La Traversée, by Jean Denant: more than a trophy, a symbol!

News, Focus on, Feature article

Every sailing race has its winner's trophy. From the ancestral Silver Ewer of the America's Cup to the imposing 'fruit cup' of the Route du Rhum, not forgetting the ten kilos of bronze of the Vendée Globe, works of art of all kinds are brandished by the lucky survivors of the waves. The MedMax Occitanie - Saïdia Resorts will be no exception to this custom.

An atypical and innovative race with an original and symbolic reward.

And what could be more appropriate than to offer the Mediterranean to the winner of this regatta... in the Mediterranean.
In fact, the winners in the Class40 and Ocean Fifty boats will be lifting two reduced-scale copies of the masterly work by Sétois artist Jean Denant, 'La Traversée'. The initiative was spearheaded by Sébastien Denaja, an elected representative from Sète and regional councillor, but also thanks to the generosity of Gilbert Ganivenq, a patron of the arts and art lover who owns the Le Réservoir gallery, where the two replicas were made.

"It's a wink, our way of linking the two shores of the Mediterranean, between two friendly countries", stresses the man who describes the trophy as "Strong symbolThe race also passed Sète before crossing the Mediterranean to Saïdia. "Or the Reservoir will present the trophies. As for the artist himself, Jean Denant, he likes to see "the link between East and West", perfectly in line with the idea of in common with all the peoples who share this Mediterranean". Kito de Pavant, organiser of the MedMax Occitanie - Saïdia Resorts.

The original created in 2014 "takes pride of place" in Sète

Displayed at actual size (4.30 metres long and 2 metres high, weighing 150 kilos!) on a former bunker along the Corniche in Sète, the original work created in 2014 reproduces the coastline of the Mediterranean using mirror stainless steel cut-outs, without forgetting any of the shores of the countries bathed by the waters of the 'Mare nostrum'. In fact, it was under this name that President François Hollande presented a life-size replica to His Majesty Mohammed VI, King of Morocco, at COP22 in 2016. And that's saying a lot.
Don't worry, competitors in the MED MAX Occitanie - Saïdia Resorts will be rewarded with two much smaller replicas. Trophies which will be up for grabs at each edition of this new ocean race. Because yes, there will be others!

JLR