Vendée Globe 2024–2025 – Our partnership with Violette Dorange
From 2021 to 2025, we had the pleasure of supporting Violette Dorange and the DeVenir project, sharing with her an exceptional sporting and personal adventure, right up to her first Vendée Globe. When we first met Violette, her track record already demonstrated extraordinary determination and commitment. At just 15 years old, she had crossed the English Channel and then the Strait of Gibraltar in an Optimist dinghy. In 2019, she became the youngest competitor in the history of the Mini Transat, before continuing her career in the Figaro class and taking part in three editions of the Solitaire du Figaro. It was during this period that we decided to place our trust in her and support her throughout her last two seasons in the Figaro 3 class, which she juggled alongside her engineering studies at INSA Rennes. This marked a significant milestone in the development of her sporting and professional career, which would ultimately lead her to the Vendée Globe.
A project that achieved its goal
In November 2024, aged 23, Violette Dorange set sail on her first Vendée Globe, becoming the youngest skipper in the race’s history. At the helm of her IMOCA DeVenir, she embarked on this solo, non-stop and unassisted round-the-world voyage. After 90 days, 22 hours and 37 minutes at sea, Violette crossed the finish line at Les Sables-d’Olonne on 9 February 2025, in 25th place. She thus became the youngest skipper to complete the Vendée Globe. Beyond the final ranking, this finish marked the culmination of several years of hard work, preparation and perseverance. For us, it also marks the culmination of our support for the DeVenir project, which began in 2021 and came to an end in 2025.
A sporting and human adventure
The DeVenir project also had a strong charitable dimension, notably through its commitment to the Fondation Apprentis d’Auteuil, of which Violette was patron. Throughout this adventure, we were deeply impressed by Violette’s character and the values she embodied: solidarity, tenacity, commitment, pushing one’s limits and professionalism. Her journey, from her first sailing experiences in an Optimist dinghy to her round-the-world voyage at the age of 23, illustrates a remarkable ability to gradually build an ambitious project, rise to challenges and see her commitments through to the end.
A chapter has come to a close; a new adventure begins
With her entry into the Vendée Globe in February 2025, a major phase of the DeVenir project has been completed. Our partnership with Violette came to an end that same year, after four years of support. We are proud to have contributed, in our own small way, to this adventure and to have been able to support Violette on part of her journey towards the Vendée Globe. We offer her our warmest congratulations on completing this round-the-world voyage and wish her all the best for the next stage of her journey, which now marks a new chapter in her career as a sailor.
