Meet Félix, a versatile officer cadet and elite IQFoil windsurfer!

“My name is Félix Dary, I’m 19 years old and a second-year student at ENSM’s Marseille campus, studying to become a marine engineer. 

Alongside my studies, I’m a top-level IQFoil windsurfer at the Pôle France Voile in Marseille.

IQ Foil is an Olympic discipline that reimagines traditional windsurfing using foil technology, allowing you to glide above the water and reach speeds of up to 30 knots!

It’s a sport I’ve been practising for many years, and one that shares a common bond with my studies: the sea. 

In fact, it was this passion for sailing that led me to develop an interest in the maritime world more broadly and, naturally, to the ENSM – a choice of course that, so far, seems to me to be absolutely the right one!

I’m all the more fulfilled to be able to pursue a high-performance sporting project alongside my studies, thanks to the arrangements made by the School and a tightly organised timetable, allowing me to fit in the following all on the same days: lectures / training / fitness training.

The start of this journey has already been very positive, with a fulfilling first year both academically and in sport, including a top-10 finish last December at the Youth World Sailing Championships and a victory at the IQ Foil Games in Silvaplana last August.

I’m delighted about this collaboration with the ENSM Foundation – we’ve got great things to achieve together! 

“Now it’s time for the U23 World Championships – a category I’ve only just joined – but I’m going to give it my all to gain as much experience as possible and do everything I can to achieve a great result!”