Vendee Globe star Clarisse Cremer returns for 2024 race after refusing to choose between being a mum and sailing
- Frenchwoman has overcome the loss of her biggest sponsor and the threat of not making next year’s race, just 5 months after giving birth
- Vendee Globe organisers are re-examining qualifications rules, thanks in part to Cremer’s stance
French star Clarisse Cremer is returning for next year’s Vendee Globe despite being dropped by her sponsor and fighting against maternity rules that put the new mother’s place in doubt.
The 33-year-old had already qualified for the round-the-world race after completing the event in 2020, but with so many sailors reaching the mark, organisers imposed further criteria that favoured sailors with the most race mileage.
But the rules for the world’s toughest non-stop, unsupported solo race, failed to take into account that women such as Cremer, who have children in intervening years, were at a huge disadvantage.
Even her sponsor, Banque Populaire, decided the Frenchwoman, who gave birth just five months ago, was in danger of not getting one of the 40 spots available and dropped her.
When she revealed the news on social media in February there was uproar.
“I’ve never really accepted that idea. That’s the reason why now I am back. I refuse to make the choice [between motherhood and sailing],” she said.
“The reason why I decided to speak, and to stand for the values I’ve spoken about, is because it’s way bigger than just me.”
Cremer said Vendee organisers simply did not appreciate how big a subject maternity leave was in sailing. But thanks to her voice, and the voice of others, they are listening.
In March, officials said establishing a committee to discuss rule changes for the 2028 Vendee qualification and for other events they manage too. Cremer does not yet know what the new rules will be, but she knows they are addressing the issues she raised.
World Sailing Trust published its Juno Project report in March, with recommendations to support mothers in sailing, and acknowledged the part Cremer’s situation played in driving it.
“Clarisse’s bombshell announcement not only exposed one of the sport’s leading events and one of its most loyal corporate supporters of being discriminatory, but it also highlighted that the sport of sailing lacks any clarity or advice for female athletes or support staff considering having children, nor any direction for the sport’s events and organisations,” the Juno Project said.
Aside from driving change in her sport, Cremer is back preparing for next year’s event, and has a new sponsor in L’Occitane en Provence, the luxury French cosmetics company.
The battle to change the rules is just the first of many for the sailor, who has yet to get back out on water after giving birth.
“This is the first time in my life I’ve been part of a subject that is way bigger than who I am,” she said. “So I’m proud that things are changing. I’m one person in among so many. What I love is just sailing, you know, just to be out there on my boat.”
“I’m proud that people are talking about it and I’m very proud that I now have a team and a new sponsor,” Cremer added.
“And now there is still a lot of work to do because I haven’t started sailing yet. So it is a first victory, but there are many, many other battles to fight again.”
