Heading for the 2018 Route du Rhum

Press Release, Lorient, October 29, 2018

The goal was to improve provisioning for sailors competing in offshore races, and the challenge seems to have been met successfully.
Just over eight years ago, Ariane Pehrson, a Swedish woman married to a sailor, founded her company Lyophilise & Co in the heart of the Pôle Course au Large in Lorient.

In her facility, she sources food products from various origins that are well-suited for offshore racing boats. At the top of the list for weight-conscious sailors is freeze-dried food, but the offerings don’t stop there. Sterilized meals for variety, dried meats, nuts, energy bars, drinks, rehydration tablets, and even the necessary equipment for proper onboard dining (like stoves and cookware) are all part of the catalog.

Setting Sail for the Route du Rhum!

Ariane and her team have spent more than six weeks assisting sailors with their provisioning in preparation for the race.

Today, a significant portion of the skippers participating in the Route du Rhum—including Sam Davies, Sébastien Josse, Armel Le Cléac’h, Yann Eliès, François Gabart, Jérémie Beyou, Sam Goodchild, and Alan Roura (pictured above)—have:

• Explored the shelves extensively to select products suited to their tastes, nutritional needs, and energy requirements; or, to save time, opted for pre-packaged daily rations specifically designed for this type of transatlantic crossing.
• Reviewed the website, which calculates caloric needs, onboard weight, required water, and other essential details to ensure the race is completed under optimal conditions.

While all sailors share the same destination, their routes, boats, and durations will vary. An Ultime-class vessel may aim to break the 7-day record, while others, like the Class40 fleet (with 50 boats—the largest group on the starting line), will spend several weeks at sea. Accurate estimation of meal requirements is therefore crucial to avoid running out of food. Lyophilise & Co tailored supplies to each sailor's unique needs, including provisioning for the return journey. While the race to Guadeloupe is sailed solo, the return trip is often crewed to reduce risks, especially given the less favorable weather in the Atlantic at this time of year.

About Lyophilise & Co

The company continues to grow. While its selection of bars, gels, and energy drinks delights runners and cyclists exploring its hundreds of unique bars, insights gained from sailors’ needs have steadily expanded its offerings.

Today, thanks to an ergonomic and user-friendly online store, Lyophilise & Co continues to develop, serving customers from various sectors such as hiking, adventure racing, travel, expeditions, as well as new partnerships with businesses venturing into high-risk zones and institutions seeking to stockpile food for emergencies.

The company now employs seven people and surpassed one million euros in revenue last year.

For more information

Website : http://www.lyophilise.fr/
Press contact Ariane Pehrson
Mail : ariane@lyophilise.com et team@lyophilise.com 
Tél : 06 03 69 57 66