AQ © Anne Quemere
The 2008 Pacific Challenge now has a main sponsor on board, and what a sponsor... For the past few days, it's been difficult to hide our enthusiasm as if nothing had changed!
After a very difficult winter, worthy of any hardy mariner, combining Ocean training, tuning-up the OceanKite combined with an incessant hunt for financial assistance, it was becoming more difficult to philosophically accept what life was doling out.
The projects' financial hardship translated into doubt and angst. The eternal acrobatics to avoid the heavy bills were draining my moral which till now had well resisted tough difficulties.
Suddenly, following an unexpected meeting organized by a common friend Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, an exceptional sailor and "round the world against the wind" recordman, everything fell into place. This was an improvised meeting, away from the usual public relation operations which didn't forebode the turn of events of early July.
Today, with a wide grin, (and my hands in epoxy) it is with great pleasure that I announce the presence of ADRIEN, an enterprise of challenges if ever there was one. Thus, the Transpacific challenge will formally bear its colours as it becomes the main sponsor.
It should be recalled that ADRIEN partnered Jean Luc Van Den Heede (VDH) for his incredible "round the world against the wind" single-handed race.
Logically, following the partnership that ended by a triumphal arrival of the sailor in the Sables d'Olonne (France), this Nantaise firm enters a new challenge.
The Pacific Ocean is well known to ADRIEN as the main employer of the fishing industry in Northern Peru. Responsible fishing is its main objective and the industry's president René Adrien is attempting to obtain a recognition by "Veritas" which endorses the 1995 FAO recommendations. Meanwhile, FRANCE TURBOT is developing a high quality and responsible aquaculture operation under the name of LABEL ROUGE.
We are linked by the ocean but beyond this, the sharing of common values strengthens any adventure whether it be, on land or sea. The confidence invested in me by ADRIEN is the proof of this link.
In a few days, the OceanKite will proudly show its new colours...
