Lorient and Bretagne Sailing Valley, sources of inspiration for New Zealand

On 8 and 9 October 2025, a delegation of New Zealand companies arrived in Lorient to discover Brittany Sailing Valley. The aim was to initiate exchanges of skills and technologies between Lorient and Auckland as part of the Aotearoa Ocean Racing project led by Rowan Gyde and skipper Conrad Colman, ambassador for the Breton offshore racing industry.

When the Kiwis dock in Lorient. Or when Bretagne Sailing Valley forges links with a legendary sailing destination.

On 8 and 9 October, a delegation of New Zealand companies set foot in the city of six ports, responding to the call launched by skippers Conrad Colman and Rowan Gyde in the wake of their Aotearoa Ocean Racing project. ‘The main aim of this visit was to establish contacts between our organisations and those in Brittany, but also to showcase the Sailing Valley, its dynamism and its collaborative culture,’ explains Rowan Gyde. ‘Our ambition is to promote Kiwi sailing internationally, drawing on French expertise, particularly that of Brittany.’

Two days to discover the Breton spirit of ocean racing

Over two days, punctuated by sea trips off the coast of Lorient, participants were able to grasp the full spirit of Breton-style ocean racing.

The programme included a presentation of Bretagne Sailing Valley by Arnaud Cacquevel, programme manager for the Bretagne Next agency, and an overview of the Lorient ecosystem by Régis Guyon from Audélor, followed by a series of visits to TR Racing, SEAir, Foil & Co (FC Cube), Avel Robotics and Lorima.

‘The delegates were impressed. Ninety per cent of them knew Bretagne Sailing Valley only by name, and all left with admiration. They discovered an ecosystem that is unique in the world, where players cooperate rather than hide their secrets. This culture of sharing and cooperation is a model from which New Zealand can clearly draw inspiration.’

Aotearoa Ocean Racing, a hybrid project between France and New Zealand with big ambitions

The country of the All Blacks and Emirates Team New Zealand intends to excel both at sea and on the rugby field, and is entering the world of ocean racing with Aotearoa Ocean Racing. ‘The team aims to be New Zealand’s national ocean racing team. Our project is a bit of a hybrid: a New Zealand team based in France, but with the aim of opening a mirror base in Auckland, New Zealand, next year. We want to create exchanges of skills and talent between Lorient and Auckland: apprentices, engineers, technicians… Sharing know-how, technologies and networks. What inspires us is the structure of the cluster, the cooperation between public and private players, and the ability to bring about innovations that go beyond sailing alone: composites, electronics, design… Lorient is a real incubator for maritime and technological industries.’

The team plans to compete in the next Ocean Race Atlantic between Barcelona and New York in the summer of 2026. In January 2027, it will be time for the Ocean Race, with a stage in Auckland, before setting its sights on the next edition of the Vendée Globe in 2028, which ‘will be the next big milestone for us,’ continues Rowan Gyde. ‘The IMOCA Class is the starting point, but we aim to be present in several classes in the long term. We are working on a four-year cycle, but our ambition is long-term: to establish a Kiwi team in the offshore racing landscape for the long haul.’

Conrad Colman, luxury ambassador for Bretagne Sailing Valley

Who better to promote Bretagne Sailing Valley than the most Breton of New Zealanders? The skipper, who has been based in Lorient since 2009, has swapped his raincoat for the role of ambassador. ‘It was natural for him to promote Brittany Sailing Valley. He gave visitors a real insight into the world of ocean racing. This immersion brought a very human and exciting dimension to the visit.’

Rowan Gyde and Conrad Colman are already planning a second edition of this visit. This time, they will be joined by elected officials and political figures from France and New Zealand, with the aim of deepening exchanges and ‘understanding the mechanisms of assistance and support provided to local authorities, which benefit Breton businesses’.

The idea is to extend cooperation beyond sport: to facilitate exchanges of young talent, promote bilateral trade and, ultimately, create an institutional partnership between Lorient, Brittany, New Zealand and Auckland. ‘Our dream? To make Lorient and Auckland two “sister cities of sailing”.’