Born into a Parisian family, Clarisse Crémer was never destined for ocean racing. However, sailing, up until now a summer pastime for the young student, became a real passion, and Clarisse racked up the miles thanks to the support of partners.
In 2013, while founding a start-up and living in Paris, Clarisse decided to change her life and move to Brittany to fulfill her dreams of becoming a sailor. She shares her Mini 6.50 project on her social networks with naturalness and humor, but Clarisse also works hard to progress, and it works. For her first participation, she finished 2nd in the Mini Transat 2017 in the production boat category.
After a season in the Figaro, Clarisse Crémer joins the Banque Populaire sailing team in 2019 and takes the helm of the Banque Populaire X (ex-SMA) monohull, accompanied by Armel Le Cléac'h, with whom she competes in the year's double-handed races. For over a year, the skipper worked hard to gain confidence on her 60-footer, so as to be ready for the start of the Vendée Globe.
On November 8, 2020, she set off on her round-the-world voyage, which marked the start of a long and arduous journey of discovery for the sailor. For 87 days, Clarisse overcame difficulties and demonstrated her fighting spirit and determination. She finished 12th in her first round-the-world race, the first woman to do so, and she has no intention of stopping there. A few weeks after the Vendée Globe, Clarisse and Banque Populaire announced that they would be embarking on a new Vendée Globe campaign together.
Following the circumnavigation, her 2010 VPLP Verdier design having been integrated into a new team, the sailor takes part in The Ocean Race Europe aboard LinkedOut, but does not take part in any other races this season.
Her sponsor Banque Populaire announces the purchase of Charlie Dalin's IMOCA Apivia, 2nd in the 2020-21 Vendée Globe, which Clarisse takes over at the helm following the return delivery leg of the Route du Rhum. However, Banque Populaire has decided to withdraw from the next edition of the famous round-the-world race.
Alex Thompson, known for his numerous Vendée Globe participations, then bought the high-performance IMOCA to house her in his British team and offered Clarisse, then supported by the cosmetics brand L'Occitane en Provence, to join his structure in order to race her second Vendée Globe in 2024.
To be on the starting line, for starters! That's really important in my qualification process for the Vendée Globe, so that's the base. And then to get back to solo sailing, because it will be the first time since the 2020 Vendée Globe. So it's an important step in getting my bearings back. I'm really looking forward to it, because it's something I love, solo racing, so I'm hoping to rediscover the sensations and that great feeling of being all alone on my boat. And of course, the final objective will be to finish, and if possible try to catch the equivalent boats, even if I have fewer miles on the clock!
It's a bit more stressful, of course, since you're in charge of your boat! It's a lot more energy, and you don't share as many moments - that's for the negative points. But in my case, I never feel as solid as when I'm alone. I don't know why, there's something going on in my head that makes me pull harder. And it's a feeling that gives you more self-confidence, even if there are inevitably difficult moments. It was also single-handed that I discovered sailing in a race, and I think it gave me structure, which is why single-handed sailing is really my base.
We're working on it now so that the schedule between the two transatlantic races is as smooth as possible! After that, by definition, we don't know what's going to happen, exactly how much time we'll have and, above all, what condition the boat will be in. But the trick, of course, is to rely on your team! We already know how essential IMOCA teams are to the success of our projects. At times like these, when you really have to get the boat up and running quickly for another transatlantic race that's so important for the project, the solidity and confidence you have in your team is the key.
2023
Défi Azimut-Lorient Agglomération - 10th
Rolex Fastnet Race - 6th (L'Occitane en Provence)
2021
The Ocean Race Europe - 3rd (LinkedOut)
2020-21
Vendée Globe - 12th(87d 02h 24m 25s)
2020
Défi Azimut - 4th
Vendée-Arctique-Les Sables d'Olonne - 12th
2019
Transat Jacques Vabre - 6th
Azimuth Challenge - 6th
Rolex Fastnet Race - 3rd
2019
Solitaire Urgo Le Figaro - 29th
Solo Maître Coq - 29th
2018
Transat AG2R - 14th with Tanguy Le Turquais
2017
Championnat de France Espoir Course au Large - 2nd
Transat 6.50 - 2nd in series
Mini fastnet - 1st
2016
French Espoir Championship - 7th
Name: L'OCCITANE EN PROVENCE
Architect: Guillaume Verdier
Building: 2019, CDK Technologies, Lorient
Old names: APIVIA
Lenght: 18,28m
Beam: 5,85m
Draught: 4,50m
Weight:8 tons
Mast height: 29m
Mast type: Wing-mast
Foils: no
Upwind: 350 m²
Downwind: 560 m²
L'OCCITANE en Provence
L'OCCITANE en Provence is dedicated to sharing the wonders that nature has to offer. And we've been doing it since 1976, designing and marketing beauty, skincare and well-being products around the world, which we produce in the heart of our factories in France. We know that Nature needs balance for each seed to blossom anew: and we believe that a return to harmony, between Man and Nature, can reinforce this balance. We are Cultivators of Change. We work hand in hand with local teams who, like us, believe that every gesture, no matter how small, can make all the difference.
