Antoine Albeau, the interview

14/05/2025

At nearly 53 years of age, Antoine Albeau remains a formidable competitor, and he proved it by winning his 27th world title at the Prince of Speed - ISWC World Championship in La Palme. For Windsurfjournal.com, he talks about his performance in this speed event and the end of his partnership with NeilPryde and JP Australia.

Windsurfjournal.com: A new world speed record last December, a date with storm Herminia during the winter and recently at La Palme, so you never stop?
Antoine Albeau: Well no, you know me, I always find it hard to stop, and I have appointments that are predicted by the wind. This year again, there's Namibia with the Lüderitz Speed Challenge. I had a great time there last year, setting a new world speed record, a record which, it has to be said, has never been beaten by anyone but me since 2008. I haven't been able to do too much storm sailing in recent years with Thomas Traversa and Julien Taboulet and all the other storm sailors. All the same, I've been pretty busy with the kids and the house I've built on the Île de Ré. So it was great to get together during the winter to try and sail in these extreme conditions. We made some good videos and had a great adrenalin rush, particularly when we got into the water at Meledan. It's a good thing there were jet-skis there that day for safety, because I'm not sure we'd have gone there, at least with peace of mind... Besides, La Palme has been a fixture for many years now. We had a good week, which was very positive, as I regained the world championship title I lost last year. I finished first in the fin class and runner-up in the foil class, so I'm really pleased, I never thought I'd do so well. Especially as I'm still using my old foil from four years ago, compared to the way it's evolved over the last two years. I made a bit less of a difference at La Nautique because it was less windy, but in the stronger wind, it was gliding along really well.

WJ: In what state of mind did you arrive at this Prince of Speed - ISWC World Championship knowing that your sponsorship contracts with NeilPryde and JP Australia had not been renewed?
AA: That was a bit of a surprise at the start of the season. Since NeilPryde was bought out by the PrydeGroup in Germany, it's no longer the same philosophy. I think they're breaking the spirit of the brand. It's hard to say, but there's very little communication between the people who run NeilPryde and JP Australia. I had the opportunity to change some time ago but I was very attached to the brand, I did 27 years with NeilPryde. 27 years of world titles and competitions all over the world, trying to win everything. There was also a lot of work with Robert Stroj, the designer, with whom I get on really well, as well as Werner Gnigler, JP's shaper. We still communicate together, but it's with the international head office that there's nothing left. So, logically, I arrived at the Prince of Speed a little disgusted but motivated. I managed to get some boards made, but not JP Australia. For the sails, I made do with what I had and in particular the prototypes that Robert Stroj had made for me 5 years ago. I wasn't really sure I was going to win because Vincent Valkenaers and Hans Kreisel are still around.

WJ: How did the end of this long-standing partnership with NeilPryde come about?
AA: They made me an offer very late in the season. We always discuss new contracts before the end of the year, but my offer arrived in March, and I wasn't happy with it. And also with this lack of communication, I decided that I wanted to leave and talk to others. But at this time of year, it's complicated and above all too late because everything has already been organised with the other riders. I'm still in talks with two brands, which should be decided in the next few weeks... I'm very disappointed not to be able to work with Robert Stroj any more because he's one of the best sail designers, if not the best. We've developed quite a few sails together, and I still had other projects I'd have liked to do with him... The two brands I'm currently talking to are attentive and willing to listen, which is quite the opposite of NeilPryde and JP Australia at the moment. It's a big page that's being turned, that's how it is. In the end, I think maybe I should have done it before.

WJ: Can you tell us about these four days of racing and particularly the last day, during which you put in the best performance of the week?
AA: In foiling I alternated between my JP and a Black Cobra, the latter being, in the spirit of the new board trends, very pleasant to sail. William Huppert had some very good races and Cédric Bordes also did well, winning the last races, which was a bit of a surprise. We have our own GPS and that of the organisers for the competition, and we share our information at the end of the race. And as Cédric doesn't have his own GPS, we weren't sure what the situation was, so in the end he won the races! As for the fin event, I managed my last day well, I did a lot of runs like Matteo Iachino and Cédric Bordes. Speed is all about observation and timing, and the more runs you do, the more likely you are to set good times. I could have done the double with stronger winds on the foils, but I'm already very happy with my result.

WJ: In fin and foil, which discipline have you enjoyed the most during this Prince of Speed - ISWC World Championship?
AA: I don't think there's one discipline more than another that I enjoy. In foiling, there's a lot of adrenalin because you're on the edge, and you have a huge chance of falling off. In fin racing, you get a lot of pleasure when you get a good run, it's all flat, and you have a gust from start to finish. The last day with the fin, it's true that it slid really well, especially in the first race, which was the windiest. I had two really perfect runs with some crazy accelerations! But in the end, I like both disciplines!

WJ: You've now won 27 world titles with this one in speed, what does that mean to you?
AA: I missed out on the speed title last year, and I went to La Palme to win. I don't sail as much as I used to but I had trained hard physically. As for the equipment, I had some new boards that I was able to try out a week beforehand. I knew the sails, the fins and my foil. After that, if you don't get the timing right, you miss out and the two races on the last day made all the difference. A 27th title isn't bad, and a lot of people were very happy for me. It's nice to feel supported and to please people who are happy to see you win. I'm not going to predict the future, but I hope it's not over yet!

WJ: What is your programme for this season, and what can we wish you for the future?
AA: There's the Défi Wind in the offing with, no doubt, a new partner there. It's going to be hot to adjust the equipment. I'm not going to take this event lightly, because I don't take anything lightly, but I'm going to do the best I can. A few days before, I've also got a clinic I'm running with Surf Center and 9 other pro riders, which should be great fun. I saw them last year and there was a great atmosphere. It'll give me a chance to sail with them and get adjusted. I think I'll be taking part on a foil, unless there's really 45 to 50 knots, in which case we'll take out the fin. I hope we'll have a great event with plenty of wind over the 4 days. This kind of event allows me to see a lot of people again, especially the guys of the PWA tour, who I can take on and show them that I'm still a good competitor! I'm really looking forward to it. And with new equipment, that's extra motivation and youth. After that, I'll have my sailing school to manage. It's going to be hot because, from June, I've got groups and seminars coming and there are also the authorisations to set up the school on the beach, etc... I'm going to have to start building the structure just before the Défi Wind and finish just after! It's going to be a lot of work. I've also got some conferences planned for May and June and finally the organisation of the Antoine Albeau Series which will take place from 29 to 31 August, which becomes the official event of the French long-distance championship, in wingfoil and foil. There will also be a federal wingfoil competition (Wingfoil 17). And after the summer season, there will be preparations for the Lüderitz Speed Challenge, not forgetting the Fort Boyard Challenge. In between, there will be the Prince of Speed with two more races in June and September, in the nautical mile and the 500 metres. In Namibia, the objective is clear: to beat my record and the 100 km/h mark over 500 metres. And it would be really cool to do it with my new partner, who will be very motivated to do it!