Image: Leg 4, Melbourne to Hong Kong, day 03 on board Dongfeng. Nice down wind conditions heading north. Franck Cammas helming. Photo by Martin Keruzore/Volvo Ocean Race. 03 January, 2018. © Martin Keruzore/Volvo Ocean Race
The French ‘sailor of the decade’ is recognised for his spirit and impact on the sport
Franck Cammas, the incredible French sailing champion, has earned another important accolade as he is named the winner of the 2024 Magnus (Mange) Olsson Prize.
Cammas has had a wildly successful career at sea, winning just about every offshore yacht racing title in the books (several of them multiple times), including the Solitaire de Figaro, the Transat Jacques Vabre, the Route du Rhum, The Ocean Race and the Jules Verne Trophy, to name just a few among many, many other titles and championships.
His accomplishments aren’t limited to offshore sailing however, with match racing titles and catamaran dinghy championships sprinkled throughout a career that also includes multiple America’s Cup campaigns. For his efforts, Franck was named Sailor of the Decade by the Fédération Française de Voile (French Sailing Federation) in December 2020.
“I have been incredibly fortunate through my career to race in a variety of events that represent the very best in the sport of sailing,” Cammas says. “From this wide perspective it is clear our sport - whether we are racing small dinghies or large offshore race yachts - is uniquely positioned to inspire and bring out the very best in us as we compete on the ocean. I know Magnus was one of those who inspired his teammates every day with his energy and spirit and I’m honoured to join the impressive list of leaders in our sport who have been awarded the Magnus Olsson Prize.”
Every year, the Magnus Olsson Prize is awarded annually to an individual who has made an impactful contribution to the sport of sailing – and previous recipients include The Ocean Race winners Torben Grael, Simon ‘SiFi’ Fisher, Grant Dalton, Carolijn Brouwer, and Stan Honey along with Olympic sailing legends like Sir Ben Ainslie, Peter Burling, Martine Grael and Santiago Lange.
The 11th Magnus Olsson Prize will be presented to Franck Cammas together with a scholarship to young sailors at a Mange-style ceremony in Stockholm on 27th August, celebrating the spirit and passion that Mange displayed throughout his sailing career. This enthusiasm and excitement is the basis for the Mange Olsson Memorial Foundation.