Arkea Ultim Challenge: Record in sight - Caudrelier completes 825 nautical miles in 24 hours

The skippers of the Arkea Ultim Challenge are already contesting their second weekend at sea since the start in Brest on 7 January. Leader Charles Caudrelier maintained his speed of more than 35 knots on Saturday night. The reward: a 24-hour ride of 825 nautical miles in the Indian Ocean.

Arkea Ultim Challenge: 3,700 nautical miles separate the front-runners from the tail-enders

The current weather forecasts promise a very fast crossing to Cape Leeuwin. At the end of the second week of the current Arkea Ultim Challenge, Thomas Coville is expected to pass the Cape of Good Hope in second place on the evening of 20 January, while Armel Le Cléac'h ("Banque Populaire XI") and Anthony Marchand ("Actual Ultim 3") are still sailing around the high pressure area of St Helena. "Adagio" skipper Éric Péron brings up the rear more than 3,700 nautical miles behind Charles Caudrelier on the Brazilian coast.

While the leading "Maxi Edmond de Rothschild" in the Southern Ocean is already in the Roaring Forties and approaching the Screaming Fifties, Éric Péron is still struggling to enter the Southern Ocean at 15 degrees south latitude. Charles Caudrelier, on the other hand, passed the Cape of Good Hope on 19 January and has already reached the Indian Ocean.

From Brest to the Cape of Good Hope in twelve days

It took Team Gitana's experienced skipper Charles Caudrelier just 12 days, 1 hour, 2 minutes and 22 seconds to complete the 8,399 nautical mile Atlantic descent from Brest to the Cape of Good Hope. He achieved this mighty opening movement in the Arkea Ultim Challenge solo circumnavigation at an average speed of 28.85 knots.

Although this is a seemingly fabulous achievement, Caudrelier was still slightly slower than record holder François Gabart, who completed the same section in 11 days, 20 hours and 10 minutes in November 2017.

24-hour solo record within reach

François Gabart has also held the solo 24-hour record since 2017 with 851 nautical miles. The Frenchman mastered the distance with his 98-foot trimaran "Macif". His average speed at the time: 35.4 knots! Caudrelier last managed 825 nautical miles - the 49-year-old has now equalled Gabart's record.

For comparison: the 24-hour record for crews stands at 907.9 nautical miles. It was set in 2009 by the "Banque Populaire V", built in 2008, with its crew led by skipper Pascal Bidegorry, who achieved an average speed of 33.41 knots and top speeds of 47.16 knots!

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"I couldn't have imagined a better start to my circumnavigation. It's very satisfying to be the first in the Southern Ocean," said Charles Caudrelier, taking stock of his first solo circumnavigation on Ultim giant foils with the Cape of Good Hope in his stern.

The passage around the Cape of Good Hope is always a special moment. It is the gateway to the Southern Ocean" (Charles Caudrelier)

Charles Caudrelier continued: "This is a great goal that we have achieved and an undeniable advantage. I am very proud to have reached this point with a boat in good condition and in the lead. The passage around the Cape of Good Hope is always a special moment. It marks the end of the Atlantic and is the gateway to the Southern Ocean. So a good part of the course has been completed."

Behind Caudrelier, second-placed Thomas Coville on "Sodebo Ultim 3" was expected to arrive at the Cape of Good Hope on Saturday evening. With just under 1,000 nautical miles behind Charles Caudrelier, veteran Thomas Coville was also travelling very fast. On Saturday morning, the oldest skipper of the Arkea Ultim Challenge, aged 55, reached average speeds of almost 30 knots. While the boats in front were already rushing eastwards deep in the south, the crash of Tom Laperche on "SVR Lazartigue" remained a moving theme of this historic regatta premiere.

Of course my thoughts are sad for Tom, for his team" (Charles Caudrelier)

Fleet Benjamin, who started the race so strongly, was overtaken by Thomas Coville on Friday and continues his sad course to Cape Town. His technical team is waiting for him there. The 26-year-old "SVR Lazartigue" skipper is currently making progress at around 15 knots. According to his team, it is still difficult to estimate when Laperche will be able to reach Cape Town. It could be by 23 January.

Charles Caudrelier had fair words for his young rival: "I've lived this adventure with Tom Laperche right from the start, I've wrestled with him. A collision is something you have no control over. Of course, my thoughts are sad for Tom, for his team. We exchanged a lot of ideas and talked a lot. There's almost a quarter of a century between us. We've known each other for several years. I like the man very much."

For safety reasons: Ice limit moved!

While the fleet continues on its course, the race organisers changed the so-called ZEA (ice exclusion zone) slightly on Friday because icebergs were sighted south of the Kerguelen Islands. "The changed limit now prevents the boats from passing south of the Kerguelen Islands," explained Pierre Hays from the race organisation.

Tired, exhausted and disappointed - how Tom Laperche struggles towards Cape Town after the collision of his "SVR Lazartigue" with an unknown object. And how his crew on land struggles with disillusionment and fights for their skipper: