Lorient (Morbihan)
From our regional correspondent
In a former life, Jérôme Solem, 41, was an engineer in the construction sector. But one day in 2012, he wanted to leave everything. Head for the West Indies by boat. First to recharge your batteries, then to embark on a new profession: preparer of racing yachts. ” I can choose the teams I collaborate with, he said. I am not running on gold, but I organize my agenda independently. “With the expansion of offshore racing, and that of great yachting on the entire French coast, this profession is now on the rise. Like Jérôme Solem, the first sailboat preparers were often sea enthusiasts, who were trained on the job. There was no training.
Five years ago, Lorient Grand Large, the organization of the “offshore racing” pole of this Morbihan port, and the National Agency for Adult Vocational Training (Afpa), imagined the first specific training , to meet the needs of offshore racing companies and boat rental companies in France. Since then, 58 trainees have acquired the very varied skills of preparing racing sailboats: fittings, seamanship, mechanics, hydraulics, electricity, project management, safety at sea, English …
In addition to these modules, the acquisition of a B0 level diving diploma, essential for going underwater to maintain the hulls of ships. The fifth training course for preparers of racing and large pleasure yachts was completed in June 2021 in Lorient. ” At the beginning, we fumbled a bit to gather all the necessary modules but today, this training meets the expectations of professionals, whether they are from the racing or pleasure craft industry. », Underlines Patrice Le Guedes, director of Afpa d’Auray, in Morbihan. The last training, sponsored by skipper Yves Le Blevec, from Team Actual, brought together twelve trainees aged 21 to 56. Including Quentin Béal. ” For me, this training was a real springboard to achieve what I dreamed of doing since I was little He said.
As for the Brittany region and Pôle Emploi, co-funders of the system, we are pleased with the professional integration rate: 90% of trainees have found a job, on fixed-term contracts or in self-entrepreneurship, a frequent status in the nautical sector. The next training session for racing sailboat preparer will start on March 7, 2022. The number of candidates, which is increasing steadily with the success of this action, should lead Afpa to make a selection from among the candidates coming from all over the region. France.
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