Violette Dorange: Entering a New Dimension with Initiatives-Cœur

This Sunday, as the nine-boat Vendée Arctique fleet sails down the famous Les Sables d’Olonne channel, Violette will inevitably think back to the emotions of 9 February 2025.

Just one year and four months ago, the young sailor completed her first Vendée Globe. Thousands of spectators braved poor weather to line the channel, creating a colourful, multi-generational crowd eager to witness one of the race’s most emotional finishes.

The sailor whose popularity exploded across social media was awarded the “Public’s Favourite” title, according to L’Équipe’s front page the following day, while Paris Match hailed her as “France’s new heroine.”

A New Boat, A New Story

After crossing the finish line, a whirlwind followed: media appearances, public engagements, her first book and the announcement of her signing with Initiatives-Cœur.

Eight months after completing the Vendée Globe, in August last year, she admitted on Instagram that she had “lost herself a little along the way.” “At one point, I was mentally and physically exhausted. I realised I needed to slow down.”

Following a well-earned break, Violette returned to sailing and faced a steep learning curve. Having previously raced aboard the daggerboard IMOCA DeVenir, she is now adapting to a foiling boat with Initiatives-Cœur. “The balance is completely different and requires a whole learning process before it becomes stable. “It’s a new way of sailing, almost like flying a giant wing. But it’s incredibly exciting.”

To accelerate her learning process, she spent the entire season alongside Samantha Davies, including her first transatlantic race, the Transat Café L’Or.

The pair finished sixth, and Violette quickly discovered the demands of sailing a modern foiling IMOCA. “These boats are extremely demanding. You constantly need to brace yourself inside because otherwise you end up being thrown around everywhere.” Speaking ahead of the Vendée Arctique, she admits she is still “being thoroughly shaken up” by her new boat, but relishes the challenge. “This learning process is exactly what I enjoy. I want to master the boat ahead of the next Vendée Globe.”

A First Podium to Build Confidence

On the long road towards a second solo circumnavigation, Violette can rely on a completely renewed technical team.

Throughout the winter, the Initiatives-Cœur team carried out extensive optimisation work. The boat was lightened, a forward ballast system was added to improve foiling performance and several ergonomic modifications were made. “I’m smaller than Sam Davies, so we reduced the size of the steering column and modified both the seat and the mattress.”

In April, she returned to competition in Concarneau for the 1000 Race.

In her first solo IMOCA event, she demonstrated her ability to compete with the best in a tactical race dominated by light winds and constant manoeuvring. “There were countless gybes, tacks and manoeuvres. We never really had a chance to relax.”

She had every reason to celebrate: it was her first IMOCA podium finish and her first solo race in the class.

The challenge awaiting her in the Vendée Arctique promises to be significantly tougher. “In this race, we are heading into the unknown. “At this stage, the weather files do not allow us to determine our route with any precision.”

The nature of the course requires competitors to make strategic decisions that closely resemble those encountered during a Vendée Globe campaign. “I want to sail the cleanest race possible and protect my boat as much as I can.”

The uncertainty extends beyond the route itself. “There are still aspects we have not tested yet, particularly my brand-new mainsail.”

Although severe conditions are expected, she insists that preserving her boat will remain the priority, even if that means losing ground to her rivals. Characteristically honest, the young skipper admits to having some apprehensions, having never sailed so far north before.

Yet she remains reassuring. “With the team, we have anticipated everything we can to minimise stress as much as possible.” Roll on the start!