Loïck Peyron, winner of the 2014 Route du Rhum, will start this year under the colors of the Action Enfance Foundation. The skipper was surrounded by sixty children, this afternoon, for the baptism of the boat.
For 60 years, Action Enfance has been protecting children and young people separated from their parents by the children's judge for reasons of abuse, neglect or educational deficiency. They are gathered in villages, they grow up surrounded by their brothers and sisters, in a family-type environment, supported in their daily lives by educators.
Old-fashioned navigation
Sixty of them were present, this afternoon, for the baptism of Happy boat Loïck Peyron. The skipper has indeed decided to wear the colors of the foundation. The winner of the last Route du Rhum is embarking on a new challenge this year. He will sail on a small yellow trimaran, an almost exact copy of the Olympus Photo boat, on which Mike Birch won in 1978. In addition, he will sail in the old fashioned way.
Two children godfathers of the boat
When Caroline Mathias-Vigy, director of communication of the foundation, got wind of this story through an article from Ouest France, she contacted the sailor. "Loïck Peyron said he wanted unconventional sponsorship because his project is different from what he did before. The sailor keeps the suspense alive. He ends up reminding her ten days later. "Then we built the project together. Loïck Peyron goes to a children's village in the north of Paris. "He spent half a day discussing, talking about his job," remembers Caroline Mathias-Vigy.
Godfather and godmother
Two children supported by Action Enfance, were chosen after a drawing competition and drawn, to become godfather and godmother of the yellow trimaran.They put with the skipper on the trampoline of the boat, yesterday, at the baptism. With his customary kindness, Loïck Peyron has pushed up the small troop on the sailboat. Sponsors Gabriel and Laetitia untie a large blue ribbon Loïck Peyron has circulated in the public. A human chain has formed. Nice symbol.
"Give positive"
"The contact with the foundation was made through a mutual friend, says Loïck Peyron who is eager to share his adventure. What I appreciate about Action Enfance is the fact that they welcome whole siblings. This is important when you know the weight of sibling relationships in family histories. For the foundation, the partnership with the navigator is a way to publicize its action. Action Enfance welcomes 750 children in its villages. The 12th will open in 2020, in Gironde.
Joel Le Gall