Who is Julien Vrignaud, the artist who designed the race trophy?
Meeting Julien Vrignaud, a 42-year-old self-taught ironworker, is a unique experience, just like his work. Standing 1.99 metres tall, he stands out not only for his imposing stature, but also for his deep attachment to his Vendée roots. He embodies the passion and pride of his region.
New York Vendée :
How did you become a wrought ironworker?
Julien Vrignaud
Just a few years ago, I was a chef! I started out on my own, bought a soldering set and just got on with it. I did ironwork, tables, stained glass windows... And in 2018, I created my first sculpture for the start of the Tour de France.
New York Vendée :
What is your relationship with offshore racing and the sea?
Julien Vrignaud
My grandmother lived in Les Sables d'Olonne, at the airfield. When it was the Vendée Globe, my cousins and I used to watch the helicopters take off. I've been following the Vendée Globe since I was a kid. I love sailing, I regularly do it with friends, but I get seasick!
New York Vendée :
What does the New York Vendée inspire in you, this last race before the Vendée Globe?
Julien Vrignaud
I love New York and I've always dreamt of going there. It's right opposite Les Sables! This race is a great bridge between two territories. It used to take months to cross the Atlantic and now the skippers are going to take less than 10 days, it's just incredible.
New York Vendée :
How did you come to work on this trophy?
Julien Vrignaud
I made large sculptures for the Vendée Arctique - Les Sables d'Olonne (editor's note: first qualifying race for the Vendée Globe), which were installed in the race village. That's how I started working with the organisation. I wanted to continue this collaboration on this new race, the New York Vendée, by proposing a new creation, which was originally a sculpture and which finally became a trophy. I first drew up my idea and then Mickael Bruniaux from BMI 85 took care of the 3D printing of the trophies. I'm used to working with him to make scale models of my sculptures. The organiser liked the prototype, so we produced all the trophies, each weighing almost two kilos of thread. The most difficult part of the process was finding the right shade and finish. We spent a lot of hours on it!
