H2air boards with Clarisse Crémer for Vendée Globe 2024

Mardi 05 Septembre 2023 à 20h00

While celebrating his 15th anniversary in Tours on 5th september 2023, H2air group formalised his partnership with the skipper Clarisse Crémer.

This partnership will span till Vendée Globe 2024, which the French 33 year-old will attend on L'Occitane en Provence monohull. This mythical race, also called "the Everest of seas", is one of the most challenging sport events : a nonstop solo sailing race around the world. Clarisse Crémer holds the women's world record : she finished her tour in 87 days, 2 hours and 24 minutes in 2020.

H2air team will support and assist hier throughout her year of preparation before departure scheduled on 10th, november 2024. H2air shares the message "Race for equity" which Clarisse will bring all over the world during the race. “My personal story implies that I want to impulse change in our society so that women no longer have to choose between motherhood and a career in sports,” she explained.

Like H2air, Clarisse is really committed to professional equity between women and men, especially since her unfortunate experience in early 2023. After giving birth to her daughter in November 2022, Clarisse was abandoned by her main sponsor, who got the impression that motherhood would prevent her from sufficient participation in races to ensure her qualification for the Vendée Globe 2024.

An episode that revealed the inequalities regarding women / men in sports, particularly sailing, where strong improvements remain to be accomplished : only 6 female skippers participated in the Vendée Globe 2020.

"I found in H2air a very down to earth company who drives common values with my project : equity, human adventure, mastery of the elements, environmental conservation, quest for performance", confirmed Clarisse Crémer alongside Roy Mahfouz, founding chairman of H2air, Camille Vandenbeuck, chief financial officer and Loïc Espagnet, chief operating officer.

"The whole H2air team and myself are very proud to be part of the adventure of Clarisse Crémer ! We both combine human intelligence and energy with great nature power to reach the success of our projects, stated Roy Mahfouz. And we both share the human values that brought us together !"

Offshore development for H2air

By partnering with a nature-loving sportswoman, H2air is also strengthening its sea legs : the group intends to apply for upcoming offshore wind tenders. “This partnership illustrates the new path of H2air, namely to intensify its global footprint and diversify its portfolio,” explains Roy Mahfouz.

H2air employees became the first supporters of Clarisse Crémer, from her participation in the Défi Azimut in September (where she took 10th place with her British teammate Alan Roberts), through the Transat Jacques Vabre, where she crossed the finish line in 9^th place, and for all the races before the Vendée Globe.

Clarisse crossed the line of the single-handed transatlantic race Retour à La Base in Lorient on December 11th in 12th position. After 11 days across the atlantic, she is now one step closer ton qualification for the 2024 Vendée Globe !

Follow her next races on our accounts : Linkedin, Instagram, Facebook.

>> Photos : Teddy HENIN and L'Occitane Sailing Team