Ultims pass Oz
Six 105 foot Ultim catamarans and only six sailors.
Photo: Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024
The Ultim class of 105 foot trimarans are the true monsters of the deep ocean, reports Kevin Green.
To prove it, this elite group of yachts are currently racing together in a circumnavigation expected to take less than 50 days. Sailing at speeds of nearly 50 knots across the wildest parts of the world's oceans, while managing thousands of square foot of sail area and doing this all on foils is what these solo sailors are doing; after departing Brest in France on 6 January.
Eric Peron on Ultim Adagio, which is the only non-foiler in the fleet.
Photo: Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024
So far, one of them has broken down (the newest one, SVZ Lazartigue), pulling out at Cape Town while the other five continue on. Another, Sodebo 3 skippered by 55 year old veteran Thomas Coville, did an emergency stop in Hobart, Tasmania on 1 February for foil and deck repairs. Meantime the runaway leader, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild skipper Charles Caudrelier on his 2017 Ultim, is passing Cape Horn on the final leg west before turning north to the finish at Brest, north west France.
Sodebo3 called in at Hobart on 1 February for repairs.
Photo: Arkea Ultim Challenge 2024
Follow them on the tracker at: www.arkeaultimchallengebrest.com
Racers
- Maxi Edmond de Rothschild - Charles Caudrelier
- Maxi Banque Populaire XI - Armel Le Cléac'h
- SVR Lazartigue - Tom Laperche (RETIRED)
Sodebo Ultim 3 - Thomas Coville
Actual Ultim 3 - Anthony Marchand
Ultim Adagio - Eric Peron