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A business dedicated to meeting the needs of offshore racing teams
XPO is strengthening its position in the competitive sailing market with the launch of XPO Racing. This new initiative is designed to enable the distributor to develop a commercial and technical approach specifically tailored to offshore racing teams.
The company aims to work more directly with skippers, design engineers, and naval architects?from the selection of equipment through to its adaptation to the specific requirements of each project.
To lead this initiative, XPO welcomes Jean-Christophe Caso, who is joining the company as the technical and sales representative for XPO Racing. Drawing on his experience in offshore racing, his primary role will be to assist teams in selecting their deck hardware and to convey their technical needs to manufacturers.
This organization is intended to strengthen XPO's ties with racing teams, which have a particularly strong presence in France's major offshore racing hubs.
Antal, Karver, and Ropeye Take Center Stage in the New Offering
XPO Racing's growth is driven in particular by the partnerships between Antal, Karver, and Ropeye?three equipment manufacturers active in various areas of deck hardware and equipment for competitive sailboats.
This synergy enables XPO to offer a selection that covers various rigging and deck functions by combining these manufacturers? product lines with products from other brands in its portfolio, including Allen, Tylaska, Clamcleat, and Protect Tape.
The stated goal is to make it easier to specify the equipment for each racing program, taking into account the weight, strength, ergonomics, and maneuverability requirements specific to the various classes.
For partner manufacturers, this structure should also facilitate communication with the racing teams and help identify new development needs.
Specialized catalogs for the main subject areas
XPO Racing is supporting its launch with a collection of resources organized by sailboat class.
Catalogs are available for Class40, IMOCA, Mini, Ocean Fifty, and IRC-rated sailboats. They are designed to help preparers and technical managers more easily identify the equipment that meets their program?s requirements.
A dedicated section has also been added to the XPO website, featuring a selection of products by class. According to the company, the section dedicated to Class40 is already available.
This system is based on a business model of specialization: rather than simply offering a general catalog of marine hardware, XPO aims to guide professionals toward products selected specifically for their type of boat.
A Confirmed Participation in the Route du Rhum
XPO Racing plans to introduce its new organization to the racing teams during the upcoming Route du Rhum.
Jean-Christophe Caso and company representatives will be on the docks before the start to meet with the skippers, crew members, and technical managers.
With this new venture, XPO aims to strengthen its position in the racing equipment market, where the quality of technical advice and relationships with racing teams play an important role in purchasing decisions.
The creation of XPO Racing thus reflects a shift in its sales organization toward providing more specialized support to professionals in the offshore racing industry.
