Jean-Pierre NICOL

Lining up for the Solitaire

du Figaro 2013

Magazine - June 2013

Business leaders and skippers, racers and sponsors, all like to get together around basic values. Just like the skipperhas to work on his preparation to reach the highest level on the day of the start, a company manager must ensure eachday that his firm offers the highest quality products and that the business is achieving its best. Each one in their ownparticular way has the same performance goal that this desire to take up a challenge and compete at the highest levelshould enable them to achieve. Competition in business, as in sport, creates the conditions to achieve a good perfor-mance.That is the spirit that has brought together Jean-Pierre Nicol and his sponsor BERNARD CONTROLS in their jointproject since 2009, and that is still the case this year in the 2013 SOLITAIRE DU FIGARO.

Contents

Introduction............................................................................ 3

Interview with Jean-Pierre Nicol.................. 4

BERNARD CONTROLS................................................. 5

The 2013 Solitaire du Figaro .......................... 6

Course........................................................................................... 7

"The competition leads youto aim for the highest level

of performance"

Lining up for the Solitaire du Figaro 2013 2

Sharing a competitive spirit

A partnership that has been going on for 5 years and which has a real senseThis is the fifth year that the firm, BERNARD CONTROLS has been supporting the skipper Jean-Pierre Nicol, in order togive him the means to tackle the highlight of the circuit: the Solitaire du Figaro. A partnership, which began back in2009 to support the determination of a young top class sportsman, but also to create within the company a clear pro-ject to bring people together and create links. The firm, the world’s number 3 in its field, has continued to grow andfights everyday to show off its skills and know-how and its ongoing quest for innovation. As for Jean-Pierre Nicol’s pro-ject, he is aiming without any concessions to be up there in the Top Ten in this extreme competition, in which he willbe setting out in early June.Previous seasons have enabled the skipper of BERNARD CONTROLS to show his ability to reach the podium in severallegs.This 2013 season should confirm his real ambition after a very serious preparation phase.More than ever, Jean-Pierre will have to give it his all to get up there at the top of the rankings.That in any case, is thegoal he has set himself with his sponsor BERNARD CONTROLS

Introduction

3

Sharing a competitive spirit

Lining up for the Solitaire du Figaro 2013 4

Jean-Pierre Nicol, the Solitaire, the obvious step

Having achieved some remarkable successes in previous editions, theskipper of BERNARD CONTROLS has staked everything this year on theSolitaire du Figaro. He has improved his training methods and has beenhelped by a coach in order to be more consistent in his results and beup there among the best in the overall rankings. Here’s what he told us.

Jean-Pierre, how have you been preparing for the 2013 Solitaire duFigaro?"This will be my seventh attempt and each year, I try to find what it takes to pro-gress. I prepared at the Mediterranean TrainingCentre in la Grande Motte. I’ve been working there alot with Xavier Macaire, who has an excellent level. Ihave taken part in the preparatory races. In all, I com-peted in three early season races, or in other wordsone more than those, who only sailed in the Atlantic.

What is the goal this season with yourcoach?"Making sure we leave as little as possible to chanceand are able to achieve the same high level of per-formance.That means that what we do and successin our overall performance need to become a routi-ne for us. As for the psychological aspects, I have tobe able to wait until my time has come and remainpatient. I know full well that I have what it takes to gobeyond occasional moments of glory. So I need to keep working on that."

How do you feel about the line-up of the 2013 Solitaire? "There are a few more experienced sailors, like Michel Desjoyeaux and Armel LeCléac'h. As they return to the circuit, that are in the best of shape and half adozen of them will end up in the top ten.After that, there is the younger genera-tion,with people like Morgan Lagravière,Nicolas Lunven,Fabien Delahaye… Add

to that the rising stars and the result is easy to see.There’s going to be a hugefight not just among the top ten, but in the Top 20.

What about the 2013 course? "I like the way they have found a balance between coastal races and offshoreracing, as this format is perfect for our boats. Setting sail from Bordeaux shouldbe spectacular.After that, we have to round Cape Finisterre twice on our way toPorto and on the way back to Gijon. There are some opportunities here to sur-prise everyone… As for Roscoff, I don’t know that quite as well, but we often sail

in that area, so that doesn’t worry me too much. For thefinish in Dieppe, I remember that for two things, onethat was good and one that was bad. Once, I was onthe right side and I made up a lot of time, while on theother occasion; I lost a lot between the CherbourgPeninsula and the finish."

We have to ask you about your goals…."To do better. I have already made it to the podium ontwo occasions in the Solitaire, in Ireland and in Caen.But once again, I would like to be more consistent interms of my performance in order to achieve a verygood place in the overall rankings. I am well prepared,and am staking all on the Solitaire this year.So it’s downto me to show what I can do. I’m an outsider, but thatsuits me perfectly."

Finally a word about your partner, BERNARD CONTROLS..."This is a real partnership, where the support is not merely financial, but alsohuman. We both find ourselves in similar positions in our respective projects: thepeople at BERNARD CONTROLS face huge economic challenges. In some ways,we’re in the same position, up there trying to compete with the best and workinghard to ensure that the advantage is with us."

1 – Why is your company sponsoring aracing boat?

"A firm that is

developing

needs clear

projects to

enable

employees to

find an identity

in their busi-

ness. Sailing

involves team

spirit, and is a

sport in which everyone has the possibi-

lity of winning. It’s a sport too that cor-

responds to the need to respond quickly.

Moreover, they face a natural element,

the sea, which is an element which

excuses nothing and where you have to

be perfect."

2 – Does the competitive elementmotivate you in the Solitaire du Figaro?"Competition is something we face

every morning when we get up. We

wanted to express ourselves in a com-

petition, which allows us to stand out

and make it to the podium. This is an

interesting race, as it is an event that

can easily be seen by our partners,

employees and what is more is raced by

one-design boats, which makes it inter-

esting for us, as success can only be

attributed to the man."

3 – How did you meet Jean-Pierre and what is your goal this year?"We first met up with Jean-Pierre,

because I enjoy sailing. It was a meeting

between a business leader, who enjoys

sailing and who was looking for a defi

ning project, and a young man, who is

determined, ready to fight and who has

shown his attachment to certain values.

Jean-Pierre has already had a few big

successes. Last year was a bit below par,

so he has been training hard to do better

this year. We have high hopes this year,

and want to make it to the podium... Our

Group is the third in the world, so now

we are waiting to see our friend, Jean-

Pierre up there on the podium, and that is

indeed his goal this year."

4 – Is there a similarity between coa-ching in this sport and management ina business?"I am keen on coaching my managers.

Within the company, we have a coaching

and training system for our managers. I

really believe in that."

5

BERNARD CONTROLS designs and manufactures electric actuators andvarious related control systems, and is one of the global leaders in the mar-ket for automated valves for industry.

BERNARD CONTROLS has a solid international network with 9 subsidiaries in Asia(China, the Republic of Korea, Singapore), in Europe (Germany, Belgium, Spain,France, Italy) and in the United States; with regional offices in Dubai and Moscow;as well as more than 50 agents /distributors around the world.Leader in the nuclear sector,BERNARD CONTROLS is also the preferred partner fordemanding sectors such as Energy, Water, Industry and the Oil and Gas sectors.Their solutions suit every application – from all to nothing with the most intensi-ve regulation.

Innovation is at the heart of the design of the products. Much more than simpleproducts, BERNARD CONTROLS offers reliable and sustainable solutions, adaptedto the particular environment, including the most difficult - cold, high temperatu-re,corrosion,abrasion – and they can also include specific protection (watertight,protection against fire and explosion).

With 75 years of experience and know-how, BERNARD CONTROLS offers tworanges to suit the requirements of its clients:

• FIRST BC for simple, yet solid actuators for use in environments and conditionsthat impose moderate constraints.

• BC PREMIUM to satisfy the need for more reliable,efficient and innovative actua-tors, where the environmental and working conditions impose more constraints.

The firm and the products made by BERNARD CONTROLS have been certified toleading international standards (ISO 9001,ABS,ATEX, CEPEL, GERMANISCHERLLOYDS, GOST, IEEE, NEMA, RCC-E…) and approved by major players around theworld (ADNOC, ALSTOM POWER, AREVA,BLUE CIRCLE, ENEL, EDF, ESKOM, GAZ DE FRANCE, KNPC, KOC, LAFARGE, NIOC,PETROBRAS,QATAR PETROLEUM, SAUDI ARAMCO, SHELL, SOFRESID,TRACTEBEL,TECHNIP,TOTAL, VEOLIA...).The international teams at BERNARD CONTROLS are regularly trained in order toanalyse and fulfil the requirements of clients.These experts are there to accom-pany you throughout every stage of your project, from the design phase throughthe entire life-cycle of the product: installation, launch, maintenance, repairs….

BERNARD CONTROLS - 4, rue d’Arsonval – BP 70091 - 95505 GONESSE cedex FRANCETel: +33 (0)1 34 07 71 00 - Fax: +33 (0)1 34 07 71 01

mail@bernardcontrols.com - www.bernardcontrols.com

Interview with Etienne Bernard, President of BERNARD CONTROLS

Lining up for the Solitaire du Figaro 2013 6

A new city hosting the start for the first time, a demanding course, a topclass line-up: everything is in place for this 44th edition of the Solitaire duFigaro to be exceptional.The first big moment will on the 24th May with theboats parading through Bordeaux to moor in the La Lune marina in theheart of the city.A lot of special events will be taking place between now andthe start on 2nd June.The Figaro Bénéteau boats will be putting on a showwith timed runs in the harbour.

It will be after a week-long pre-start phase that the 42 sailors that are com-peting will set sail from Pauillac to head for Porto (Portugal),another port thatwill host the event for the first time.This first leg could be tricky, as they haveto make their way out of the Gironde Estuary before crossing the Bay ofBiscay and rounding Cape Finisterre. The second leg will take the sailors toGijón (Spain), a more traditional stopover as the Solitaire has already beenthere twelve times.Once again, there will be plenty of hurdles along the way:sailing around the Iberian Peninsula, rounding Cape Finisterre again and upand down the Bay of Biscay before finishing on the coast of Spain.

The next crossing of the Bay of Biscay is equally complicated,as is roundingthe tip of Brittany, as the third leg sees the racers heading for the first timeto Roscoff in Morlaix Bay.

As for the final leg, it will take the fleet to Dieppe. After a return trip down tothe tip of Brittany, the solo sailors will cross the Channel before a long sailup the coast of Southern England before they head back down toNormandy.

With 1938 miles to cover before 23rd June, Jean-Pierre Nicol has got hiswork cut out for his seventh attempt at the Solitaire du Figaro. Particularly asthe line-up is exceptional with six former winners and some very skilledracers,who, just like the skipper of BERNARD CONTROLS,will be trying to addvictory in this legendary event to their list of successes.

The 2013 Solitaire du Figaro

An exceptional edition starting out from Bordeaux.

Port de la Lune - Bordeaux

7

Course

Start 2 June - Leg 1Bordeaux - Porto

Start: 2nd June 2013-13hFinish: 5th June 2013Distance: 536 miles

Leg 2Porto - Gijón

Start: 8th June 2013Finish: 11th June 2013Distance: 452 miles

Leg 3Gijón – Roscoff

Start: 13th June 2013Finish: 16th June 2013Distance: 436 miles

Leg 4Roscoff – Dieppe

Start: 20th June 2013Finish: 23rd June 2013Distance: 514 miles

Keep up to date with Jean-Pierre Nicol on BERNARD CONTROLS

Media contacts

Press Contact BERNARD CONTROLS

Alexandra Fontaine

T. +33 1 34 07 71 00

alexandra.fontaine@bernardcontrols.com

Press contact Jean-Pierre Nicol

Aurélie Feuvrier

T. +33 6 23 04 43 18

af.mer.media@wanadoo.fr

www.jpnicol.com

www.bernardcontrols.com www.facebook.com/bernardcontrols

www.facebook.com/jpnicol twitter.com/jpnicol

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Photo credit:Jean-Marie LiotJean-Christophe Marmara Figaro Evénement BERNARD CONTROLSVille de Bordeaux