Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer’s Vend\u00e9e Globe campaign is back on track with L\u2019Occitane en Provence now stepping in a headline sponsor and Alex Thomson heading the teamIt has been confirmed that Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer\u2019s Vend\u00e9e Globe campaign is back on with L\u2019Occitane en Provence stepping in as headline sponsor, while British five-time Vend\u00e9e Globe veteran Alex Thomson has been confirmed as team principal.
\nEarlier this year, the news that Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer had been dropped by her sponsor following time away from sailing to have a baby shook the yachting world and left the French sailor\u2019s dreams of being on the startline for the 2024 Vend\u00e9e Globe in tatters.
\nToday\u2019s announcement confirms that Cr\u00e9mer will once again be competing for a place on the startline of the single-handed around the world race. \u201cI can\u2019t wait to get back to sailing,\u201d she commented in today\u2019s statement.
\nCr\u00e9mer gave birth to her daughter last November and was due to sail for Banque Populaire in the forthcoming Vend\u00e9e Globe, with the French banking giant having agreed to purchase the IMOCA 60 Apivia.\u00a0The Verdier-designed FRA 79, formerly\u00a0Apivia,\u00a0is the fastest boat of its generation, in\u00a0which Charlie Dalin won the Transat Jacques Vabre (2019), finished second in the Vend\u00e9e Globe (2021, having crossed the line in 1st before redress was awarded for the rescue of Kevin Escoffier) and the Route du Rhum (2022).
\nAfter she was dropped by Banque Populaire, Cr\u00e9mer took to social media stating that her sponsor knew of her pregnancy when the deal was agreed and expressed her disappointment in the outcome. The story was picked up by a number of national and international publications and following the backlash Banque Populaire withdrew from the race completely, leaving one of the most competitive IMOCA 60s in the fleet available.
\nApivia, the IMOCA upon which Cremer will compete in the next Vendee after being rebranded under new sponsor L\u2019Occitane en Provence. Photo: Pierre Bouras
\nOn 22 March 2023, Alex Thomson announced the purchase of Apivia from Banque Populaire leading to much speculation that Cr\u00e9mer could again be racing on the boat (Thomson\u2019s team is also supporting newcomer Scott Shawyer of Canada Ocean Racing in his goal to reach the 2028 Vend\u00e9e Globe).
\nBut with today\u2019s latest announcement, it is finally confirmed that Cr\u00e9mer will indeed be skippering the IMOCA 60 under the sponsorship of L\u2019Occitane en Provence and with Thomson as Team Principal.
\nClairisse Cr\u00e9mer started her sailing career whilst at university and went on to finish 2nd in her first solo race, the 2017 Mini Transat. She moved onto the Figaro class before joining the Banque Populaire sailing team in 2019 to take on her first Vend\u00e9e Globe in 2020 \u2013 where she finished 12th and was the first female sailor.
\n\u201cI am particularly happy and proud to be able to start this new adventure with L\u2019Occitane en Provence. I have had the Vend\u00e9e Globe 2024 in mind since I last rounded the Cape of Good Hope and it is a privilege to have them by my side to pursue this challenge,\u201d Cr\u00e9mer commented.
\n\u201cThese last few months have been intense, sometimes hard, but I will always be grateful to all those who have believed in me and who have enabled me, year after year, to progress and take part in the major events in ocean racing.
\n\u201cToday I\u2019m focused on the future: it\u2019s a great joy to have an extraordinary boat and a great team to accompany me in this adventure, and I can\u2019t wait to get back to sailing.
\n\u201cThe Vend\u00e9e Globe starting line is still a long way off and there are still many challenges to be faced, but I am putting all my energy into the success of this project to prove that with desire, determination and the right partners, we can make society, companies and sport more equitable.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adrien Geiger, Managing Director of L\u2019Occitane en Provence said: \u201cWe are very proud to support Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer, a true role model for the new generations, and to help her accomplish her sporting and human adventure.
\n\u201cWe have decided to join forces to promote women\u2019s leadership in sailing, a competitive world that is still largely male. Indeed, we make it a point of honour to support all women in their personal and professional projects.
\n\u201cFrom 2020, we have decided to take a strong position on the key issue of parenthood. L\u2019Occitane has become the first international cosmetics group to implement a parental leave policy on such a broad international scale. This policy applies to L\u2019Occitane employees worldwide, including company-owned offices, factories and shops.\u201d
\nAlex Thomson, Team Principal, said: \u201cClarisse is one of the most talented sailors in ocean racing and she deserves to be at the start of the Vend\u00e9e Globe next year.
\n\u201cMy team and I are delighted that L\u2019Occitane en Provence will support Clarisse for the Vend\u00e9e Globe. We want to prove to the world that becoming a mother doesn\u2019t change who you are as an athlete. We intend to provide Clarisse with all the tools that will enable her to compete with equity.\u201d
\nThere is now a race against time for Cremer\u2019s team to shape their support team, make any technical updates to the boat, plan their race schedule and start the race for qualifying miles, to qualify for the next Vend\u00e9e Globe which starts 10th November 2024.
\nHer position on the startline is yet to be guaranteed (though it would be extraordinary if race organisers did not award her a place after the furore that followed her sacking). But with the backing of L\u2019Occitane en Provence \u2013 themselves a major backer of Vend\u00e9e campaigns, a boat that is arguably the hottest property in the over-subscribed IMOCA fleet, and with Alex Thomson working alongside Cr\u00e9mer as Team Principal, this is likely to be a highly competitive campaign.<\/p>\n
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Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer’s Vend\u00e9e Globe campaign is back on track with L\u2019Occitane en Provence now stepping in a headline sponsor and Alex Thomson heading the teamIt has been confirmed that Clarisse Cr\u00e9mer\u2019s Vend\u00e9e Globe campaign is back on with L\u2019Occitane en … <\/p>\n