“Whether it’s as captain of the vessel or engineer, you need to like surprises and be able to react using good methodology”
Jean-Marc Normant: calm and ambitious for pioneering projects
“The main theme of my career relates to leading edge programmes”. Ariane rocket, Dassault Rafale aircraft, America’s Cup with Oracle… His profession? Technical director, specialising in composite materials. “My role is to come up with and test new materials”. A childhood on the Ile de Sein, a boat in the guise of a bike, Jean-Marc has always dipped his toes in the marine environment. “Aeronautics was incredible but very specialised. By working for cutting-edge boats, I do a variety of things whilst keeping an eye on the bigger picture”. In this way, he met the Race for Water teams when he was part of the MOD70 adventure. Finding the experience very stimulating, the Breton now has a fresh challenge on his hands: combining renewable energies: the wind, the water and the sunshine. Whether it’s as captain of the vessel or engineer, you need to like surprises and be able to react using good methodology”. Not to mention a major asset: composure under all circumstances.
Jean-Marc in brief:
- 21 June 1967: birth
- 1988: joined aerospace with the Ariane rocket project
- 1997: encounter with offshore racing sailor Franck Cammas
- 10 February 2010: America’s Cup victory with the Oracle team as technician
- July 2010: meeting with the Race for Water Foundation
