Aspen to sponsor female Vendée Globe sailor

Aspen Insurance will sponsor round-the-world sailor Pip Hare as she attempts to become the first ever woman to complete the Vendée Globe Race twice. 

Hare, who is only the eighth woman to complete the non-stop, unassisted, solo race around the world, will also be a brand ambassador for Aspen, hosting several events for colleagues, clients and partners of the Bermuda-based insurer. 

Aspen said the partnership is in line with the company’s ambition to expand its brand reputation and market presence. As part of the agreement, Aspen’s logo will be displayed on Hare’s boat, the Medallia. The Vendée Globe is the world’s second most watched sports event, and an estimated 2.1 billion households will follow the race worldwide.

Hare is also an inspirational speaker, author, climate activist and a passionate advocate for gender equality in sports. She runs the only female-led ocean racing team worldwide and supports young women from all backgrounds to start a career in competition sports.

Mark Cloutier, executive chairman and group chief executive officer, Aspen said: “Our agreement to sponsor Pip not only makes sense commercially. Pip’s inspirational story about resilience and teamwork is an apt metaphor of Aspen’s own journey. Her vision of doing it differently and our shared values of innovation and collaboration make Pip a great ambassador for us.

“I am proud to be supporting Pip as she prepares to compete in this year’s Vendée Globe, and look forward to hearing her story, inspiration and insights she shares with us in the coming months.”

Hare said: “Finding sponsors to work with is an essential to driving performance in a sport like ours, but it’s so much more than just bringing finance into the team. It’s about finding partners who share our values who are driven towards success in the same way we are, so that we can both benefit from the great sport of Ocean Racing. 

"In Aspen we really have found a partner that matches our philosophy and we are really excited to start our relationship with them and take them with us on our journey to the Vendée Globe.”

The Vendée Globe starts on November 10, when skippers set off from Les Sables d'Olonne (France) and sail over 24,000 miles around the world, rounding the three Capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin and Cape Horn) before returning to Les Sables d'Olonne.

In addition to the Vendee Globe, Hare, who is CEO of an international racing team, has competed in international yacht races such as the Transat Jacques Vabre and the Rolex Fastnet race. In 2009 she competed in the OSTAR transatlantic race. In 2017 Hare's team came third in the Three Peaks Yacht Race, despite Hare breaking her ankle 6 miles from the finish.

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