Route du Rhum 2002

Having achieved his ambition to lead a team around the world, Conrad’s next ambition was to compete in the “Everest” of ocean racing, the non-stop, single-handed round the world race, the Vendee Globe. His first target was the massive trans-Atlantic French race, the Route du Rhum. Whilst his profile in the sailing arena had developed off the back of winning the BT Global Challenge, he had little experience of business and the fickle world of commercial sponsorship. Conrad’s experiences of leading a team around the world had created numerous speaking opportunities and together with Henley Management College, (who had co-authored the book about the race, Inspiring Leadership, Staying Afloat in Turbulent Times) he developed a leadership programme for communications giant Motorola.

With just ten days to the start of the Route du Rhum, Conrad was presenting the leadership programme to Motorola’s top executive team, whilst at the same time he had managed to charter the innovative Dutch Open 40, Syllogic for the race.  Money was very tight having committed everything to getting the boat to the start line and the fee from the programme for Motorola was making ends meet. Conrad’s long term friend, the actor and sailor Jeremy Irons stepped in to cover the boat’s insurance costs. The leadership presentation went very well, and a couple of the Motorola executive team asked what he planned to do next. Once they learnt that he was about to set off on the Route du Rhum, they agreed with just days to go, to support him with a budget of £30,000 to become his title sponsor. Conrad persuaded, Jeremy Irons to come across to France to christen the boat and “HELLOMOTO” was launched the day before the start of the race.

Sadly, the 2002 Route du Rhum was to have the worst storm in its 30 year history and the fleet was decimated in the Bay of Biscay, with two thirds abandoning the race. Conrad was dismasted in the storm and sailed under jury rig back to Brest. His race was over and the damage sustained to the boat meant a bleak Christmas with a bill to repair the damaged boat costing £40,000!