At the start of July, a new title sponsorship was announced between the Mini Transat and Legallais, a company already known for supporting sailor Fabien Delahaye in the Class40 racing category. The partnership was officially signed this Friday at the Grand Pavois event in La Rochelle, a major maritime gathering. The occasion allowed Sailorz, a sailing organization, to meet with Philippe Casenave-Péré, president of Legallais since 1999. Based in Caen, the company employs about 1,500 people and generates 450 million euros in annual revenue. Philippe Casenave-Péré explained that his involvement in sailing began when his son, Pierre Casenave-Péré, wanted to compete in the Mini Transat at the age of 20. This event introduced him to the world of offshore racing. Pierre completed his studies and, upon returning, wanted to compete in the Class40 category. Legallais supported him for two years on a used boat, Mach 40.3, allowing him to take part in the Transat Jacques Vabre (finishing 8th with Kevin Bloch) and the Route du Rhum 2022 (25th). However, since Pierre did not plan to make sailing his lifelong career, the company decided to hire a professional skipper, Fabien Delahaye, and built a new boat, Lift V2, for him. Together, they will complete a four-year cycle that concludes with the Route du Rhum, set to depart in just over a month. Casenave-Péré noted that the values of Legallais align well with those of sailing, allowing the company to project an image of a dynamic, courageous, and enthusiastic organization. He also mentioned that the budgets in the Class40 category are relatively manageable, though he did not specify the exact amount. He estimated that they fall within the average for good Class40 budgets, which are around 500,000 euros. Legallais does not focus on increasing external visibility, as its customers are professionals rather than the general public. However, promoting the Legallais brand on the sea is seen as beneficial for its customers and suppliers. The main goal is to engage employees and give them the chance to develop a passion for sailing, which has generated a strong sense of pride within the company. Casenave-Péré emphasized that there are no performance expectations for Fabien Delahaye, stating that putting pressure on him would be counterproductive and not in the company’s nature. The entire company takes pride in his achievements. After six years in the Class40 category, including two Route du Rhum races, Legallais has decided to end its involvement in Class40 and shift focus to the Mini class. The company is now the title sponsor of the Mini Transat for the next two editions. This decision was driven by the alignment of values, the appeal of novelty, and the suitability of the Mini class for their approach. The Mini Transat is considered the starting point of offshore racing, with many top skippers having come through this class. Casenave-Péré noted that the mindset of the Mini Transat fits Legallais well and is expected to inspire their employees as well. The investment in the Mini Transat is expected to differ from the previous Class40 project, with communication and public relations around this race being more distinct. The company will need to be present at numerous qualifying races and plans to do so for the 2027 edition.