Sailing, a brilliant regional catalyst

For one week, the Cité de la Voile Eric Tabarly and the port of Lorient La Base, will host the teams with a range of high-quality facilities, with the invitation being extended to the media and an organisation team of 60 people. With the Pays de Lorient and Brittany placing their strategic chips on offshore racing, as evidenced by the redevelopment of the submarine base, a sector of excellence with worldwide recognition has been able to be developed there. Synonymous with innovation, jobs and events, the benefits of top-rank sailing in the region extend far beyond the sports domain. Indeed, it is a favourable context for coming together to consider the many environmental and societal challenges during a series of conferences and round table events organised at the very heart of the event. As such, the Défi Azimut is the perfect annual platform for shining a spotlight on the amazing energy drummed up by offshore racing in Lorient on Brittany’s Atlantic seaboard.

There will be keys topics to punctuate this week:

1 – The Handicap Innovation Territoire (HIT) project with the Centre de Kerpape (Plœmeur) and skipper Damien Seguin “Turning a handicap into an asset for one’s region”
2 – Environmental transition – “New IMOCA measurement rules, alternative materials and tomorrow’s boats” with Eurolarge, Technopole, UBS, The Ocean Race and 11th Hour Racing.
3 – Committed IMOCA skippers and athletes – “Racing at the top-level for oneself and for others, they tell us why commitment is a driver too,” with various athletes.
4 - Lorient La Base - "From reconversions to the future of bases in the 21st century, what place for heritage?" with the University of Southern Brittany (Gis Maritime History) and the City of Lorient (Heritage Department)