Our commitment
Through D’Ieteren Group Sailing’s programme, D’Ieteren Group and sailor Denis Van Weynbergh, intend to think outside the box with sport by championing values that are dear to their hearts, including courage and entrepreneurship. Together, they are eager to have a positive impact on the world and to defend environmental and social causes. At the helm of the IMOCA D’Ieteren Group, Denis Van Weynbergh will be a committed representative of the Belgian group all around the globe.
Access to a simulating and fulfilling professional life
In the Vendée Globe 2024, Denis will become the ambassador for D’Ieteren Group’s philanthropic approach, whose mission is to promote access to a stimulating and fulfilling professional life. Through his past and present experiences, Denis is fortunate to be in a position to live out his passion, an opportunity that sadly is not always accessible to everyone. As a result, he is eager to participate in and shed light on the actions associated with this societal cause. An entrepreneur by nature, his main focus will be on one of the main lines of the Group’s philanthropic approach: assisting project owners with the launch of their entrepreneurial projects.
Circularity, the beating heart of D’Ieteren Group Sailing’s programme
The general organisation of D’Ieteren Group Sailing’s project is based on the principle of ‘circularity’. Favouring the option to buy direct from the producer, reusing, repairing and restoring material where possible… these are all actions which punctuate the daily life of the skipper’s team and that of the Belgian group, with a number of their enterprises being key to the circular economy and reconditioning.
The boat selected by Denis is no exception to the rule. An IMOCA60 built in 2013 and, having already participated in the Vendée Globe (Nandor Fa’s ex Spirit of Hungary, 8th in 2016), she has demonstrated her ability to circumnavigate the globe. The latter has also undergone a winter refit to boost her reliability and performance.
Outside the sailing world
In his personal life, Denis Van Weynbergh also enjoys getting involved and giving his time to charitable causes, whose aim is to assist disadvantaged youngsters with developing their personal skills through sport and to introduce less able-bodied children to sailing. As such, he has been awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Ottignies Louvain-la-Neuve and the Prix Projet Fair Play by the Province of Walloon Brabant.