Dynamic and hard-working, Violette Dorange, a sailor from La Rochelle, has been sailing since she was very young, and has completed all the stages required to hope to take part in the Vendée Globe 2024: the French light sailing team, crossings of the English Channel and the Straits of Gibraltar in an Optimist, a solo Atlantic crossing in a Mini 6.50 and participation in three editions of the Solitaire du Figaro, the antechamber to the Vendée Globe, where she finished 10th overall in 2022. A result that confirms her desire to go even further and push back the horizon to set off around the world. And that's why, at just 22, Violette launched her Vendée Globe project: after acquiring Jean Le Cam's boat (a great sailor who took part in five Vendée Globe races), the IMOCA, now called DeVenir, was launched on August 7, 2023. As well as a sporting project, Violette wanted to bring a social component to this adventure: her Vendée Globe project, named DeVenir supports the Apprentis d'Auteuil Foundation, of which Violette is the godmother, by giving hope to young people seeking to build their future. Today, a group of McDonald's franchisees - 127 restaurants in all - are supporting the DeVenir project, taking on board their team members and managers to work alongside Violette, and thus, together with the Apprentis d'Auteuil Foundation, promoting the integration and training of young people in difficulty.
The base is to qualify for the Vendée Globe. My project got off the ground late in relation to the starting goal, so I'm going to have to seize every opportunity to be on the line in 2024. For the time being (it's early September, ed. note), I've never sailed my boat alone, only in "false solo", so I'm planning to do that in the next few weeks, but Le Retour à la Base will clearly be the first test in real conditions, and a huge challenge. Physically, I'm expecting it to be very tough, as we're heading into the cold and storms. The sails are very heavy, and you have to go back and forth a lot between fore and aft as soon as something blocks, so you really have to be clever to get out of it. The last time I did a solo transatlantic race was my Mini-Transat four years ago, so it's not really the same boat or race format...
It's aptly named, it's the Mecca of ocean racing, a place where you find most of your projects, but also all your suppliers. What I like about it is that it's also a place where people can relax and have a drink, and where tourists and the curious come to see the boats. It's a nice mix of professionals and transients. I have two bases. The first is in La Rochelle, where I started sailing, where I built up all my childhood memories of discovering my passion. And for the last four years, there's been my place of work, Port-la-Forêt, where my boat is based since we're housed in Jean Le Cam's yard. As the name suggests, there's the sea, but also the forest, it's small, but also simpler and calmer, and I feel really good here.
For me, it's family. It's so important to me, it's like a breath of fresh air. I don't see them that often, but they'll be there for the finish, and I know I can count on them to pamper me. And my boat is going to be pampered too, because I've got a great team in whom I have the utmost confidence, and on whom I'll be able to rest... to rest better!
2022
Sardinha Cup - 4th double-handed with Julien Pulvé
Solitaire du Figaro - 10th
2021
Solitaire du Figaro - 19th
Transat en Double Figaro - 9th with Alan Roberts
2020
Solitaire du Figaro - 30th
2019
Mini Transat - 16th
2018
Young Open 420 World Championships - 3rd
2017
Open 420 Youth World Championships - 2nd
French Open 420 Championship - Winner
2016
Open 420 World Youth Championships - 3rd
French Open 420 Championship - Winner
Name: DeVenir
Architect: Farr Yacht Design
Building: 2006, Port La Forêt
Old names: FONCIA, TC2, MOVISTAR, MAPFRE, Maître CoQ, Mare, Cheminées Poujoulat, Hubert, Finistère Mer Vent, Yes We Cam !
Lenght: 18,28m
Beam: 5,90m
Draught: 4,50m
Weight:8 tonnes
Mast height: 29m
Mast type: Wing-mast
Foils: no
Upwind: 300 m²
Downwind: 600 m²
DeVenir
DeVenir is a sporting and social project involving a number of partners. The "historic" ones, who have been helping to build the project for the past three years. And this year, the arrival of a new partner, who shares DeVenir's values, has made it possible to launch this great adventure.
McDonald's
Today, a new partner has joined the project, enabling us to pursue our social commitment as France's leading recruiter of young people: McDonald's restaurants. Since last June, 125 McDonald's restaurants have joined DeVenir, with the aim of providing team members with an incredible adventure, promoting the values of the project and solving the problem of integration through original communication.
