Hello ValentinFor those of you who don't know you, could you briefly introduce yourself?
My name is Valentin BRAULT, I'm 34 years old, I've been a windsurfing enthusiast for over 20 years, and I'm the founder and manager of the sailmaker 823 CONCEPT.
I came from the Sport étude voile program in La Rochelle, where I learned to race on a daggerboard (Aloha, Mistral OD and Raceboard Hydrid) at first, then quickly switched to funboarding because of my size ... So I raced for a long time in formulaWindsurfing, then in slalom for a few years on the PWA world tour, until 2019, which was my last season before bidding farewell to the music hall ...
What is the history of the sailmaker and how did you come up with the idea of designing a Raceboard sail?
I started working in sailmaking when I was 19 at Incidence in La Rochelle, I didn't have much appetite for school and studies ... I was able to learn the trade on their floor for a few years, then in 2018 I decided to set up on my own starting from scratch. I bought a sewing machine that I set up in a garage I rented next to the house and started repairing kite wings, board sails, Dinghy sails etc. again.
The business grew rapidly and I had to find another, larger premises.
I had the opportunity to set up shop for a few years with Sergio Munari (Black Local), a windsurfing shaper in La Rochelle.
The repair business was going well, but I also wanted to design and build my own sails. So I invested in a drawing program, took training courses, and spent whole nights drawing.
At first, I made windsurf sails, then catamaran sails, houseboat sails... The activity quickly diversified.
Today there are 4 of us working at 823 CONCEPT, and we continue to repair sails, designing and manufacturing everything from A to Z in our workshop.
The idea for the Raceboard sails came from Jean-Baptiste François, a friend with whom I spent a lot of time back in the days of Sport étude. He came to see me several times and said, "Wouldn't you like to make raceboard sails? At first I thought the practice no longer existed, but on closer inspection I discovered a community of die-hards.
Having raced in several disciplines before, I find the support really interesting and if I can convince others to join you, I've got a good case.
It's a rarity these days to be able to race from 4 to 30 knots with a single board and two rigs, to be able to mix different generations (from 15 to 75 years old?!) on the same starting line, and all in a convivial spirit.
What are the design guidelines for your raceboard sails?
Jean-Baptiste came with a very precise set of specifications: the sail had to be light but sturdy, respect a certain geometry, be as versatile as possible, be able to be used with masts available on the second-hand market, and also be affordable if we wanted to sell some. In short, it's a real challenge to balance performance and accessibility!
Who sets the sails?
Throughout the winter of 2023/2024, we worked together with JB on the fine-tuning. We tested, he gave me feedback, I modified in the workshop, we retested, I modified my design... it kept us busy!
In the spring, I also let some less experienced racers test the sails, but I managed to get some excellent feedback, especially on the finishing details, which is just as important if you want to market a well-finished product, thanks to all those who contributed.
What are the advantages of your sail?
I draw all my sails on a 3D program, which allows me to be more precise about the overall appearance of the sail: 3-axis geometry, roundness values, profile calculations, material deformation...
Version 9.5 Classique is a lightweight sail (4.3 kilos for the 9.5) thanks to the use of quality materials and optimized reinforcements. Every detail counts: for example, we've replaced the camber opening zip with a simple reinforced slot. In no way does this hinder navigation, saving a little weight and eliminating the problem of broken sliders.
Rig weight is an important parameter when you need to pump for long periods.
What's more, we wanted to make it as versatile as possible: we deliver the sail with a set of fiberglass battens, so it can be used from 2 to 18 knots. To limit the consumption of another sail, we offer a set of carbon fiber battens (stiffer) as an option to extend the range of use: the sail will become more stable and more tolerant in strong winds.
For a regatta, all you have to do is look at the weather forecast (today we have very precise tools to make sure you don't make a mistake), and set out on the water for the day's 3 legs with the right set of battens.
These are the important points. But the best thing is to come and try them out, they're available for testing in La Rochelle, so drop in and see us at the workshop 😊
What are the sailmaker's future plans for Raceboard?
Let's face it, raceboard sails are a niche market for us, but we're delighted to be working in this field and to be able to offer high-performance, high-quality products that are, above all, made in our workshop in France!
We're going to try to position ourselves on the French market, but also internationally, as we've noticed that there are a lot of raceboarders all over Europe.
Despite the fact that we've only just arrived, we're going to develop our products bit by bit, and I've already got some ideas in mind for future versions! D
https://www.facebook.com/Voilerie.823.Concept
