UpWind by MerConcept : A High Flying June!

A Conference on Gender Diversity in Offshore Racing: ” Weomen are Welcome in Ocean Fifty”Before the start of Act 2 of the Ocean Fifty Series, the race village in Pornichet-La Baule hosted a roundtable dedicated to gender diversity in offshore racing. Organized by UpWind by MerConcept, this discussion brought together prominent figures from the Ocean Fifty class to debate the challenges and progress in the inclusion of women in this demanding field.

Tiphaine Ragueneau and Elodie Jane Mettraux, both sailors involved in the Ocean Fifty project, shared their experiences alongside Thibault Vauchel-Camus, President of the Ocean Fifty Class and skipper of “Défi Voile Solidaires en Peloton.” Erwan Le Roux, skipper of “Koesio,” also provided his perspective, especially after announcing that he would hand over the helm to Audrey Ogereau for the next edition of the Route du Rhum, underscoring his commitment to gender diversity.

Moderated by Pierre-Yves Lautrou, this roundtable delved into the strengths and challenges of gender diversity in offshore racing. The panelists emphasized the importance of encouraging female participation and discussed the initiatives needed to make this sport more inclusive. This discussion is part of a growing movement to promote gender equality in the sailing world, illustrating the Ocean Fifty community’s determination to become a model of diversity and inclusion. The podcast of the roundtable will be available soon for listening.

Visit of INB Nautisme to MerConcept: An Inspiring Discovery for Young Adults in Career Transition

A few days ago, MerConcept had the pleasure of welcoming 10 young adults in career transition, along with their teachers, from the technical school INB Nautisme in Concarneau (https://www.institut-nautique.com/). This visit provided these students with an opportunity to immerse themselves in the world of offshore racing and discover the numerous opportunities our industry offers.

The visit began with an hour-long tour of the MerConcept facilities, followed by 45 minutes focused on the UpWind project. Accompanied by Francesca, they had the chance to visit the boat, ask questions to the crew, and discuss the various professions at MerConcept. This immersion allowed them to understand the diversity of careers and possibilities in the nautical sector.

The young visitors were pleasantly surprised by the variety of professional opportunities and the range of jobs presented. This experience generated great enthusiasm among them, as evidenced by many student who expressed his joy and interest in our work.