They rely on our skippers, discover the partners' interviews of the Class40 circuit who testify of their commitment in the ocean racing world.
Interviews by Maxime FALCONE – Association Class40
« Eole Generation, 100% branch of GDF SUEZ, is both a developer and operator of wind projects and tidal stream generating electricity. It is thus quite naturally that it turned towards sailing which is a sport with naturally many common points, in particular the knowledge of the maritime environment and the respectful use of the wind, sun and streams energy. More generally, the activity of Eole Generation is very close to the practice of this discipline with which we share strong values: the respect of natural sites, the dynamism, an activity in accordance with the nature, or still the self-transcendence. Sébastien Rogues is a skipper who embodies all these values. As a company committed to sustainable development and implanted in the heart of the territories, Eole Generation therefore wished to support its approach. »
« The group GDF Suez accompanies young people in its « YOUNG TALENTS » policy whatever the sport. Sébastien fits into this category and we help him to start his career. »
« The Class40 is the next logical step in Sebastian’s career, who comes from the Mini circuit. Eole Generation and GDF Suez can pursue the project with a safe and solid boat, which stays in a reasonable budget after the prototype in 6,50. In sporting terms Class40’s boats showed their ability and the association which governs this class is very well organized and professional. »
« Because it is a small structure, all Eole Generation’s employees had the possibility to navigate or discover sailing. In a general way, this partnership creates a strong mobilization and an unwavering support of all the employees of GDF Suez. We indeed associate the Group’s branch in regions to offer special moments to our guests like starts of races like the Normandy Channel Race. Furthermore for the GDF Suez group, the internal communication is activated during races, it allows all the employees to gather around a human sports’ challenge that reflects the values of the company. Externally, it is the opportunity to develop animations such as boat christening in St Nazaire in March with her godmother Amélie Mauresmo. »
« This is very positive. Sébastien wants to reach his objectives and manages his projects in a exemplary way. He is representative of each employee. We are proud to support him. Its progression is well controlled, and we are proud to support him and to contribute to his development in this beautiful discipline of sailing. Furthermore, he puts his human qualities in the service of his ambition; performance and ethics, quite as Eole Generation. We are very sensitive to his values of respect for others and the environment. »
« Two main reasons, the first one is that Thierry Bouchard convinced us to follow him. The second reason is that sailing with regard to our activity, reflects the values which we wish to convey from the technological point of view, teamwork and sustainable development as a sail boat is nature-friendly. »
« At the beginning we had no sailing project. It is really the man who seduced us when we met him. Then, when we thought about it we realized that there were many interesting points to convey the image of the company. Concerning the Class40, it is a support which seemed to us financially affordable, we would not have been able to follow him on a superior Class. »
« We set up events at the starts and the arrivals of the races. Inviting our clients in Pointe à Pitre, for example, is very interesting. Another essential aspect is the impact in the media. We had many publications because we were associated with the Class40. We do not look for public recognition because we work in B to B but in this particular. case it has confirmed our reputation with our customers. Moreover, what is interesting for us is that our company appears more on the web, it is a point not to neglected in our argument. Finally we also exploited this partnership internally to gather our employees around a common project. »
« For me, it is a mixed assessment. We were not able to exploit this partnership. We should have continued with Thierry until 2014 for the Route du Rhum, but for economic reasons we will not. As many companies we had to reduce the budgets in communications so we could not set up the events planned around races. I am personally disappointed because that corresponded really well to what the company wanted to convey. »
« Just because I have been personally a big sailing fan for a long time. »
« With the Class40, an SME like ours can realize a sponsoring, have its name on a boat for an affordable budget, and yet participate in international events like the Transat Jacques Vabre Transat or Quebec - St Malo. Imoca and multihull classes are too expensive for us and the Classe Mini less interesting. We met Stéphanie ALRAN by chance but we enjoyed her project. She was able to adapt to our needs and our limited resources. »
« For us it is specially a search of internal benefits. For the employees who all adopted Stéphanie as if she was a member of the company, it fast became an adventure that they appropriated. I think that it is a certain pride to have the name of our company on the boat and on the sails that participate in big mediatized events. This is also an opportunity for families to go at the starts of races . And this creates a certain emulation in our team. Externally we also invited some of our guests on the departures of races but we don’t expect any commercial benefits. We think that it gives us more visibility with our partners and suppliers. »
« It is very positive and we do not regret our investment. We will certainly continue to participate in some Class40’events, but however, because of the economic situation, we will probably be forced to limit our participation in some events, even in races held every 2 or 3 years. »
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