Ryan Breymaier: Wants to be the first American to finish on the Vendée Globe podium
Among the prominent peaks in the ocean racing mountain range, the Vendée Globe is arguably the highest point. A singlehanded non-stop race in the high performance Open 60 class, the route swallows people whole.
You sail around the world from west to east via the three major capes of Good Hope, Leeuwin and the Horn. There is a long slide down the Atlantic, the perilous voyage across the Southern Ocean with firstly the Indian Ocean and its crossed seas, and then the Pacific Ocean. Finally, there is the climb back up the Atlantic to head back to Les Sables d’Olonne in France, which marks the start and finish.
During the 2012 edition, when 9 of the 20 starters failed to finish, Frenchman François Gabart set a new solo record of 78 day, 2 hours, 16 minutes and 40 seconds. When the 2016 edition begins, American Ryan Breymaier wants to contend for the title.
There have been American skippers that have come before Ryan, but none capable of finishing on the podium. Ryan wants to be the first, but there are significant obstacles that lie before him.
Ryan may have the talent, but now he needs the funding.
“In order to have a serious chance at winning the Vendée, a new boat is absolutely critical,” Ryan said. “In US $ terms, the investment for a new boat is just under 5 million, and yearly operations budgets are in the order of 2.5 to 3 million. This puts the total campaign close to 10 million. Obviously a longer term campaign will amortize the build cost over a longer period, and maximize gain for the sponsor.”
There is no pot of gold that comes with winning. Top programs are fully sponsored. “Traditionally sailing sponsorships have been one main sponsor, and technical/logistics partners alongside,” Ryan notes. “There are a few examples of sponsor partnerships, but it is critical that the aims and methods of the partners be aligned or it is not really feasible.”
Ryan remains optimistic, particular with the announcement in January that Americans Charlie Enright and Mark Towill had landed a primary sponsor for their 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race campaign.
“It shows that we Americans are very motivated to get out there and find sponsorship for big sailing events,” explains Ryan. “I see our efforts for finding sponsorship absolutely complimentary and I hope that through our respective campaigns we have touched enough boardrooms and there are more and more decision-makers paying attention to our sport.”
Attracting American sponsorship remains elusive. “We have a long way to go in terms of demonstrating the potential of a sailing sponsorship to American corporations,” Ryan acknowledges. “Despite years of work, Charlie and Mark have the Turkish company Alvimedica supporting their campaign. That being said, the CEO of Alvimedica has serious business interests in the US markets and has the vision to understand this is a superb opportunity to gain exposure on this side of the Atlantic.”
Sailing With Devious, 2014 