D - 1 year.
So long announced and awaited, it finally sees the light of day...This Friday, January 6, 2023, the company OC Sport Pen Duick has just announced the departure date of the Arkea Ultim Challenge -Brest, the brand new solo and in Ultimate.
These giant 32-meter trimarans will set off from Brest on January 7, 2024 for a unique planetary voyage, a sort of Vendée Globe but with flying multihulls.
A new chapter of offshore racing that makes you dream and which had been postponed after the Route du rhum 2018 marked by numerous damages.
To date, and while waiting for the good news that will announce an agreement between the Ultim class and François Gabart with the compliance of his trimaran SVR Lazartigue, five sailors are officially registered for this great first: Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) record holder the Solo Round the World Race in 2016, Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) recent winner of La Route du Rhum, Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI) winner of the Vendée Globe in a monohull in 2017, Yves Le Blévec (Actual Ultim 3) fifth in the last Route du Rhum and Eric Péron (Ultim Sailing), a well-known Figaro sailor.
François Gabart therefore but also Francis Joyon could join the troop leaving for this gigantic adventure.
A village open for ten days
Other announcements just one year from the start: a village will be installed at the commercial port in Brest from Friday December 29, 2023 and the sports management of the race will be entrusted to Guillaume Rottée, supported by Pierre Hays, Guillaume Evrard and Fred Le Peutrec , a leading specialist in multihulls.
Their mission during this ultimate challenge should last about forty days...