Clarisse Crémer Ready for the Vendée Globe
by L’Occitane Sailing Team 2 Nov 07:07 PDT
L’Occitane Sailing Team – Vendée Globe 2024 © PKC Media / L’Occitane Sailing Team
As a reminder: early in 2023, Clarisse Crémer set a challenging yet feasible goal of initiating a new Vendée Globe campaign with a new vessel, under the sponsorship of a fresh title partner—L’Occitane en Provence—joining a completely new crew, and based in a different port, Gosport, England.
Eighteen months before the start of the 10th edition of the Vendée Globe, this endeavor has been made feasible by the unwavering resolve and dedication of the team she formed with Alex Thomson, who is engaged in this venture with his previous crew. Let’s reflect on the last 18 crucial months leading up to the big departure!
April 2023: the inception of the L’Occitane en Provence project
On April 19, 2023, Clarisse officially declared her commitment to a new Vendée Globe 2024 initiative: ‘I am particularly delighted and proud to embark on this new journey with L’Occitane en Provence. The Vendée Globe 2024 has been in my thoughts since I last rounded the Cape of Good Hope, and it’s a privilege to have them alongside me! Currently, I’m looking ahead: having an exceptional boat and an incredible team at my side brings great joy, and I cannot wait to return to sailing.”
“Clarisse is among the most skilled sailors in offshore racing. My team and I are thrilled that L’Occitane en Provence is backing her in the Vendée Globe. We are determined to equip Clarisse with everything she needs for fair competition,’ stated Alex Thomson at that time.
Spring 2023: summer modifications and a new look for the IMOCA L’Occitane en Provence
In May 2023, L’Occitane Sailing Team’s technical crew will begin preparations to modify Charlie Dalin’s 60-foot ex-APIVIA for her new captain, Clarisse Crémer. It will be an intense few weeks leading up to the start of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
July 2023: the 50th edition of the Rolex Fastnet Race from Cowes
This marks Clarisse’s first race aboard HER IMOCA L’Occitane en Provence, sailing double-handed with her new co-skipper and high-caliber training partner, Alan Roberts. It was a rigorous warm-up in challenging conditions, boosting morale as the ‘Crémer – Roberts’ duo performed admirably, finishing 6th out of the entire fleet. This remarkable outcome sets a positive tone for the remainder of the season.
“I had an amazing time reconnecting with the open sea, racing, and experiencing all the sensations. We faced some unexpected situations during the race since we were still learning how to handle the boat,’ she chuckled. Given the urgency of the race, one must ‘keep it straightforward,’ and this IMOCA is well-suited for that! It’s a vessel that is quite ‘easy’ to sail and performs consistently in various wind angles. Being in the race has liberated me!
September 2023: back in the game!
Before focusing on the upcoming race in the IMOCA Globes Series calendar, key events unfolded for the L’Occitane Sailing Team, including the arrival of H2air—a renewable energy producer—as an official partner through 2024… as well as the Baptism of the IMOCA in Brittany!
September also presented Clarisse and Alan with another opportunity to gauge their skill against future competitors at the year’s end, during the Azimut Challenge in Lorient. With 33 IMOCA boats entered for the race, the Franco-English duo would cover nearly 638 additional miles in the Bay of Biscay under invigorating conditions. After a busy summer and a necessary short break to maintain their motivation, Clarisse gained invaluable experience, reigniting her passion for competition, the thrill of starting anew, and the drive to excel. The camaraderie and complementarity onboard were evident as they consistently competed for a Top 5 position. Clarisse and Alan finished 10th, just under 3 hours behind 5th place, indicating they are in contention with the best as they approach the major fall events!
October-November 2023: Two transatlantic races to conclude the season
Just seven months into this new venture, Clarisse is slated to cross the Atlantic twice in under two months. Planned events include the Transat Jacques Vabre, sailing double-handed with Alan Roberts, starting in Le Havre and finishing in Martinique, followed by a solo Return to Base, heading for Lorient. This final race is crucial, serving as the qualifier for the Vendée Globe. As usual, Clarisse is tackling this sequence of races with enthusiasm, seriousness, and substantial dedication!
With a 9th place finish in the ‘Route du Café,’ where 40 IMOCA boats competed, after 13 days and 50 minutes of racing, Clarisse and Alan are ending their competitive partnership (in competition since Alan will remain with the team long-term) on a high note!
Less than 10 days post their arrival in Martinique, it’s time to set sail again! This time, Clarisse will take the lead solo, departing with the top start— in the opposite direction. Eleven days later, she reached the finish line of the Retour à la Base in 12th position, achieving a significant milestone in her qualifying campaign. It was not without challenges, as Clarisse recounted shortly after landing: ‘An avalanche of fatigue and pride unlike anything I’ve experienced before… Returning to competition following a pregnancy, sailing solo again after three years, rebuilding a team, juggling life as a mother, sailor, and spouse: it’s been an eventful year! (…) Nevertheless, I persevered and made it to port. I had to set aside the frustrations of being a competitor while keeping my end goal in sight. After these two transatlantic races, I’m nearing my Vendée Globe dream.
May – June 2024: Clarisse secures her entry for the 10th Vendée Globe!
Following a well-deserved winter break, the creation of a comic book, and preparation on a well-equipped IMOCA L’Occitane en Provence, Clarisse is ready to get back into action this spring for another double Atlantic crossing! The skipper now feels sharper and more assured than ever, with her Vendée Globe entry just around the corner: “Today our team feels stronger than ever, and 2024 promises to be even more intense: two solo transatlantic races in spring to France and New York, culminating in a solo round-the-world race in November!
Indeed, there are still two ‘short’ solo transatlantic races to complete before she can qualify and be selected for the Vendée Globe. After a challenging Transat CIC, which involved a detour to the Azores for technical repairs due to significant structural issues, yet mere participation allowed Clarisse to tick her first ‘qualification’ box. Now, she’s on the home stretch, solo on the New York-Vendée leg. After 14 days at sea and approximately 4,000 solo miles, it’s official: Clarisse has been regularly selected as one of the 40 participants in the 10th edition of the Everest of the Seas!
Some might argue that only victory is meaningful, while others see this achievement as a remarkable feat that already feels substantial!
November 2024: 9 days until the bell tolls
Clarisse now has only a few days left to finalize the last details with her technical team, spend quality time with her family, and share her experiences with partners and the public before launching her second round-the-world journey aboard her yellow and blue rocket. Until then, she’ll savor the incredible journey endlessly… Another personal Everest achieved, thanks to countless supportive hands, prior to the eagerly awaited solo adventure across the seas!
