Marcel Troupel

Born in Algiers in 1930, Marcel Troupel grew up by the sea, enjoying fishing and sailing from a young age. Troupel often borrowed dinghies such as Vauriens and Moths to sail before going on to build his own. From 1958 to 1962 he competed in the 505 class, becoming an Algerian champion in 1960. In the early 1960s he moved to France, joining the prestigious Cercle de la Voile d’Arcachon sailing club. Troupel was initially declared a winner at the 1966 French Championships, but was later disqualified due to a boom problem. The issue did not deter him, as he then won three consecutive national titles from 1967 to 1969.

In 1968 Troupel and compatriot Philippe Lanaverre became the world champions in the 505 class. This, along with his success in France, earned Troupel a place on the Olympic team for the 1972 München Games. He and Yves Devillers competed in the Tempest class, where they won the opening race, but then slipped down the rankings to finish ninth overall. Following his death in 2019 the Marcel Troupel Trophy has been held annually in his honour.