Blancpain Ocean Commitment Exhibition with Christopher Coutanceau and an introduction to static apnoea

Raising awareness on the beauty of the oceans is one of Blancpain's commitments through its Blancpain Ocean Commitment programme. Underwater photography therefore holds a special place among Blancpain’s activities dedicated to the ocean. Until July 4th, the Villa Grand-Voile, a Relais & Château owned by Christopher Coutanceau and Nicolas Brossard, is hosting a spectacular exhibition of images of the greatest explorations supported by Blancpain, including the work of friend of the Brand Laurent Ballesta, an underwater biologist and photographer.

Alongside the exhibition, some Relais & Châteaux clients have had the chance to take part in an introduction to static apnoea. Following the valuable advice of the world champion, Italian apneist Gianluca Genoni, the participants were first given a presentation on the mental, muscular and breathing techniques to use to optimise their performance as they prepared for the diving session. Gianluca Genoni holds 15 freediving records, including a 160-metre dive. Pleasantly surprised with their own progress after a few attempts, the attendees were able to stay under for several minutes during the tests without any difficulty. As a strong advocate of the underwater world, Gianluca Genoni then spoke about becoming a friend of Blancpain in 2007, who share the same values and long-term vision.

The event continued with a lunch at friend of the Brand Christopher Coutanceau’s three Michelin star restaurant. An advocate for sustainable fishing and waste prevention, Christopher Coutanceau meticulously selects the finest seafood, taking care to never serve species that are in breeding season or endangered. With this approach, the chef wishes to raise awareness of the importance of sustainable fishing among the gastronomic community itself as well as its guests.