Before my heart beat for watchmaking, it sailed to the rhythm of the oceans. I began my professional career as a tactical skipper, challenging the waves in inshore sailing races, particularly in the world of match racing and the America’s Cup.

At that time, my partners were icons of Swiss watchmaking: Omega, then Tag Heuer. A meeting that increased my admiration for these timepieces, essential in my competitive world.

But it was in February 1995 that my life took a turn. Off Rottnest Island, Australia, the ocean revealed its distress and our crew had to navigate in the middle of an ocean of waste… cans floating as far as the eye could see…

This nightmarish vision left an indelible mark on my mind. It was the catalyst for a revelation, a call to action. A sea, normally a symbol of freedom and purity, had become a reflection of our negligence, our waste.

This ‘extraordinary’ experience was the starting point of my deep commitment to combating this threat, to protecting our oceans; our common playground.

This is how my journey took a new direction, that of action!