MEDITERRANEAN SPONSORS:

Please go to Mediterranean Chapter for dedicated sponsors

PACIFIC CROSSING:

THE MAIN PARTNER :

TF1 is the first partner of Raphaëla LE GOUVELLO’s crossing of the Pacific by windsurfer.
Starting from August 5 2003, Raphaëla LE GOUVELLO will start the first solitary initiative to cross the Pacific by windsurfer.
TF1 has agreed to support this incredible initiative whereby Raphaëla will rejoin Perou to Polynesia, without and totally autonomously.
TF1 and LCI will broadcast the preparation of this champion through regular newspaper reports and television news on LCI.
This is not Raphaëla’s first challenge since she has already carried out feats :
- in February 2000, the first solitary crossing of the Atlantic Ocean de l’océan Atlantique by windsurfer.
- In August 2002, the first crossing of the Mediterranean in similar conditions but on a faster windsurfer.

TF1 - Direction of Communication
Contact Organization : Agence Hickory
Anne COMBIER : + 33 (0)1 56 03 69 00
Contact press : Laurent PETIT : + 33 (0)1 41 41 29 59
Assisted by Romuald FERRER : + 33 (0)1 41 41 45 76

TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL PARTNERS:

 The European Space Agency (ESA)

Between a sailboard in the middle of a huge ocean and a space capsule, there are analogies that the European Space Agency has perfectly understood.
Each time the question is to write stories where man faces a fascinating and hostile environment, in which his survival depends on his motivation, his vigilance, and on equipment elaborated with the most reliable and modern technologies. Similarly, the sailboard used by Raphaela for her Pacific crossing alone from Peru to Tahiti (nearly 3 months of navigation) in 2003, is a very tiny life space, placed in the heart of a large environment, and made with very high technologies. This outstanding human and technological challenge is very much like the space adventure.
Through its Technology Transfer Program, ESA is associated to this incredible journey and provides Raphaela’s team with its expertise and know how to improve the sailboard reliability and Raphaela’s life conditions in the middle of the Ocean.

 CMA-CGM
In the community of sailors, there is a strong understanding. The local teams of the French line CMA-CGM (Saint Nazaire-Montoir, Peru, Tahiti) which vessels are cruising around the world and are present in this Pacific zone, will associate to this outstanding challenge. They will be ready to help Raphaela’s team to carry the sailboard and all its equipments in the best possible conditions.

 BRAVO L’INDUSTRIE is an Operation developed for the French industry by l'Union des Industries et Métiers de la Métallurgie (UIMM).
It’s goal: To improve the image of the industry
- by presenting the current situation and the evolution of the French industry and trades to the youth, their parents, working and wage-earning adults, through partnership contracts, industrial workshops, and educational meetings between teachers and parents.
-by providing young people and wage earners the methological means to make decisions centered around their interests, in accordance with the needs of the industry.
A country is strong when it is in control of its technological research and industrial production.
This is why l'UIMM is striving to reconcile the French population and its industry by mobilizing the entire network for the benefit of the youth.
The metallurgy industry gathers 48 000 businesses. 2 000 000 employees, it strives towards the creation and manufacture of products for the Aeronautics industry and space, shipping, railroads, automobile, electric and electronic products, and of all products that derive from metal related industries.

 E.T.N.A
ETNA supplies Raphaela with a part of her communication and safety equipment : Iridium telephone, V.H.F. and a Sarsat-Cospas beacon. Since 2000, ETNA which activity is related to the supply of commercial vessels, ships and yachts with communication and safety equipment has been supporting Raphaela’s crossings, a very strong sailor association.

Thanks to TDCom and its Iridium satellite telephones, a very useful and sometimes vital contact with land will be maintained. Compact and autonomous, these telephones will be taken by Raphaela on board to assure her safety and her communications in extreme conditions.
To give its customers the ability to communicate anywhere in the world is a TDCom challenge that the company has achieved.
Because of these satellite telephones, the link with the family remains present. They provide a very important psychological support particularly when a person is isolated in the middle of the ocean very far from any coast. Information about meteo can be provided. In case of a medical emergency, satellite telephones allow a contact with an assistance team on land. And to share the event, interviews are also made possible.

 BERMUDES

Jean-Guy LE FLOCH, President of BERMUDES, has decided to support Raphaëla Le Gouvello’s project by becoming the official supplier of sports clothes. By providing Raphaella and her team high technological clothing adapted to her needs, Bermudes is contributing its know-how “at sea”.
BERMUDES was taken with the challenge to cross the Pacific that was launched by this extraordinary young Breton woman. The company undertook to associate its name with great pride to this adventure. Bermudes is a brand that exists since 1988. It specializes in technical textile for sailing and hiking. Bermudes was bought back by Armor-lux in November 2002 in order to be represented in numerous sports shops.
J

 NEILPRYDE, the world leader in windsurfing equipment is the official supplier of Raphaela for all her specific windsurfing equipments (wet suits, harness, rigging…). Their team has specifically made 6 sails of different surfaces (from 4.2 to 7.4 m2) in monofilm. Their model was derived from the RAF JET sail serie. The sails are supplied with carbon masts and booms, the top of the top!

• The shop « Le Sport » at Guérande provides Raphaela with an electric stimulator to rest at the end of the day by placing the electrodes on the painful muscular groups.

• The department of Functional Reeducation of the Hospital of St Nazaire has designed and made in partnership with Proteor front arm splints for Raphaëla that she will be able to put during some days to rest her fingers on the boom. It is in fact quite sure that after a month of intensive sailing every day, moving her fingers will become very painful.

 The laboratory of the extreme
«We are proud and honored to inaugurate the laboratory of extreme by supporting Raphaëla throughout her solo cruise in the Pacific Ocean.
The purpose of this laboratory is to help motivated and passionate extreme adventurers to succeed in fulfilling their dream in the best conditions.
To help them, we ask our partners in different fields (health specialists, nutrition, cosmetics, psychologist or researchers in cognitive psychology) to contribute to this wonderful adventure, bringing solutions and technology innovations matching Raphaëla‚s specific needs.»
LOEB INNOVATION helps companies to create new brands, products and services.

 Fujifilm
Fujifilm’s commitment to supporting sport events at the top level goes back a long way. This approach integrates the moral values conveyed and required in sport. As in business ventures, success in sport is tributary of a frame of mind combining will, courage, generosity and spirit of conquest .Similarly, one does not always end up by winning but the value intrinsic to man allows for the possibility of rebounding and making good progress.
Fujifilm’s decision to accompany Raphaëla Le Gouvello on her first solitary crossing across the Pacific on a windsurfer followed naturally. The departure is planned for August 5 2003.
Fujifilm’s partnership in this worldwide premiere consists in providing Raphaëla with a digital camera FinePix A303, as well as Fujicolor Superia 100 et 400 ISO films, that will visually record this unique adventure.
Fujifilm shares with Raphaëla Le Gouvello mutual ambitions such as desire and will to excel oneself and continuously strive towards great achievements.

 MaxSea
World leader of navigation software, MaxSea is proud to associate itself to Raphaëla Le Gouvello’s initiative. In conjunction with PC Course, MaxSea’s software, combined with Mapmédia sea maps will allow for Raphaëla’s feat to be followed closely.
Thanks to the weather forecast data provided by Navcenter, the PC course can report the evolution of the weather at sea as well as make strategic decisions that can provide assistance to Raphaëla and increase her conditions of security.

 SUNSAIL
Sunsail, number 1 worldwide of sailboat rentals, shares similar values that are associated to this initiative: the pursuit of one’s dreams, ambitions and the ecological necessity to preserve the sea and maritime environment. This crossins is an immense human feat during which Raphaëla must surpass herself as well and provide the public with the possibility of discovering the beauty and respec it deserves. Sunsail is supporting this sports performance as well as Raphaëla’s ambition to follow the traces of the Kon Tiki and give free expression to her windsurfing passion.

 NEC
Useful within an increasingly competitive sailing world, NEC Computers- the construction company for data processing- is providing equipment to the the PC course of Raphaëla Le Gouvello’s windsurfer. Equiped with exceptional capacities, the PC portable is a NEC VERSA P700 that provides the possibility to follow the exact position of the windsurfer and to manage the numerous images received during the crossing.

INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERS :

 The Regional Council of Brittany

In continuation of the Atlantic and Mediterranean crossing, the Regional Council of Brittany and all the region of Brittany have been associated to this Pacific challenge which follows the example of the numerous sailors from Brittany who have dared to sail all the oceans for centuries.
Since the beginning of the adventure in 2000, Brittany has been actively supporting Raphaela’s project. Beyond the sportive challenge, there is a strong message delivered by the sailboarder on planet preservation, a message fully shared by the Council which is very committed itself to environment protection and preservation of the marine resources and coastal heritage of Brittany.

 The Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development

Through her physical and mental outstanding challenge, Raphaela wants her crossing to be a very unique way to deliver simple and educational messages for the respect of the oceans and our planet. In the Pacific, where France is very committed, main issues related to climatology and biodiversity will be discussed along with Raphaela’s crossing. The Ministry of Ecology and Sustainable Development has been actively supporting this adventure which will touch the children and the public, and contribute to make them realize how important it is to address the future of our planet. The main point is also to understand that each of us has to be concerned with environment protection and preservation in his daily life.

 The Ministry of Sport

The Sport Ministry supports Raphaela’s challenge as it represents a very unique sportive challenge and it will allow the younger to follow and share this adventure. The practice of a sport like sailboarding is an opportunity to educate new generations to the respect of the sea and safety rules. This crossing is an example for audace but also for a very serious preparation and therefore it deserves all encouragements.

 The Oversea Ministry

Supplied by a ship of the French National Marine coming from French Guyana in 2000 and then warmly welcome at her arrival in Martinique, and now following the famous Kon Tiki to arrive to French Polynesia in 2003, no doubt that Raphaela and her team have chosen routes which allow to discover the islands of the French over sea territories.
The over sea French Ministry has therefore immediately decided to support Raphaela and will follow her adventure with passion.

OUR EDUCATIONAL AND SCIENTIFIC PARTNERS :

 IFREMER

As a veterinarian in aquaculture, Raphaela knows very well the departments of Ifremer and has worked with them for a long time, sharing the same sustainable development priorities in aquaculture production. All the departments of Ifremer and particularly the one involved in space oceanography and live resources are associated with Raphaela’s Pacific crossing which allows Ifremer to let known its research activities in these fields.
Ifremer has stations in Tahiti and New Caledonia and will be able to help and welcome Raphaela and her team. An no doubt that during Raphaela’s crossing the beautiful dolphin fish which accompanied her on the Atlantic crossing will be there again. A great opportunity for Ifremer scientists to continue their observations.

  IRD-LEGOS

Through their commitment to sustainable development, and their worlwide research fields, the IRD Departments are also quite involved in Raphaela’s future Pacific crossing. Particularly through the shark specialist, B. Séret and also through the LEGOS multi disciplinary department (based in Toulouse), Raphaela and her team get access to crucial information about the Pacific climate of the moment (El Nino – La Nina). Her sailboard will be equipped with an Argos beacon and a temperature recorder included in the IRD program in order to “in situ” collect data from this zone of the Pacific ocean.

Departmental Educational Documentation Center of Morbihan (56) and Finistère (29) (National Education)

Since 2001, the educational teams of the CDDP Centers of Finistère and Morbihan have worked to elaborate educational web documents linked to every aspect of Raphaela’s project. Teachers and children will get an educational help to follow the route of Raphaela and will have the opportunity to study the topics related to the exploration of the oceans.

Raphaela has also made various visits and conferences to several schools. The sailboard was baptised by the children of the private and public schools of her village, Pénestin. There is a great affective relationship between Raphaela, her team and a lot of children. No doubt that during this future Pacific crossing which principally occurs during the first part of the school year 2003-2004, a lot of children will follow Raphaela with passion and will give her energy to go on !