Spotlight on | Thierry Verneuil, a lover of beautiful things

Thierry Verneuil, a lover of beautiful things

“I’m in love with beautiful things… And I’m more drawn to beauty than to performance,” smiles Thierry Verneuil as he talks about the Gulf of Morbihan, his voyages at sea at the helm of “Enchantement”—his superb 8-meter JI from 1923—and, of course, the Gulf of Morbihan Regattas in which he has participated.

This appreciation for beauty, his maritime background, and his deep local roots certainly played a role when he was offered the chairmanship of the association’s board of directors in 2023—but so, above all, did his professional career. “They were looking for someone accustomed to managing boards of directors,” he explains humbly.

He worked as an engineer at Schlumberger, then managed the family-owned Verneuil sailmaking business before taking the helm at Bic Sport (for nearly 30 years) and propelling it to international success.

At the same time, Thierry Verneuil was actively involved in the nonprofit sector: president of the APV, treasurer and then president of the FIN, and vice president of the AFCA, among other roles… He also served for eight years as chairman of the ENV’s board of directors, working to restructure the school and give it the momentum it has enjoyed ever since.

This extensive experience enabled him to quickly propose a reorganization of the management methods for the Morbihan Gulf Week association. From then on, each board member took on a key responsibility (marine routes, volunteer coordination, etc.) and worked closely with the operational team under their supervision. “Tasks and responsibilities are distributed, and decisions are made by the executive committee.”
 

2025: The Big Leap—A Success!

A year and a half later, success was assured. “In 2025, the weather was on our side. That’s essential, especially for getting the smallest boats out on the water. It was a wonderful event, without a single hiccup. We worked closely with our partner municipalities, which helped organize the onshore activities. The Regional Nature Park was involved in establishing an environmental charter, an essential step forward.

The decision to appoint Amélie de Robiano Fusil as general coordinator was crucial: we were able to benefit from her experience in event organization. We made the right choices when recruiting the directors and operational teams.”
 

2027: More at Ease, Without Really Being So

For the upcoming edition, the current team and its experience from 2025 will allow us to go into greater detail, optimize, and even innovate. “We’re more at ease without really being so, because the event comes very early in the season—it will be the first major tourist event of the year—and the entire team is fully committed to putting on a wonderful event. ”

In short, out of a love for beautiful boats, this recent retiree doesn’t hesitate to put his experience, dedication, and commitment to work for this extraordinary event that is the Gulf of Morbihan Week. With just one small regret, however: not being able to participate in the Grand Parade… “For a sailor, it’s a bit of a letdown not to be out on the water with everyone else, but it does give me a chance to see my boat from the outside!”