They surge forward (elles déferlent, in French)… always in complete safety, thanks to the renewal of our partnership in 2026.
At the end of January, we had the pleasure of sharing a special moment with Sasha Lanièce and Karen Menuet, the talented skippers of the all-female offshore racing team Les Déferlantes. An inspiring encounter, carried by the distinctly feminine slogans that fuel their adventures:
“Free Woman, you shall cherish the sea.” “Salty sisterhood.” “Girls just wanna sail and have fun.” “Rise like the tide.”
Above all, the day was an opportunity to reaffirm our shared commitment to continuing the partnership launched in 2025, driven by a common ambition: to promote elite women’s sport.
Two boats, same standard: performance & reliability
For the upcoming season, Les Déferlantes will rely on two complementary platforms, both equipped with Wichard and Ronstan deck hardware:
- A Class40, set to compete notably in the Route du Rhum this year
- A Mini 6.50, compact yet high-performing: the ideal format to train and reveal emerging talent
Two boats, two programs… but one shared “Girl Power” energy!
Equipment designed for real-world racing (and adapted to the skippers)
In offshore racing, nothing is ever “just an accessory.” Sasha and Karen provided a carefully considered equipment list, perfectly aligned with the realities of the field.
Among the selected gear:
- Wichard FRX friction rings (FRX6, FRX10 and FRX15), enabling lightweight, efficient and robust setups
- Ronstan Orbit blocks, from compact 20 mm models up to 75 mm formats, covering every requirement: fine-tuning, load deflection and more demanding maneuvers
- A set of white SoftEye 40 stick-on padeyes (Ref. 6661), to add convenient attachment points without unnecessarily adding weight to the deck
- A Ronstan triple aluminum fairlead (Ø 12 mm – RF8093-12), ensuring clean line organization and smooth rope guidance
…among other essentials.
This equipment selection reflects their approach: pragmatic, technical, and uncompromising when it comes to reliability. Sasha and Karen have also chosen intelligent solutions that allow them to deploy physical strength proportionate to their build, enabling them to compete on equal footing with the burlier male skippers.
Les Déferlantes: the Wichard women’s touch
Les Déferlantes is committed to remaining a 100% female offshore sailing and racing team.
It is also conceived as a performance incubator, designed to shatter glass ceilings at sea and ashore alike.
Their mission rests on three pillars:
1/ Performance: the surge (déferlement*) in its purest form
Les Déferlantes line up at the most demanding races: Mini Transat, Route du Rhum, and ultimately even more ambitious goals.
The team trains tomorrow’s talent around a clear vision: reaching the podium.
2/ Innovation: a boiling point of bright minds…
Driven by its founder Sasha Lanièce (PhD in Physics and Data Scientist), the team turns offshore racing into a laboratory.
AI, modeling, strategy, risk management: the skippers’ intuition is systematically guided by data.
3/ Inspiration: a breath of fresh, feminine air
Every mile sailed becomes a message: to demonstrate that women belong at the highest level of nautical sport, and to create powerful role models, not only in sport but also in business.
Thank you for your trust, Ladies. You undoubtedly join the ranks of the “Wonderful Women.”
Our warmest thanks to Sasha and Karen for their exchanges, their invaluable field feedback, and their loyalty.
A breeze of femininity now fills our ocean adventures by proxy and we could not be more delighted!
© PolaRyse - Les Déferlantes Sailing Team