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SKEMA alumnus Benjamin Ferré all set to compete in the Route du Rhum race
An intrepid adventurer, fresh from his victory in the tour of the Groix island during the last Azimut challenge, SKEMA Master in Management (PGE) graduate Benjamin Ferré is participating in the Route du Rhum solo transatlantic sailing race to Guadeloupe. As an official partner, SKEMA Business School is sponsoring the skipper.
After an 11th place in the first race of the season, the Guyader Bermuda 1000 race, Benjamin Ferré finished 4th in the Vendée Arctique, after leading the race for the first 72 hours. A victory alongside Jean Le Cam in the Tour de Groix during the Défi Azimut a few weeks ago was the crowning achievement. As the start of the Route du Rhum approaches, the sailor from Saint Malo is delighted.
"Even when writing an ideal scenario, I would never have imagined a project launch with such a good star. These results are great because they are a way of thanking the team and those who put their trust in me," he explains modestly. Motivated but not overconfident in the aftermath of this victory, Benjamin is training hard to arrive in good shape for the Route du Rhum race, which will be held in his home town of Ille-et-Villaine, Saint-Malo… Along with Jean Le Cam, he is training in Port-La-Forêt, where he is benefiting from the debriefings of the big names in contemporary sailing: Thomas Ruyant, Jérémie Beyou and Sam Davies.
Route du Rhum to complete the circle
On 6 November, Benjamin will begin the Route du Rhum, a race he has dreamed of since he was a child. "The first time I saw a sailor set off alone was in the Route du Rhum. I don't think I missed a single start, even though I didn't know I would do ocean racing one day," he recalls. In 2014, on a small boat with some friends, he attended the arrival of François Gabart. At the time, the skipper was sailing on "Macif", an IMOCA-type boat that would turn out to be Benjamin's future boat!
A former President of the Republic on deck
A few days before his departure to the West Indies, Benjamin received a visit from former French president François Hollande on his boat. François Hollande is a founder of the "La France s'engage" foundation which works on social innovation issues, and which has, among other things, financed DUO for a JOB (Benjamin's partner association). "It was impressive to meet a president of the Fifth Republic, regardless of political positions. It's great that he goes out of his way to support associations that have values. We could feel that he is interested in the DUO for a JOB association," said the delighted Benjamin after the visit of the former president!
Follow Benjamin's adventures on his Instagram account
