L’Occitane Sailing Team Ready for the Vendée Globe
by L’Occitane Sailing Team 7 Nov 09:09 PST
10 November 2024
Clarisse Crémer, L’Occitane Sailing Team at the Vendée Globe © PKC Media
After successfully completing her first solo circumnavigation of the globe four years ago, Clarisse Crémer is now preparing to embark on a similar journey, but with entirely new goals.
Returning from her previous voyage exhilarated, which she regarded as a rite of passage, she now sets sail with distinct objectives in mind, both personal and competitive!
With 40 boats expected to start, including 13 new entries and 25 foiling yachts, this 10th edition of the Vendée Globe presents a formidable competition, making it hard to anticipate the top three finishers. It’s an outstanding fleet, where Clarisse Crémer hopes to stand out, as she holds the women’s record for this event. So what are her aims following her first participation, which concluded with a 12th place finish, now that she returns stronger and better equipped in the boat that crossed the finish line first that year? “From a competitive perspective, I know people expect specific numbers, times, and position targets,” she shares. However, aiming for a specific race time isn’t very practical given the weather’s impact. That said, I hope to be quicker than last time. I have a capable boat, but I don’t have defined targets.
Personal goals: the true journey
Featuring the toughest challenges in sailing and regarded as the last great adventure, the Vendée Globe is known as the Everest of the seas not only for its physical and athletic demands. To complete over 24,000 miles around the globe, navigating some of the most extreme maritime paths, akin to the 113 other sailors who have triumphed since 1989, requires something unique—an explorer’s thirst, an introspective journey, and self-discovery, which enabled Clarisse to embrace 87 solitary days with serenity. “My primary aim is fundamentally personal,” she admits. It’s about feeling comfortable on the water, or as comfortable as possible, even in tough situations. It’s about quickly recovering if things go awry. Approaching 35, which she’ll celebrate at sea on December 30, Clarisse knows she can weather any storm without falling out of love with the sea and sailing. And what about her competitive ambition? “I dream of finishing in the Top 10, as that would be an impressive accomplishment given the world-class competition at the start!”
Clarisse Crémer: “I want to be more self-assured this time.”
Envision… The departure day
For Clarisse, who is only three days away from departing and embarking alone for the second time on a round-the-world race in her new IMOCA Open 60, it’s a moment of visualization. Close your eyes… Imagine… Travel…
“I’m not particularly fond of departure days. I gradually shift into ‘robot’ mode, pushing ahead while allowing organizational obligations to guide me. Once I reach the channel, I let my emotions take over—there’s a different energy this time, so many spectators present. It’s wonderful.
Now, I’m on the water, awaiting the start. Mentally, I’ve already begun the journey. It’s happening! The race begins. After a day filled with chaos and uncertainty, I’m finally where I belong. I can’t wait for this day to pass, to be out at sea tomorrow, finding my rhythm. I’m eager for what lies ahead!”
