- Skipper Benjamin Dutreux's main sponsor has just released him.
- Six months before the start of the Vendée Globe, the Vendéen is therefore looking for a new title partner for € 350,000.
The ax fell earlier this week and was expected. "We had been discussing this possibility for a month ...", admits Benjmain Dutreux, 30 year old Vendée skipper. Its main and title partner Oceania Hotels has decided to throw in the towel and withdraw six months before the start of the Vendée Globe. "It hurts their hearts as much as it does us ..." said the man who lives in Les Sables d'Olonne.
The hotel business suffered the full force of the Covid-19 health crisis. Benjamin Dutreux does not hold it against his sponsor, who originally signed up for two years: “ Oceania Hotels had no visibility regarding the resumption of its activity. When he knew that the Vendée Globe would not be postponed, he decided to withdraw. He could not afford to commit and take risks for his employees. "
The navigator (and his Water Family team of five people) is now missing 350,000 euros to complete his budget. When the withdrawal was officially announced, Benjamin Dutreux felt "knocked out because we put so much energy into this project". The gloom quickly disappeared when he saw his phone which kept ringing. "It's a pretty good sign and we have leads, but we're still looking for them. A real chain of solidarity has been put in place and that, it restores morale! "
The Vendéen refuses to say that he is "confident", but "rather enthusiastic, determined and positive". While "everything is already in Vendée Globe configuration", Benjamin Dutreux considers that "it is unthinkable" that he will not be leaving on November 8 at Les Sables d'Olonne. "We will be there," he concludes.
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- Coronavirus
- Sables d'Olonne
- Sail
- Vendée Globe
- Sport