>> Flash info : Victoire de Tanguy de Lamotte et Adrien Hardy (Initiatives - Novedia) en 26j 16h 35min
Mediatheque
Dans les collèges
Schools in the race
PARTNERS
- Pays de la Loire region
- Nantes Métropole
- Town of Saint-Nazaire
- Le Conseil Général de Loire-Atlantique
- CCI Nantes et St Nazaire
- Mexican State of Yucatan
Pays de la Loire region :
« An innovative and unifying choice »
« The first edition of Solidaire du Chocolat will take place in the autumn of 2009. It will involve a fleet of Class 40 boats sailing to Mexico from Nantes-Saint-Nazaire. The idea of associating chocolate with a nautical event stems from the history of our region and its people. The Belem ship, which was built in Nantes, used to transport cocoa beans from South America to France. For several years, the ship undertook various journeys, delivering sugar and cocoa to the city of Nantes. Beyond the affection that the French have for the Belem, this three-mast ship is a strong symbol of the connection between sailing and chocolate.
But this project is not simply a sailing race. The organisers have decided to create the first “solidarity transatlantic race”. Each boat will support a charity with a patron to provide financial support for the charitable project. A personality will climb on board to act as spokesperson for the “competitive and solidarity” project. The prologue between Nantes and Saint-Nazaire will therefore be a team effort. The double-handed transatlantic crossing will be followed on land by the personalities who took part in the prologue. This is an innovative idea – a first even – which unifies people because it mobilises sponsors for the benefit of humanitarian and charitable projects. It will also be followed closely by the media. Its success will be based on the presence of public and private partners and on the commitment of personalities who find common ground with the event’s philosophy.
Solidarity, commitment and sustainable development are the key words for this event. For all of these reasons, the Pays de la Loire region has decided to support the project and has already pledged resources, making it one of the event’s main partners.
We will therefore now support the organisers in their search for partners and sponsorship.. »
Nantes Métropole:
« A new kind of crew »
« Nantes-Saint-Nazaire Métropole is a natural port for communication with the wider world. Above all, Nantes is a crossroad city. Historically forming part of Brittany, sitting on the River Loire and opening out onto the Atlantic Ocean, it has always been a unifying city.
Solidaire du Chocolat will be a new opportunity to open up to other people. This totally new offshore transatlantic race is a response to a new desire for creativity and meaning. It is a solidarity challenge over an historical route from Nantes to Yucatan in Mexico, following in the wake of French chocolatiers from times past. I would like to thank regional companies for their involvement; they have assumed their social and environmental responsibilities alongside other partners in this new adventure.
Along with its partners, Nantes Métropole will welcome Solidaire du Chocolat and promote the inventive and adventurous spirit so dear to the famous author from Nantes, Jules Verne.
The Ile de Nantes, which was long a symbol of the city’s decline, is now a sign of its renewal. On the departure day, the heart of the métropole will beat strongly alongside the teams taking part in this new race. »
Town of Saint-Nazaire:
« A demand for meaning »
« It is 14 April 1862 and the Louisiane, a magnificent liner from the Générale Transatlantique company, sets sails for Veracruz, thereby inaugurating the first regular line between Saint-Nazaire and Mexico.
On 18 October 2009, the fleet of Class 40 boats taking part in the first Solidaire du Chocolat will set off to discover the Mexican coast, renewing links with the city’s history and strengthening its maritime identity.
Beyond this symbolic value, the city of Saint-Nazaire is very proud to welcome and support this event which combines with remarkable coherence great sporting endeavour and a demand for meaning that is rarely present in sport.
For Saint-Nazaire and for everyone rising to the challenge alongside us, this is the start of an original, exemplary and exceptional adventure. »
Conseil Général de Loire-Atlantique :
« Département de toutes les solidarités, partenaire de la Solidaire du Chocolat »
« La Solidaire du Chocolat est un évènement qui mobilise de nombreux acteurs de Loire-Atlantique : sportifs de haut niveau, associations de solidarité, entreprises mécènes, commerçants…
Cette manifestation populaire est exceptionnelle tant par son ambition de coopération avec la province du Yucatan au Mexique, de l’autre côté de l’Atlantique, que par les valeurs citoyennes quelles portent la solidarité internationale et l’action sociale de proximité, la protection de l’environnement et enfin le sport comme moyen éducatif pour de nombreux jeunes. Le département de Loire-Atlantique est un partenaire actif en associant plusieurs centaines de collégiens à cet évènement, afin de participer à la sensibilisation des générations futures sur les enjeux de la planète.
De Nantes à Saint-Nazaire et partout en Loire-Atlantique, la Solidaire du Chocolat est un rendez-vous populaire et incontournable pour toutes et toutes, aussi bien amateurs de chocolat, que de navigation, de développement durable ou d’échanges internationaux !
Bon vent à la Solidaire du Chocolat ! »
Volet Pédagogique
Le Conseil général a ainsi proposé à tous les collèges de Loire-Atlantique de s’approprier ce projet en faisant accompagner chaque skipper par une classe. Autour de l’évènement sportif proprement dit, des thèmes comme le développement durable, les langues, la climatologie, offriront autant d’entrées différentes sur cette aventure humaine. Cette proposition a rencontré un vif succès des établissements. D’ores et déjà, chaque skipper engagé peut compter sur le parrainage d’un des 23 collèges.
CCI Nantes et St Nazaire :
« Partenaires de la Solidaire du Chocolat. »
« L’engagement des CCI derrière ce projet magnifique que représente la Solidaire du Chocolat répond à plusieurs motivations. C’est tout d’abord un événement sportif valorisant la métropole Nantes-St-Nazaire qui lui permet de réaffirmer sa vocation maritime. Le grand succès populaire du baptême du maxi-trimaran Banque Populaire était déjà là pour en témoigner. Par ailleurs, en favorisant la mise en place de projets de mécénat forts, mariant entreprises et associations, la Solidaire du Chocolat illustre parfaitement un certain nombre de valeurs qui animent les acteurs privés et publics de ce territoire.
C’est également une belle occasion de mobiliser les commerçants, les restaurateurs, les professionnels de la filière du chocolat pour concevoir des animations fortes autour de l’événement.
C’est enfin, un événement qui s’inscrit dans notre ambition de construire la métropole internationale du grand Ouest. Nos liens avec le Mexique existent déjà sur le plan aérien au départ de Nantes Atlantique, ils seront, grâce à la Solidaire du Chocolat, également maritimes. »
Mexican State of Yucatan:
« We are waiting to welcome you with open arms! »
« Dear friends,
The government of the state of Yucatan confirms its desire to welcome the first solidarity boat race to arrive on the Mexican coast. This will be an ideal occasion to encourage the development of our communities thanks to tourism that respects the identity, culture and traditions of our Maya people. My government will have to make large investments to adapt our port infrastructure and receive the sailors in the best possible conditions.
Nonetheless, our main asset is the enthusiasm shown by the people of Yucatan, our cooperatives and community groups who are the major participants in this event. We are convinced that this is only the beginning of a strategic relationship of friendship and cooperation with the Pays de la Loire region and its French partners. For Yucatan – the land where dreams become reality – Solidaire du Chocolat is above all a human adventure.
We are waiting to welcome you with open arms! »
