Working with Elvstrøm Sails turned into an almost career-long venture for our Global Product Manager in Elvstrøm Sails France, Jean-Philippe Maquard. Maquard joined us back in 1989 on the back of an already long obsession with sailing and indeed competitive sailing.
It culminated in 1986/1987, when he was part of the crew in the Challenge France syndicate’s bid for the 1987 Americas Cup. The cup ended up standing between America and Australia, and it was eventually won by America with Stars & Stripes 87.
For Jean-Philippe, however, this time was also the start of something new.
- To me, sailing was a sport I found by pure chance. As a kid, I was given the chance to sail an Optimist, and despite not being very keen on racing initially, I caught the racing bug in my early teenage years and ended up doing lots of match racing. One race led to the next, and eventually Challenge France came along, he says.
- Afterwards, I wanted to make sailing into a job, so I began training as a sailmaker with Hood, and in 1989 I started with Elvstrøm Sails France as they targeted getting into the market for the larger boats. I already had the knowledge to construct sails for them, so it was a great match – and now it’s been 35 years..., he recalls with a smile.
A Dynamic Career with Elvstrøm Sails
Jean-Philippe officially joined Elvstrøm Sails France on April 1, 1989. Elvstrøm Sails Sarl in France was opened in 1958 as a French subsidiary to Elvstrøm Sails, and it developed into a strong partnership with Nic Johansen at the helm. Today Elvstrøm Sails France is 100 % integrated in the Elvstrøm Sails Group.
The late 80’s was a time where Elvstrøm Sails already had a strong presence in the OEM market – and with the trend heading towards bigger sailboats, the knowledge from the Americas Cup came in handy. And it’s also a way to prove, how much the world of sailing boats has changed through the years.
- At the time, we had the market for the First 41s5. It was a large boat for its time, but now, some 30 years later, this would require sails that are considered small today. In the late 80’s, it was a bit of a revolution. We used the Dimension Polyant Square sailcloth for it, and it required us to do a complete overhaul of our methodology and organization in the shop.
Big projects and the efforts in the Americas Cup did not fade, either. Elvstrøm Sails France was heavily involved in projects for the 1992 edition of the legendary race – to an extent where it required Elvstrøm Sails France to set up a special workshop.
- This was a very, very exciting time. We were working on large boats of 23 metres in length, and the sail areas required a lot of expertise. It pushed us further in terms of techniques, and it was also one of the first times where sail panels were bonded. A great step forward for us as a whole, and it helped us establish our position in the industry.
A dynamic job
Jean-Philippe joined when the loft was still based in Cannes La Bocca and operated by Nic Johansen. It was a dynamic job from the beginning, he remembers:
- I started on the shop floor, but I worked my way through many different roles in the company as time progressed and became Project Manager later. It always had that amazing mix of tasks and project we still see today for that matter, and we made sails for everything between the America’s Cup in San Diego to refitting a large, classic yacht, he states and adds:
- If I had to pick my best experience with Elvstrøm Sails, I’d say it’s all of the 35 years as a whole. It’s hard to point out just one experience as there have been so many great ones.
The job led Jean-Philippe from all-out racing with the America’s Cup to a more diverse job in the business – which also saw him facing big challenges along the way.
- There have been some very challenging times, too. Especially when we lost Nic Johansen. His passing marked a turn for the company, and I was appointed to manage the company until a new manager was found. It was a huge responsibility to take, but I think we made the right calls and got the company on in a good way. All of these experiences, ups and downs, have all made for a great professional life for me.
Sailing Into Retirement
Now, Jean-Philippe is ready to embrace a well-earned retirement, confident that he has made a lasting contribution to Elvstrøm Sails. While stepping back from the professional sailing world, he plans to return to the water for pleasure and pursue his love of hiking in the Alps.
After 35 years of dedication, Jean-Philippe Maquard’s legacy at Elvstrøm Sails stands as an inspiration — a story of passion, perseverance, and professional excellence.
Thank you for your valuable contribution throughout so many years.