The 2020 Vendée Globe runner-up, Clarisse Crémer, will not continue her campaign for the next edition in 2024. Her sponsor, the French financial institution Banque Populaire, announced in a statement that it would be replacing the 33-year-old Frenchwoman. The reason for this is her pregnancy, which has so far prevented her from taking part in qualifying regattas. The sponsor sees the start of her Imoca in danger and is therefore reacting.
"She is now in a situation where she cannot hope to achieve the required number of points to qualify for the Vendée Globe 2024", according to a statement from the sponsor. They had tried to negotiate an exception with the organiser in order to secure one of the 40 starting places. However, this was not permitted, which"very regrettable" is. Therefore, a new skipper must now be found in order not to jeopardise participation in the most important offshore regatta for French sponsors.
After the last Vendée Globe, the organisers changed the qualification procedure. Previously, finishers of the previous edition automatically qualified for the next one, but this is no longer the case. This is the only reason why Crémer has to collect points at all.
The French sailor expressed her anger in a statement on her social media channels and announced that she no longer wanted to work with Banque Populaire:
"I am determined to sail again, under the colours of a trustworthy partner whose human convictions I share. My passion for sailing is undiminished and I will quickly overcome the disillusionment I am experiencing today."
Shitstorm for Banque Populaire?
Crémer became the mother of a daughter in November 2022, and her sponsor had already been informed of her desire to have a child before the pregnancy. He had also initially promised further support and planned with her for the next Vendée. Now, however, there has been a rift:"Last Friday, I learnt that Banque Populaire has decided to replace me. Because of their decision and against my will, I will not be at the start of the Vendée Globe 2024."
Although the ocean sailor considers herself to be at least a little behind as far as qualification is concerned, qualification is still possible. She is very disappointed that no risk is being taken now. Crémer emphasises that she had the will to come back as quickly as possible.
She continues:"They are prepared to take the risk of a huge trimaran (which is also sponsored by Banque Populaire, ed.) and all the natural, technical and human uncertainties associated with ocean racing, but obviously not the risk of motherhood. [...] Ocean racing only exists today because sponsors choose it as a means of communication and use it to tell beautiful, sporting and therefore also human stories. I have a complete lack of understanding for the story that this sponsor chooses to tell today: The main thing is Vendée Globe, at all costs. "
According to Crémer, the Vendée Globe organisation is content to feel sorry for her instead of doing something about it. Yet they are the ones who write the rules:"As a reminder, four years ago I would have been automatically selected because I had reached the finish line in the previous edition."
Crémer's post was met with outrage on social media about the French bank. After just two hours, the post had already been commented on almost a thousand times on Instagram, with even more users commenting on Facebook. German ocean sailor Susann Beucke, currently on her way to Cape Town with "Holcim - PRB", also joined in:"That's just not right!"
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It will soon be announced who will start for the French bank on 10 November 2024 instead of Crémer. The former "Apivia" has been available for this since December. In the hands of Charlie Dalin, the 2019 Verdier design has been one of the fastest in the class to date and is therefore also a hot candidate for the upcoming Vendée Globe.
