La Transat Jacques Vabre to build momentum!

Visitors to the Transat Jacques Vabre - Normandie Le Havre village have been able to admire the ULTIMs moored at the same pontoon since the end of last week. The picture will be similar from 27 December, when these giant boats can be seen in Brest before setting off on what promises to be a historic challenge. While only four sailors have completed the solo, multihull, non-stop circumnavigation of the globe, six sailors (subject to Eric Péron's qualification) will attempt it in their turn as part of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest (start on 7 January).

But before that, five of them will be lining up at the start of the Transat Jacques Vabre. The winner of the last edition, Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), who will be partnered by Erwan Israël, is putting his title back on the line. The match promises to be a close one with two boats launched two years ago, SVR-Lazartigue (Tom Laperche and François Gabart, 2nd in 2021) and the Maxi Banque Populaire XI (Armel Le Cléac'h, this year partnered by Sébastien Josse). Thomas Coville, who has teamed up with Thomas Rouxel (Sodebo Ultim 3), is also aiming for victory, having contested his first race with Sodebo 24 years ago! For their part, Anthony Marchand and Thierry Chabagny (Actual Ultim 3) will also be keen to make their mark. With just a few days to go before the start on Sunday 29 October, they are all particularly enthusiastic about the race.

© Vincent Curutchet

"These two weeks will enable us to build up to a crescendo".

It promises to be a hard-fought race, with 7,500 miles (12,000 km) to cover. The competitors will have to head due south, cross the equator and go through the Doldrums before rounding Ascension Island and heading for Martinique. "We've got the Atlantic as our playground, with fast boats, which is extraordinary," says Tom Laperche. "These two weeks of transatlantic sailing will enable us to build up to a crescendo," assures Armel Le Cléac'h.

Aboard Actual Ultim 3, Thierry Chabagny sums up Anthony Marchand's state of mind, which seems to be similar to that of the other skippers in the ULTIM fleet: "Anthony is making a distinction between this double-handed transatlantic race and what lies ahead. He's going to live this race to the full, while keeping his eye on the round the world race to come". The years of preparation the boats have undergone and the degree of reliability they have achieved mean they can approach this transatlantic race with ambition, while keeping in mind that an unprecedented circumnavigation of the globe awaits them a handful of weeks later. It's a sort of life-size build-up to the race, to the delight of all ocean racing fans.