Philippe Monnet finds a sponsor

Another pizza maker joins the Route du Rhum's Ultimate class

In true Route du Rhum style, with just five days to go before the start of the Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale, sailing legend Philippe Monnet has only just succeeded in signing a sponsor for his campaign in the Ultimate class, aboard Ellen MacArthur's former B&Q/Castorama trimaran.

The new sponsor is La Boîte à Pizza, a gourmet pizza chain, and if this seems a little unlucky then it should be remembered that this is also the core business of Thomas Coville's sponsor Sodebo.

The Route du Rhum forms part of Monnet's Figure Eight Challenge which will involve setting records between some of the world's top capital cities as well as the first ever attempt on the singlehanded round the world record westabout against the prevailing winds aboard a multihull. During the 1980s Monnet sailed a trimaran around the world singlehanded eastabout.

"“This 23m trimaran is an ideal steer - swift and reliable," commented Monnet. "I knew that I would find a partner, the story of this race is too beautiful! But now the race before the race is on to prepare for the start, with administrative formalities, the boat signage, etc…”

The 2010 Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale will be the third occasion Monnet has competed in the singlehanded transatlantic race from St Malo to Pointe a Pitre, Guadeloupe. Monnet is aware that his boat is shorter than the competition in the ultimate class but hopes to rely on his experience, hardwork, the high state of preparation of the boat and its reliability.

Frantz Lallement, Founder and President of La Boîte à Pizza said: "This chance, suggested by Philippe, to share with him the most prestigious ocean was immediately alluring to us. This race corresponds to the international dimension of our chain, which is also established in the Antilles, in Belgium, in the United States and in China.

La Boîte à Pizza is not new to sports sponsorship. For two years they have backed a competitor in the Paris-Dakar. The company was created in 1986 by Frantz Lallement in Toulouse and is France's leading pizza delivery companies with 134 outlets in France and abroad. The company turned over 45 mllion Euros in 2009.