At a press conference, Richomme admitted that he needed to take time before thinking about what comes next. Except that even before cutting the line, he has already started debriefing with his team. To imagine what happens next. Probably thinking about the 2028 Vendée Globe.
“We really want to build a new boat”
His two partners are hot. “If Yoann wants to go back, we will be next to him. We really want to build a new boat, we have clearly prepared for that,” says Sébastien Petithuguenin, general manager of the Paprec Group and seasoned sailor. A group that has been sending canvas for 20 years in sailing. It was their 6th
Vendée Globe, including five with Jean-Pierre Dick. “We believe in French excellence and sailing is an area where we see this excellence.” The Paprec Group, which has 16,000 employees and a turnover of 3 billion euros in 2024, is very present in the sailing sector with the support of the Transat Paprec between Concarneau and Saint-Barthélemy and, of course, the Solitaire du Figaro Paprec. That is an annual budget of 3 million euros for sailing sponsorship as a whole. “To have Yoann Richomme or Charlie Dalin, we need sectors that create exceptional sailors.”
Paprec has ample means to finance these sailing projects but the recycling company has chosen to share the sponsorship experience with Arkea: “We like collective stories, we did it with Virbac at one time, we continue and we sharing with Arkéa”.
The alliance of economy and emotion
The Arkéa Group is sailing in the same direction with the support of the Figaro sectors, in particular the Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne selections but also the sponsorship of the world tour in a maxi-trimaran, the Arkéa Ultim Challenge Brest, with a 2nd edition in 2027. Richomme's performance makes them want to continue the adventure: “Yes, but it's not the kind of decision you make in the euphoria of the moment. It is to experience these emotions that we do sponsorship but also to get feedback on the image. It’s the alliance of economy and emotion,” explains Cédric Malengreau, director of institutional communications at Arkéa.
-On the Imoca project, Paprec and Arkéa are 50-50. The Arkéa Group, which also supports professional teams in cycling and rugby with two Top 14 teams, including RC Vannes, enjoys offshore racing. “Sailing is rather good value for money with positive values.”
Yoann Richomme can sleep peacefully. Unlike Maxime Sorel and Damien Seguin, who lost their sponsors before the start of the Vendée Globe, the runner-up of the Vendée Globe has two who are just waiting to send back some canvas.
