PROUD SUPPORTERS OF RAID BlEU NORMANDIE
The guest sponsor for the 2008 Raid Bleu Normandie: Laurent Bignolas
The presenter of the famous France 3 TV programme, " Faut pas rêver ", not only wishes to show with each of his filmed reports that he is particularly worried about the future of our planet, but is also (and that is less well known) a skilled yachtsman. Under his belt, he has clocked up many miles both aboard a cruiser and racing on all sorts of boat. It was therefore quite logical that he has agreed to be the guest sponsor for this second edition of the Raid Bleu Normandie.
If Laurent Bignolas has accepted this invitation to be the guest sponsor for the 2008 edition, it is also because of the human dimension of the race, which he is particularly aware of. A rather taciturn man, when it means giving up his time for humanitarian causes, Laurent Bignolas appreciates the value of human relations in ensuring the success of measures taken in the name of sustainable development. In this area, his involvement alongside the organisers of the Raid Bleu Normandie seemed to be a logical step...
Lionel Lemonchois
Guset sponsor of the 2007 edition, the Norman yachtsman is still just as committed to the protection of the world's oceans. Just because he has handed over the reins does not mean that he is no longer interested, as can be seen from his highly critical vision of the state of the oceans: "the ocean has become a repository for more and more non-biodegradable rubbish: it is common to find plastic bags, bottles and containers."
Copyrights : GITANA SA
Catherine Chabaud
Catherine Chabaud, the first woman to have sailed single-handed around the world without stopovers, has decided to dedicate her time to green journalism. A weekly contributor to Europe 1, she was behind the setting up of the website, www.reporterbleu.com. Catherine has committed herself entirely to conservation of the oceans and more generally of the planet. She was therefore the ideal choice to be guest of honour at the Raid Bleu Normandie, where she will take part in special events and debates, which will be among the highlights of this event.
Copyrights : Pascal Tournaire
Isabelle Autissier
After a wealth of experience in ocean racing, Isabelle Autissier moved to journalism and writing. The novelist and contributor to Radio France never misses an occasion to hop on her yacht, which is based in Tierra del Fuego to take a trip around the Antarctic ice or other sensitive areas, such as South Georgia and the Falklands… Each of these voyages is for her an occasion to make us aware of the importance of human relations in these hostile worlds and of the fragility of these "terrae incognitae".
The Formula 18 racers, like many other sailors are well aware of the need to protect the oceans. They quite rightly believe they can set an example. Thus, each competitor registered for the Raid Bleu Normandie agrees, when he signs up, to promote these simple values through his daily behaviour. Among the ideas that are going to be developed, we can think of intelligent waste management, the organisation of round tables and international talks, as well as a general reflection on finding suitable solutions.