Organisation

Organizing each year since 1973, the International afloat boat show, the Grand Pavois. The association Grand Pavois (1901 French registration about associations) has widened its activities. It organized stopovers in La Rochelle, for races such as the Whitbread (now Volvo Ocean Race). In 1999, the association created a new events department named GPO and was soon after asked by the Classe Mini to organize the 13th Mini Transat in 2001. The race get sits second wind and is renamed The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50. Without betraying the adventurous spirit of the race, GPO knows how to work with strong and faithful partners that share their methods for instance in terms of security. GPO also took in charge the organization of several events linked to sailing races like the BT Challenge stopover from the 12th to the 20th of June 2001, Start Village of the Solitaire du Figaro from the 28th of July to the 5th of August 2001, Volvo Ocean Race stopover from the 11th to the 25th of May 2002, organization of The Charente-Maritime/Bahia Transat 6,50 since 2001, the Défi Atlantique in 2003, Global Challenge stopover from the 3rd to the 13th of July 2005, organization of the French F1 Powerboating Grand Prix in May 2007,the stopover of the Clipper Round the World Yacht Race in September 2007, the baptism of L'Oreal Paris (Maud Fontenoy's boat) in 2006 and her French tour in 2007, the commercial development of China Shenzhen International Boat Show (Shenzhen - China) from the 12th to the 15th of November 2009 etc.

Marine sphere professionals

The association Grand Pavois works with a permanent team. The Board of Directors members are marine sector professionals.

President: Alain Pochon - Pochon SA - Marine electronic
Vice-President: Patrick Rieupeyrout - Harken France - Hardware and accessories
Treasurer: Jean-Louis Delhumeau - Dufour Yachts - Boatyard
Secretary: Philippe Aupinel - Chantier Alubat - Boatyard

Administrator: Jean-Pierre Goudant – Cummins Mercruiser Diesel Europe - Marine motors
Administrator: Jean-Paul Capron – Grassi Bateaux - Boatyard
Administrator: Benoît Tréguilly – Bic Sports- Boatyard
Administrator: Gérard Laquit - Groupe Bénéteau - Boatyard
Administrator: Lisa Rabineau – Alliaura Marine- Boatyard
Administrator: Eric Bruneel - Fountaine Pajot - Boatyard
Administrator: Merry de la Poëze – Jeanneau SA- Marine motors

Organization of the Transat 6,50 Charente-Maritime/Bahia

GRAND PAVOIS ORGANISATION
Chief Executive Officer: Christophe Vieux
Director of logistic and technical control: Marie Mauffret
Sales Director: Nathalie Mignonneau
Race’s Director: Denis Hugues
Race’s project manager: Isabelle Magois
Sailors relations: Alexis Bertin
Director of Communication and Press Relations: Pierrick Garenne
Partnerships: Carole Wolf
Label Bleue: Céline Poulain
Logistic controls: Patrice Ney

RACE’S COMITY
Under the patronage of the "Fédération Française de Voile"
Race comity President: Patrick Maurin

CLASSE MINI
President: Lucas Montagne
Contacts: Annabelle Moreau / Sandrine Pelletier