. Not only has he campaigned grand-prix yachts of all sizes, he has also competed in the Olympics, representing France in the Soling class at the 1988 Olympic Regatta in Pusan, South Korea, placing sixth.
“I’m happiest either at the computer or on the water performing field research,” says Michel. “But my job is rewarding when the boat goes fast and predictions match the real-life experience.”
Career Highlights
2010: 33rd America’s Cup, ORACLE Racing, winner
2007: Louis Vuitton Cup, ORACLE Racing, semifinalist
2003: Louis Vuitton Cup. Prada Challenge, semifinalist
2000: 30th America’s Cup, Prada Challenge, finalist
Louis Vuitton Cup, Prada Challenge, winner
1991: Admiral’s Cup, French Team, winner
1988: Olympic Regatta, Soling Class, 6th place