Construction costs have also increased significantly. If a few years ago the total amount was between 2.5 and 4 million, the budgets now reach 10 million euros, due to the increase in design, raw materials and insurance, which represent 9 to 10% of the construction price of a boat.
Despite this general slowdown in sponsorship in sport, major sponsors are renewing their partnership, demonstrating that the environment remains attractive in terms of notoriety, image and return on investment.
Sailing presents a return on investment that is less easily calculated than displaying it on a football jersey, due to random parameters such as a possible breakage on the boat or complicated weather, which implies risk-taking for companies.
This situation highlights the financial difficulties encountered by certain competitors, in a context where the preparation of sporting projects depends directly on corporate investments.
The sector is facing a recent speculative bubble, marked by skippers who bought fairly expensive boats and who are no longer able to resell them today.
The economic model of sailing is based exclusively on a title sponsor, without additional associated income such as television rights or ticketing.
“I've been in the business for 12 years and I've never experienced this,” said one expert, adding: “We're in the trough of the wave, and I don't know how trough it is.” “We tried to sell, but certainly a little late, the project based solely on the Route du Rhum, to test,” indicates a player in the sector.