In June, Saipol decided to become a partner of Éric and his team, Stand As One, to support him on his journey towards the Vendée Globe in 2024 and introduce its employees to his story and philosophy: “never give up”, “make fear your ally”, “take two steps into the unknown to find happiness”, “dare to be different”.
THE OBJECTIVE: TO EMBODY AND PASS ON STRONG VALUES, LEVERAGING THE IMPACT OF OFFSHORE RACING.
Beyond a sports sponsorship that raises Saipol and Avril’s visibility, this partnership embodies the values that matter to Saipol and Avril: resilience, pushing beyond one’s limits and trust, because:
- Like Éric, Saipol has demonstrated its ability to overcome difficulties and rise to challenges as a team, adopting a different strategy from its competitors in order to win!
- Rather than following the “arms race” of the latest-generation boats (foilers), Éric is focusing on different areas (reliability, improving average speed, sister ship) to stand out and win, an approach that echoes Saipol’s way of operating in its competitive landscape.
- Éric promotes inclusion by embracing difference, giving young adults with disabilities the opportunity to sail; he creates increasingly impactful human adventures: the Défi Intégration and the Team Jolokia association, always with the aim of highlighting the richness and strength of diversity.
- Éric is also committed to offshore racing, including the Vendée Globe in 2016, which he completed in under 100 days, and the Route du Rhum… Whether accompanied or alone, he sails and champions unity through difference.
- The “Stand As One” message is an extension of “comme un seul homme”, a name that embodies the importance of collaboration and team spirit, because it is by striving for collective performance that we will be able to achieve our shared goals and common ambition: to act in order to Serve the Earth, Avril and Saipol’s purpose.
On the road to the Vendée Globe in 2024, following the Défi Azimut held at the end of September, in which 7 Saipol employees had the opportunity to take part, Avril employees were invited to join this partnership alongside Saipol and follow Éric in his upcoming races, which are also incredible human adventures.
On October 29, the Transat Jacques Vabre, a transatlantic race sailed by two-person crews, bringing together nearly one hundred boats, set off from Le Havre for Fort-de-France, Martinique. At the start of the race, more than 70 Saipol employees and employees’ family members came to cheer on Éric and his co-skipper, Martin Le Pape.
Unfortunately, following damage to the boat, the duo had to withdraw from the race. Nevertheless, they have not lost their determination, and our teams will continue to support them through to the Vendée Globe 2024.
We also invite you to follow the Stand As One adventure over the coming weeks and support Éric Bellion. To find out more about his journey and his messages, discover his story through videos or podcasts in which he shares the lessons he has learned from his experiences: emotions guaranteed!
In the coming months?
Web: STAND AS ONE
Instagram: Éric Bellion | STAND AS ONE (@eric_bellion_officiel) • Photos and videos on Instagram
YouTube: (4) STAND AS ONE – YouTube
LinkedIn: (30) STAND AS ONE: Overview | LinkedIn
Interview highlight ❤ on Spotify: #242 – Eric Bellion – “Giving up is not an option” – Le Podcast de Pauline Laigneau | Podcast on Spotify
