Orient Express Racing Team highlights vital contribution of women
by Orient Express Racing Team 11 Mar 2024 10:19 PDT
The women at the heart of the Orient Express Racing Team © Martin Keruzore / Orient Express Racing Team
Aloïse, Amélie, Armelle, Audrey, Caroline, Céline, Céline, Daphné, Emilie, Jessie, Josefina, Kellie, Lara, Lou, Manon, Marine, Paola, Pauline, Rebecca and Sabina — the women at the heart of the Orient Express Racing Team.
In celebration of their contribution and to mark International Women's Day last Friday 8 March, the French challenger for the America's Cup is highlighting the invaluable part played by the female team members both as part of the shore team and out on the water in the Youth and Women's America's Cup racing squads. Though with just 20 women within a 120-strong group Orient Express Racing Team recognises it is a vital and necessary journey that still has a long way to go.
"We're a long way from parity," says Stephan Kandler, CEO of the Orient Express Racing Team, "and yet it's not for lack of wanting it.
"For this new campaign, apart from the selection for the Women's America's Cup, for which we met many women sailors, the job offers we were able to put forward only attracted the attention of a male audience.?
"Is it our business that doesn't attract women employees? No, it's not. Our business is high-level competition on high-tech flying boats. We need skills in engineering, electronics and hydraulics, as well as in all the support departments.
"Or is it a problem when it comes to choosing a career path and training, when stereotypes are still strong? As far as we're concerned, gender diversity goes without saying; it's important for the balance of the group. The group is strengthened and nurtured by different points of view and visions."
And Kandler added: "Like the women who are part of the Orient Express Racing Team adventure, we want to show all women, young and old, that there are no barriers, no limits. Push open doors. Trust yourself. Dare."
The range of roles occupied by women at Orient Express Racing Team is wide and varied, and includes sailing, engineering, public relations, sponsor relations, content management, press relations, logistics, CSR, legal and accounting. Among those already playing a key role are:
Céline Le Berre, mechatronics engineer: "Globally, we still have a long way to go. We're a long way from having an egalitarian society. It's quite alarming sometimes, because you get the impression that we're stagnating. On a personal level, I think there's been a big change around me. Women are much more taken into consideration. We're no longer side-lined, even in my profession which is very male dominated. I've got quite a strong character, which I've built up over time because I've been working in a male environment since Year 2. It's the same in sport. We're seeing developments, but I'm concerned to see that we're self-satisfied with small steps forward when what's needed is a major revolution." Céline's full story can be found here.
Émilie Llorens, in charge of operations and CSR: "I think things are changing, but not fast enough. Sailing is opening up, although there are still more men than women in the teams. Very often teams have to perform quickly because the campaigns are short, so employers turn to people they've already worked with. We're in a restricted environment. This performance culture can help women, but it also reduces the opportunities for those who are not in the business. Steps are being taken, particularly at the SailGP and the America's Cup, but it should be more natural across the sport: having a female competition should be a no-brainer when there's a male competition." Emilie's full story can be found here.
Aloïse Retornaz, sailor and engineer: "I've never felt less advantaged as a woman, even at engineering school where I was surrounded by men. The first Women's America's Cup marks a turning point and I'm really happy and proud to be part of this adventure. There's still a long way to go before the Cup becomes mixed. It's up to us to show that we want to be part of it, that our level can be equal to or better than that of men, that we're capable of it and that we want it. We have to keep going in this direction to achieve equality. We've achieved it in the Olympics, where there are as many medals for women as for men. We have to set an example for young girls, so that when they see us they can say to themselves that they can be whatever they want. We need to remove the limits we set ourselves to move even further towards gender diversity, both in the professional world and in sport." Aloïse's full story can be found here.
Manon Audinet, skipper of the Orient Express-L'Oréal Racing Team AC40: "In our sport, racing foiling boats, there is one major challenge that we face: the need for more training time to reduce the experience gap between men and women. By devoting more time to training, we can ensure that women have the same opportunities to excel and perform as men. This is what K-Challenge, along with Team France and partners such as Nextworld and L'Oréal Groupe, are doing with the Women's Pathway, a programme that has enabled us to train for almost a year now, both on the water and on the simulator. This support is very important to us and will help us to progress. And with the same skill set, why not imagine a mixed gender crew on board the AC75 for the next America's Cup?" Manon's full story can be found here.
As Kandler confirms, the women of Orient Express Racing Team are all driven by shared values: "Professional awareness, curiosity, communication, challenge, surpassing oneself, learning, performance and team spirit: We are 'one team, one dream'."
And with the first ever Women's America's Cup taking place later in the year, Kandler and the whole team are looking ahead to the possibility of a fully mixed America's Cup.
"With the same skills, there's no reason why women shouldn't be on board an AC75. This Women's America's Cup encourages the Challengers involved to train young female athletes. We can only be delighted. The future starts today.
"Through the K-Challenge Women's Pathway, supported by partners NextWorld, L'Oréal and the Accor group, we are providing a solid programme of foiling training, sports training, tailor-made coaching, etc. Both internally and for our partners, this dimension is essential to our project, which we hope to continue in France beyond this 37th edition."
We'll be posting regular 'Know-How' videos to explain the different jobs within the team.
Our first episode focuses on the Orient Express Racing Team's electronics and mechatronics department through the explanations and experiences of Connor Banks, electronics engineer, and Céline Le Berre, mechatronics engineer. Watch the video below.