Arkea Ultim Challenge: Fifth pit stop in solo around the world - Coville heads for Hobart

Attentive observers of the Arkea Ultim Challenge could almost see this pit stop coming. For days now, Thomas Coville and his "Sodebo Ultim 3" have been travelling a little slower than you would expect. Even members of the race organisers have repeatedly commented on this. Now it is clear why the 55-year-old is acting so cautiously.

Arkea Ultim Challenge: Thomas Coville on course for Hobart

Attacked in second place for days by the increasingly strong Armel Le Cléac'h, Thomas Coville is planning a pit stop in Hobart, Tasmania. This was announced by his team on the evening of 30 January. A part of the "Sodebo Ultim 3"'s bow pulpit and the port side net are damaged and pose a danger to Thomas Coville. The veteran is expected to arrive in Hobart in the evening.

The Sodebo team describes the planned pit stop as a "safety decision". Part of the bow pulpit was torn off - very similar to Armel Le Cléac'h's during his Atlantic passage. Le Cléac'h subsequently had to make a technical repair stop in Recife, Brazil. On "Sodebo Ultim 3", the trampoline net on the port side, which the sailor uses to get from the bow to the centre hull, is also damaged.

For safety reasons, I don't feel able to cross the Pacific in a safe manner" (Thomas Coville)

"These are essential safety elements on board. They make it possible to move safely without running the risk of falling into the water," reads the statement from Team Sodebo. Thomas Coville himself also said: "For safety reasons, I don't feel able to cross the Pacific in a safe manner." There was no alternative for the team to choose Hobart as a repair harbour because there are no other harbours on the course to Cape Horn.

The pit stop also gives Team Sodebo the opportunity to maintain and repair the damaged foil-down system, which Thomas Coville repaired in a makeshift manner at sea. Hobart will also provide shelter for Thomas Coville and his trimaran. "The stopover will allow us to take a 48-hour break from the very difficult weather conditions between Tasmania and New Zealand," says the team announcement.

Arkea Ultim Challenge: six participants, fifth pit stop

The "Banque Populaire XI" skipper Armel Le Cléac'h, who is only around 200 nautical miles behind Coville, will also have to deal with these harsh conditions. Coville informed him personally at sea about his pit stop plans. "We have this way of thinking in our sport. He had to know. It's a strange feeling for me to have to interrupt the race. But it's also an opportunity to start again and better," said Thomas Coville optimistically.

"Sodebo Ultim 3" is expected to arrive in Hobart on the evening of 31 January. It is the fifth stopover by a soloist in this historic premiere of the Arkea Ultim Challenge. Only the dominant leader Charles Caudrelier ("Maxi Edmond de Rothschild") has so far remained unencumbered by such constraints. After the 23rd night at sea on Wednesday morning, the 49-year-old two-time Ocean Race winner only had less than 10,000 nautical miles to go to the finish of this solo circumnavigation.

Charles Caudrelier storms towards Cape Horn

"Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" skipper Charles Caudrelier was heading towards the longitude of Point Nemo, only around 650 nautical miles away, in the middle of the third week of the Arkea Ultim Challenge. Cape Horn is only around 2,500 nautical miles away for him on his first solo circumnavigation. His boat speed on Wednesday morning was more than 34 knots.

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