«…build a team, gain experience, and prepare for the future.»
With only fourteen rowers available and no substitutes, Ismaël Celaman, captain of the Mr. Bricolage rowing boat, and his crew weren’t sure they’d be able to make the start. Nevertheless, they decided to set out on the race between Fort-de-France and Les Anses-d’Arlet. Early in the morning, executives and representatives from partner companies—including Mr. Bricolage, GBH, and the RSMA—were on hand to support and cheer on the rowers. Despite the difficulties encountered at sea, Ismaël Cellamen and his crew held on until the very end, overcoming fatigue and water ingress to cross the finish line. It was a wonderful display of courage, tenacity, solidarity, and team spirit—human values that are also at the heart of a company’s life and success.
Some rankings only tell part of the story. Yesterday, Friday, July 31, at the end of the sixth stage of the 2026 Tour de Martinique des Yoles Rondes, Mr. Bricolage finished in fifteenth place, 1 hour, 9 minutes, and 8 seconds behind the winner, UFR Chanflor. But behind this result lies a story of courage, solidarity, and perseverance. For the Robertin crew, the first victory of the day was simply being able to make it to the starting line.
A Start That Was Uncertain for a Long Time
From the very start of the morning, the situation was cause for concern. The team had only fourteen couriers and no substitutes. This situation cast doubt on its ability to join the fleet.
«This morning was tough because we had fourteen couriers and no substitutes. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to set out again. Even the Federation wasn’t sure whether it would allow us to rejoin the fleet,»,
explains Ismaël Cellamen, owner of the Mr. Bricolage rowboat.
Faced with this uncertainty, the young CEO nevertheless stepped up to the plate.
«I decided to go for it. We set 32 square meters of sail, and in the end, we raced. It’s amazing… we were tired but proud!»
A cautious choice, given that the contenders for the win had opted for much larger sail areas. In the UFR class, Chanflor had set off with 70 square meters of sail area, while Cottrell and Leader Mat had chosen 50 square meters. For Mr. Bricolage, the goal was not to compete for the lead but to preserve the crew and make it to the finish line.
A particularly challenging stage
The sixth leg was originally supposed to take the yoles around Rocher du Diamant. With two tropical waves approaching, the organizers ultimately opted for an alternative course. In particular, the crews had to tackle a long downwind leg—which is especially challenging for round yoles—before tacking several times to reach the finish line.
The Mr. Bricolage rowboat wasn't spared. After an encouraging start to the race and a smooth passage around the first buoy, the rowboat took on water several times.
«At the first buoy, things went well. Then we started falling behind—first once, then a second time. We had to rally the team and tell the guys, »Come on, let’s finish this.’”
As fatigue set in, the challenge became as much mental as it was physical. All around them, other crews were also experiencing incidents. Notably, GFA Caraïbes and L’Univers du Pneu sank near the islet of Ramiers, while Rosette and L’Appaloosa suffered further damage as they approached Petite Anse. But on board the Mr. Bricolage, no one was willing to give up.
«The motto is to go home.»
On board, the strategy was simple. We had to stick together, keep the skiff under control, and keep moving toward the finish line.
«We had to motivate them 100 %. Tell them it didn’t matter, that we didn’t have any substitutes, but that we had to hang in there. The key is to get back on the field—and to do it right—with what we have.»
That determination ultimately enabled the crew to finish the leg. They may have come in last, but crossing the finish line felt like a reward after the morning’s uncertainties, the water ingress, the fatigue, and the navigation challenges.
«We may be last in the standings, but we're proud to be here and determined to finish this 40th Tour.»
In a competition where attention naturally focuses on the red jersey and stage victories, Mr. Bricolage’s performance serves as a reminder that the Tour des Yoles is also built away from the podium. Finishing a demanding stage—without a substitute and with a crew that is still learning the ropes—is an accomplishment in itself.
A New Crew in the Making
The current project didn't really get underway until November. Ismaël Cellamen is in his first year as team owner, and several members of his crew are also discovering the demands of the Tour for the first time.
«It's a mix of young and experienced riders, but for many of them, this is their first year. The goal is to finish the Tour—not to give up. That's what matters most to us.»
This intergenerational partnership is part of the history of Las Palmas, an organization based in Le Robert that has been using the yole as a medium for training, knowledge transfer, and integration. The club brings together young people and more experienced sailors to work on building, maintaining, and sailing the yole.
Mr. Bricolage has been supporting Las Palmas for over twenty years. The Mr. Bricolage brand, operated in Martinique by GBH, has chosen to support this project because of the values it embodies: dedication, courage, perseverance, teamwork, and the passing down of knowledge from one generation to the next. The RSMA’s presence alongside the crew further reinforces this educational and human dimension.
Partners Who Stick With Us Until the Very End
At both the start and the finish, several representatives from Mr. Bricolage, GBH, and the RSMA were on hand to cheer on the riders. Damien de Longueville, director of Mr. Bricolage; Stéphane Hayot, CEO of GBH; and the commander of the RSMA were among those who made a point of congratulating the crew after the race.
This is a significant boost for a team that didn't expect to be able to compete with the most experienced teams in its very first year.
«They came to see us, congratulate us, and encourage us. The group, which makes up a large part of the crew, started in November. They aren’t expecting any specific results from us this year because it’s a new project and it’s my first year as team manager.»
The standings thus take a back seat. The challenge is to build a team, gain experience, and prepare for the future.
The Pride of Seeing It Through to the End
After arriving in Anses-d’Arlet, there were two days left to complete the 40th Tour. Ismaël Cellamen asked his teammates for just one thing: to keep going.
«For tomorrow, the message is to hang in there. There are two days left. We’re going to do it and, above all, prove that we can finish this Tour. Even though we’re far behind in the general classification, there will be pride—for some, in having completed their first Tour, and for all of us, in having finished this 40th edition.»
Mr. Bricolage didn't win the stage. She didn't win a jersey. But she proved that even a single scull can do its colors proud by refusing to give up.
At sea, just as in life, it’s not always enough to be the fastest. Sometimes you have to stick together, pick yourself up after every setback, and keep going until the very end.
…And yesterday, between Fort-de-France and Les Anses-d’Arlet, the Mr. Bricolage, GBH, RSMA crew provided a fine example of this.
Philippe Pied & Roland Dorival
