05.10.2007 Back to news

Christened with milk !

© Guilain Grenier

Saturday 29th of September was a festive day on the pontoons of Port Camargue in the South of France. The Groupe Bel monohull was christened by Antoine Fiévet, representative of the founder's family and director of the group, who took a few liberties with tradition. Instead of bathing the red hull of La Vache qui rit® (Laughing Cow) in champagne bubbles, he used a litre of milk ! This was a friendly allusion to our favourite cow, as well as to Groupe Bel, the world leader in the making of brand name cheeses.

For the occasion, Kito de Pavant, the skipper, was also in the company of Gérard Boivin, chairman and managing director of Bel, and colleagues from the group involved for more than a year in the implementation of this ambitious sponsoring project. Etienne Mourrut, Deputy Mayor of the Town of Grau du Roi – Port Camargue, and Michel Cavaillès, Manager of Port Camargue, were also proud to welcome this impressive boat skippered by a "native of these parts".
In addition to his technical team, Kito wished to bring together the region's suppliers, who, every day, have put their energy into perfecting the only boat in the IMOCA Class based in the Mediterranean. Last of all, because friendship is not an empty word for Kito, the skipper gave much of warm praise to those who have supported him from the start and who have made him what he is today. “Today has made me very happy. When you are sponsored by a firm such as Groupe Bel, have a home base for your boat where you really feel at home, such as Port Camargue, and a team and friends, then you are inevitably happy, and I am”, he went on.
In ten days, Groupe Bel will cast off from Port Camargue and sail 2,000 miles to Le Havre, the city from which the Transat Jacques Vabre starts (on 3rd November). Alone on board, Kito de Pavant and Sébastien Col will use this delivery run to qualify (1,000 miles two-handed) and to do some training before the latest 60 foot monohull's first Open race.

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