A racing team lining up two boats of the same name at the start of the Vendée Globeis quite simply exceptional. All the more so as this TR Racing team is racing without any apparent sponsor. Or to be more precise, only one word appears on the sails: “Vulnerable”, written in English to make the meaning as explicit as possible. This project is being deployed thanks to a company called Advens, a recognized specialist in cybersecurity, serving large groups and ETIs. A French company founded in 2000 by Alexandre Fayeulle, it now generates sales of 70 million euros and employs 500 people in Europe.

Vulnerable: the word was not chosen by chance. In the case of the Vendée Globe, it’s a question of exploiting the tremendous leverage of ocean racing to highlight a real social issue. “For a long time now, Advens’ development has been based on the following philosophysays Alexandre Fayeulle. It provides for 50% of economic and financial performance to be reinvested in a socially responsible approach that benefits the planet and its people.

Accepting our limits

Why vulnerability at all? Because it fits in well with the above-mentioned theme. Alexandre Fayeulle deplores the fact that most companies are driven by the quest for results at any price. He explains how people with apparent weaknesses should not be dismissed, because they too are rich in capabilities that can be exploited. At the same time, he stresses the need to recognize and accept our limits and those of the planet. In short, Vulnerable is designed to appeal to as many people as possible. And when you consider that 350,000 people will be present at the start of the Vendée Globe, or that the media will be following the competition closely for three months, the potential for conveying the message(s) is obvious.

Alexandre Fayeulle didn’t fall into sailing as a child – he’s the son of farmers, originally from the Pas-de-Calais region – but he took the time to learn. It all began in 2016 when he met skipper Thomas Ruyant. At that time, alongside 180 investor patrons, he contributed to the adventure of the boat Le souffle du Nord, which took part in the Vendée with sails bearing the Imagine Project logo. “We quickly realize that sailing is the most human of sports, in the sense that the risks of shipwreck, heavy weather and collision make us acutely aware of our fragility.

Personal holding

The complicity with Thomas Ruyant has begun, and is about to be consolidated: for the Vendée Globe 2020, Advens, plus the personal holding company of its founder, are specially financing the construction of a boat for the sailor, who was also born in the Hauts-de-France region. This time, the sails are named LinkedOut – supported by the Entourage association – the professional network for those who, precisely, have no professional network. A simple philanthropic initiative? Far from it. Since the beginning of this partnership, some 500 people have been helped to find work. Meanwhile, Thomas Ruyant has not only finished sixth in this Vendée Globe, he has also won the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2021 and the Route du Rhum in 2022 on the LinkedOut boat.

The boat in question has not disappeared: it is now one of two Vulnerables. The other was built for the 2024 edition of the Vendée Globe, with the technological sharpening required in this discipline. All this comes at a cost, to the tune of 7 million euros a year, given that the TR Racing stable, based in Lorient (Morbihan), employs around thirty people. The team and its equipment are housed in new premises.

Boarding the teams

“Of course, it’s a substantial investment, but the repercussions are far-reaching.comments Alexandre Fayeulle. It’s a project that literally embeds teams within the company, conferring a significant impact at a time when work environments are undergoing transformation, with the quest for meaning and new business models.” He also points out that staff turnover at Advens is no higher than 8%, compared with over 20% among its competitors. Clearly, a commitment to sailing, even if not directly redeemable for money, generates many positive elements. And always against the backdrop of our ambition to change – a little – the course of things in essential areas. “Quite soon after starting my own business, I realized that I had a real entrepreneurial temperament.says Alexandre Fayeulle. I also realized that money was far from being a driving force for me.

Question: are Advens employees moved by such a pronounced commitment outside the purely business sphere? The company’s CEO is quick to point out that some 75 employees hold a 20% stake in the company.

Respect for all stakeholders

Another question: how does the sailing ecosystem view TR Racing’s rather unique scheme, even though naming rights to benefit one association or another has developed in recent years? “Experience speaks for usreplies Alexandre Fayeulle. Insofar as the inaugural initiatives have worked well, I think I can say that we have the respect of all the players.”

On the weekend of November 10, the day of the start of the Vendée Globe, no fewer than 900 supporters will be present in Les Sables-d’Olonne. These supporters will include 150 Advens employees – some of whom will be on hand to man the Vulnerable stand – and a wide range of other profiles, all keen to support the project. The project will be rolled out over the coming months, with a number of events planned, starting with a big launch party on November 18 in Paris.