Kempen, in May 2025 – A mission, an adventure, and two swimmers – Matthieu and Chloé Witvoet want to do the unbelievable and swim across the Atlantic. They are accompanied by a catamaran with two skippers, a medical professional, and a videographer on board. The catamaran is sailing under the sails of Dimension-Poylant, the world market leader in sailcloth production. Matthieu and Chloé’s aim is to raise awareness and set an example for the protection of our oceans.
Dimension-Polyant supports the sustainability project
The symbolic adventure is designed to be as sustainable as possible. Which is why the two athletes decided on the sustainably produced Hydra Net® radial sailcloth. The fabric is made with bio-based Dyneema® and saves more than 35% CO2 emissions in production compared to conventional Hydra Net® by using this special yarn.
Dimension-Polyant also wants to strengthen and demonstrate its sustainability strategy with this partnership. “Our entire work is characterised by respect for our environment. As the market leader in sailing and an innovator in the technical segment, we have a social responsibility. We are aware of this as a company and therefore strive to have as little negative impact on the environment and climate as possible,” explains Managing Director Uwe Stein. The company sticks to its quality promise by guaranteeing the virgin properties when using or replacing conventional materials with more sustainable variants and not compromising on the quality and durability of its products.
In addition to the sails, the boat is powered by a solar motor. The adventurers food is purely plant based. The individual meals were created and prepared by Michelin-starred chef Nadia Sammut. A solar cooker and a water desalination plant are also on board for the daily supply.
Atlantic crossing – 3,800 kilometers of open water swimming
In September, the journey will start from the port of Marseille, at first under sail to Cape Verde. In November, Matthieu and Chloé will then take turns in the water for ten hours each to participate in the world’s longest swimming relay. They expect to arrive in Martinique in February before the six of them sail back to France.
They trained for two years for this project and prepared themselves physically for the challenge. But water was always the young couple’s element: Chloé took part in the semi-Ironman World Championships twice and was a finisher on the Alpsman Lake triathlon. Matthieu swum across Lake Titicaca, took part in the 24-hour swim around Lake Annecy, and swum 500 kilometers from Marseille to Barcelona as part of a team.
About Dimension-Polyant
Working closely with sailmakers and industry partners, Dimension-Polyant can meet highly specific project requirements to produce the strongest, most durable and highest performing fabrics for sailmakers and the technical industry. This has given the company a unique position in the market since 1966. Years of expertise ensure that the stringent demands placed on the products can be met. Customization is the top priority.
Further information about the project can be found here.
