From September 11 to 15, the Défi Azimut 2024 will give IMOCA class skippers the opportunity to train for the Vendée Globe. With less than two months to go before the start of this round-the-world race, BDI is taking advantage of the opportunity offered by the event to coordinate, in partnership with Audélor and the race organization, a day of conferences and promote the competitive sailing ecosystem to the press.
The Défi Azimut, a dress rehearsal for the Vendée Globe
Since 2011, the Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération has served as a dress rehearsal for IMOCA class skippers ahead of each major ocean race.
From September 11 to 15, they will be brushing up on their skills in preparation for the Vendée Globe 2024 on the various events that make up the Défi: 48h Azimut, runs and the Tour de l’île de Groix. It’s an opportunity to test their equipment and boats, fresh out of the summer shipyards, in real race conditions. It was also an opportunity for all the media (press and sponsor communications) to build up a contingent of visuals to be used throughout the epic journey of the sailors at the helm of these exceptional vessels.
For four days, most of the microcosm of competitive sailing will be moored at the Cité de la Voile-Éric Tabarly in Lorient. Teams, naval architects, equipment suppliers, builders, race organizers, sponsors and rig and appendage manufacturers will all be based here.
Skills-building conferences
At the helm of Bretagne Sailing Valley®, which brings together over 200 players in the region’s competitive sailing economic ecosystem, BDI is taking advantage of their presence to coordinate several highlights, in partnership with Audélor and the race organization. We’re capitalizing on the presence of all the stakeholders in ocean racing and the sailing sector to animate this community,” explains Arnaud Cacquevel, Marketing Manager at BDI. All the sailors, teams and companies are more easily accessible during the Défi Azimut than during a major race.”
In the Cité de la Voile auditorium on September 13, those involved in ocean racing will be able to take part in a day of conferences on specific subjects. “As every year, their aim is to share experiences and enhance participants’ skills.”
This year’s Défi Azimut 2024 conferences will focus on sponsorship and technological advances in sailing and piloting.
In parallel, BDI is also a partner in a conference organized on September 10 by the Université Bretagne Sud and Audélor on the boat of the future. The conference will bring together a range of specialists (academics, naval architects, etc.) to imagine the low-impact sailboat (pleasure, racing, transport, etc.) of tomorrow.
Register for the conference day
Promote subjects other than sports to the press
Ahead of the event, on September 11, BDI will be offering a press trip to national journalists covering the Défi Azimut 2024. In addition to the sporting aspect, the aim of this initiative is to showcase the other side of ocean racing, in line with the ambition to promote the expertise of Bretagne Sailing Valley®. Meetings with company directors, racing teams and visits to companies based at Lorient La Base will be offered to the press throughout the day.
Photo credits: ©Jean-Marie Liot – Défi Azimut / ©BDI.
Contact :
Arnaud Cacquevel