Solo, yet united: Denis Van Weynbergh and his IMOCA D'Ieteren Group surrounded by volunteers.

10 December 2024

The D’Ieteren Group Sailing project is unlike any other offshore racing project. Indeed, throughout his preparation for the Vendée Globe 2024, Denis Van Weynbergh has relied on a team of volunteers. Every one of their skills is put to good use within the context of the project, whether it relates to the technology logistics or communication aspect.

Your team is made up almost exclusively of volunteers. How do you organise yourselves?

In terms of management, it’s a whole different ball game managing a team of volunteers as opposed to a team working full time on the boat in your shed. We regularly bring in subcontractors, especially for the highly technical matters or elements we don’t have time to manage ourselves.

In terms of organisation, together we’ve defined a set of values, which the team has at its core. We’ve thought about what brings us together, our shared drivers and our expectations with regards to a project like this one and the way we can work together. Given that we don’t have hierarchical relationships or direct financial links, it is vital we draw up an ethical framework so we can incorporate these values in our work.

We make a lot of collective decisions. When we’re on land, I try to make myself available to the team as much as possible, which translates as things like having meetings away from the office, in the evenings and at weekends. I believe that it’s down to me to fall in line with the way they work because they’re not free at other times. I don’t want to call a team meeting for them to attend at 15:00 hours on a week day as that simply won’t work.

How have you managed to operate like a professional offshore racing team despite the fact that not all your members come from a sailing background?

All the members of the team have professional skills, which are useful to the project. This will be an enriching experience for them as they develop new areas of expertise, which they can go on to incorporate in their work. It’s a totally win-win situation.

It’s important to highlight the daily sacrifices they make because they’re juggling their professional life during the week and their commitments to the boat at weekends. Their social life often takes a back seat, their priority being entirely focused on the project. They even plan their holidays around race dates and preparation of the boat. In a project of this kind, everyone has to make concessions with a view to the end goal, which is to take part in and complete the Vendée Globe.

What counts beyond that is the approach used and how we work. I warned them that this 4-year campaign would always be more turbulent than one might wish and that there would be complicated times, moments of crisis and moments of doubt. They have stepped up to the challenge with real commitment, despite the frenetic pace. They’ve come out of their comfort zone because beyond all that is a desire to achieve what we set out to do with this very ambitious project.

As a skipper, do you feel different to your fellow rivals because of the way your project is organised?

No, I consider them to be professionals in their skills and knowledge. During the weeks of racing, we operate like a professional team, with meetings, jobs lists to complete and deadlines to be adhered to. We’ve resolved numerous problems in a professional manner, which is something they thoroughly excel at.