ADRIEN AND QU?M?R? A DARING CHALLENGE

The Pacific Ocean, kiting solo from San Francisco to French Polynesia is Anne Qu?m?r?'s new challenge. A world's first which extends a list of extraordinary feats that the ADRIEN Group has chosen to support.

ADRIEN was Jean Luc Van Den Heede's partner on his incredible " around the world against the winds" race. It required three attempts before succeeding but Michel Adrien, the Group's founder, incessantly encouraged him. His son Ren? took over the family business.

The father truly handed down more than a business, as with VDH's impressive aluminum single hull, the ADRIEN Group's colours will fly on the 5,5 metre OceanKite. The two ships can't be compared but the ideas are as strong. ADRIEN is a business of challenges and it's logical that following the "around the world against the winds" challenge that the Nantaise firm should be involved in a new feat.

FROM THE PADDLE TO THE OCEANKITE
Anne Qu?m?r? is the world's first woman to have completed two ocean crossings solo and without assistance. The first successful crossing followed the Horse latitude route, followed two years later by the Northern route. She also holds the feminine world records for these crossings. The former guide and speaker who worked in the USA, South America, Asia and India chose, back in 2000, to return to Brittany. Not to settle down but rather to devise more adventures and challenges, using brute strength by rowing !

In 2002, Anne rowed the Southern Atlantic Ocean alone and without assistance over a 5000 kilometre distance. Two years later, she again challenged the Atlantic Ocean, but this time, by the Northern Route. She rowed some 6450 kilometres in 87 days.

In 2006, she changed technology. The crossing was propelled by a kite, sailing from New York (USA) to Ouessant (France). She sailed some 6700 kilometres over a 55 day period. This was a world first for the kite traction technology but, again Anne is unsatisfied of these exceptional accomplishments.

2008 will be the year of a more daring challenge: to open a new kite route on an ocean which bears peace by name alone. The Pacific, kite sailing and alone from San Francisco to Tahiti, a distance of more than 7000 kilometres which she hopes to cover in 12 weeks. A time reference will thus, be established for this route.

Opening a new route
"This challenge is on a totally different scale" claims Anne. "We're groundbreaking of sorts but I don't feel I'm putting myself at risk. I've often sailed the Atlantic and now the time has come for me to tackle new challenges. I'm very confident of my vessel and, for the past two years, since my last sailing, we've had ample time to let the idea ripen." Anne is not a hot head, but if you just mention "You can't.", this will boost the sailor. "These challenges give me the opportunity of meeting passionate people and when one is alone, nothing is possible.

That's why I don't give up. It also shows that with reasonable means, sport, adventure and innovation can all be part of a wonderful dream". Anne also says that she could have tackled Mount Everest or crossed deserts, except that her experience is with the ocean. So, her Everest will be tackled in late October 2008.

More details available on the www.anne-quemere.com/indexgb.php'>official website