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Clarisse Crémer has been chosen to wear the colours of Banque Populaire for an IMOCA project leading up to the 2020 Vendée Globe. The young skipper will be facing an exciting challenge, as so far she has only spent one night aboard an IMOCA during the Azimut Challenge last September, when she was the media reporter alongside Romain Attanasio in what was a fine start to her professional sailing career. But the HEC Business School graduate had already shone in other events, in particular taking second place in the series category in the 2017 Mini-Transat, on what was her first attempt, marking a brilliant conclusion to her own personal saga – Clarisse in the Atlantic – which showed that she was an excellent communicator, as well as a great sailor.

Clarisse now aims to set out around the world aboard the former SMA, which won the Route du Rhum in the IMOCA category last autumn, when she was in the hands of Paul Meilhat and which won the 2012-2013 Vendée Globe, when she was skippered by François Gabart. The boat has been chartered by the Banque Populaire Sailing Team from Mer Agitée. Ronan Lucas, the head of the Banque Populaire team does not intend to fit her with foils, but wants to ensure her reliability, as the boat has certainly clocked up a lot of miles and achieved a lot too. “Getting into the Top Ten would be a good outcome,” added the Team Director.

During the long awaited press conference from the partner to the French Sailing Federation and 2024 Olympics, it was also confirmed that the Ultim 32/23 project is being stepped up: the Banque Populaire team will be having a new flying trimaran built, which is due to be delivered in late 2020. Armel le Cléac’h will be at the helm. Reassured about his career, the winner of the 2016-2017 Vendée Globe will also take up the post of coach alongside Clarisse Crémer. “I’m very proud,” she said, “to be able to learn alongside him, although it is a bit intimidating too.” The IMOCA project and the race to qualify will start out in the water in July, once the Solitaire du Figaro has been raced in the colours of Everial for one and Banque Populaire for the other. Then, the pair will race together in the Transat Jacques Vabre in November.