Banque Populaire withdraws from Vendée Globe after maternity controversy

After a huge controversy surrounding the dropping of their Vendée Globe skipper Clarisse Crémer, Banque Populaire has pulled out of competing in the next Vendée Globe, due to take place in 2024.

Earlier this month (February 2023), a blame game erupted after it emerged Crémer had been dropped by her sponsor Banque Populaire following the birth of her child.

The French banking group said it had been ‘forced to change skipper’ after the organiser of the world tour announced a new, unprecedented method of qualification no longer allowing finishers to be directly qualified for the next edition.

‘Having been unable to participate in these races for fortunate reasons of maternity, Clarisse (pictured left, with her baby) is today in a situation which does not allow her to hope to obtain the number of points necessary to qualify for the Vendée Globe 2024,’ the bank said.

The bank says it has proposed several solutions to the Vendée organisers ‘so that the regulations take into account the situation of women in the Vendée Globe and the question of maternity.

‘All these proposals, as well as requests for the allocation of a wildcard guarantee, have been rejected … and this is regrettable,’ the bank explained. So, it dropped her and started looking for a new skipper.

After the news broke, Crémer said: “I am in shock, other projects launched much more recently, however, continue without flinching. There were two full seasons and four transatlantic races left to get back to the level; I was fully equipped to finish my rehabilitation as soon as possible.”

Amid the fallout, Vendée Globe organisers put themselves at pains to talk about preserving fairness for all the potential competitors and say ‘the race organisation cannot under any circumstances allow itself to change the rules, when the selection process has already begun.’

It seems the organisers of the Vendée Globe were caught short by Crémer, her skill and popularity, and its own web of rules which do not consider that female athletes give birth. (Other sports such as tennis, triathlon and dressage ensure a player’s ranking freezes in the event of pregnancy.)

Following a month of terrible coverage in the press for the French bank, and an outpouring of support for Crémer on social media, Banque Populaire has now confirmed it is withdrawing from the race altogether.

In a short statement posted on its website on Friday (17 February 2023), the French banking giant states:

‘Banque Populaire now considers that the conditions are no longer met to be able to calmly approach the Vendée Globe and announces its withdrawal from the 2024 edition.

‘Banque Populaire regrets the current situation and understands the emotion it has aroused in the public.

‘Committed to the world of sailing for more than 30 years, Banque Populaire will continue to support clubs, schools, French sailing teams and its offshore racing team all over the world’s oceans throughout France.

‘Banque Populaire will actively continue its involvement in work that helps advance the role of women in sport, particularly in ocean racing.’

The statement makes no direct mention of Crémer.

Founded by French yachtsman Philippe Jeantot in 1989, the Vendée Globe is a single-handed non-stop round the world yacht race, renowned as one of the planet’s toughest sporting endeavours.