“The most extreme challenge ever achieved in the history of sailing”: what is the Ultim Challenge, the F1 world tour on water ? ?

Six trimarans will take part in this unique race around the world. MAXPPP – DAVID ADEMAS/WEST-FRANCE

Six men and six trimarans for a unique moment in the history of ocean racing. The start of the Ultim Challenge will be given this Sunday, January 7 at midday in Brest, the start of an extreme world tour aboard the fastest ocean machines in the world. world.

A scent of the Vendée globe will float in the morning on the harbor of Brest, during the last moments at the pontoons of Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), Thomas Coville (Sodebo) or even Armel Le Cléac&amp ;#39;h (Banque Populaire). In gestation for almost 20 years, the "most extreme challenge ever undertaken in the history of sailing", according to its participants, must begin at 1:30 p.m. off the coast of Brest, the port of all records.

Six Ultim, gigantic and speedy maxi-trimarans, will set off for the first time in a solo round-the-world race. Coville, Caudrelier and Le Cléac'h, the three most experienced sailors in the fleet, will have their work cut out for them during this epic adventure. 

40,000 km to travel alone

Faced with the elements and hazards of a constantly evolving mechanical sport, from the formidable South Seas to the limits of Antarctica, via the three reference capes – Good -Espérance Leeuwin and Horn-, these navigators will have to cover 21,600 nautical miles (40,000 km).

"I hope we succeed. But I have enough experience to know that anything can happen so I try not to project too much, said Armel Le Cléac'h, who is leaving for his fourth round the world trip, the first in a multihull after three Vendée Globes including a victory in 2016-2017.

Completing this prestigious pioneer fleet, Eric Péron (Adagio), Anthony Marchand (Actual) and Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) will set off for their first circumnavigation.

"Leaving for one of my childhood dreams"

Laperche, the youngest of the group at only 26 years old, arrived at the dock on Saturday afternoon aboard his blue trimaran, joining his competitors just in time for the group photo after a month and a half of intensive repair on the front arm of the sailboat.

"We always believed in it, but the atmosphere in which (the repair) was carried out is wonderful. I am very moved on the eve of leaving for one of my childhood dreams,” he said with tears in his eyes as he approached a dense crowd that had come there. ;encourage.

"The Race of a Lifetime"

"It's the ride of a lifetime. The only one that will give me so many emotions. We will never relive an adventure like that,” said Eric Péron, 42, the smallest budget of the starters. Sunday when the gun goes off, the competitors should set off under the sun, in mild weather for a January weekend at the Breton sea.

"It's quite good for leaving, it removes the weight of having to fight against directly engaged elements", detailed Thomas Coville, evoking a wind between ten and fifteen knots on average only (between 18 and 27 km/h).

"However, there will be a lot of maneuvers and many transitions to make until the Equator, it will be physical on board and require a lot of concentration& ;quot;, he clarified.

A journey of around fifty days

The journey should last around fifty days in total. The current solo record has been held since 2017 by François Gabart, who covered the distance in 42 days, 16 hours and 40 minutes, a feat which was achieved outside of the race.

"The objective is already to cross the finish line with a boat in good condition. This is one of the biggest challenges of all of our careers, summarized Charles Caudrelier, winner of the last Route du Rhum.