After highs and lows, Guirec Soudée is in the final spurt of his daring mammoth endeavour. During his circumnavigation, he is sailing the ageing Ultim "Macsf" from 2014 around the world from east to west against the prevailing winds. In her eventful life, the former "Geronimo" was used as the "Sodebo Ultim", "Actual Leader" and "Brest Ultim Sailing" after her refit, before Guirec Soudée bought the giant in 2025 and is now demanding everything from the twelve-year-old trimaran once again.
Guirec Soudée: daring circumnavigation before completion
On course for the start and finish line, the brave boat has been limping across the oceans since day 68. The skipper of the Shock of the broken rudder in the Madagascar area. But he stayed on course and is still aiming to break the single-handed record for the fastest circumnavigation in the "wrong direction". The chances of him achieving this are good.
The record has been held since 2004 by Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, who is in the Guinness Book of Records with a time of 122 days, 14 hours, 3 minutes and 49 seconds. Like Guirec Soudée now, the Frenchman had crossed the start line between Lizard Point and Oessant in the classic manner, setting his record of extreme durability with his 85-foot monohull yacht "Adrien" between 7 November 2003 and 9 March 2004.
After almost 87 days of his current circumnavigation, Guirec Soudée with "Macsf" now holds a lead of around 4500 nautical miles over Van den Heede's record performance. Nevertheless, with just under 2500 nautical miles to the start and finish line not far from Brest, Soudée has not yet reached the goal of his dreams. Man and boat are three months after the start tired into their XXL challenge on the day before Christmas Eve 2025.
Boat and skipper exhausted, but in battle mode
This was reported by Guirec Soudée from his circumnavigation of the globe, where he headed towards the 20th parallel north on the Atlantic ascent on 20 March. Soudée said in a video message: "I'm not there yet, I have some do-it-yourself work to do. Even though Brittany has never been this close since the beginning, I have a boat here that's starting to get tired. Me too, to be honest."
The "Macsf" skipper continued: "The boat needs a lot of work. Although I don't like to complain, it is now starting to fall apart. It's showing signs of fatigue everywhere. And I know that the weather will be bad until the end." Guirec Soudée also knows: "The conditions can be very complicated." It is important to keep a "clear head" until the end. The unshakeable optimist remains on course and continues to fight for his dream.
The "Sailor with the Chicken" has a talent for storytelling and a sense of humour, who sailed around North and South America with Monique at the age of 26has lost nothing. This is also shown in a clip from this week, in which he demonstrates his circumnavigation of the globe, how creatively he keeps fit on board the Ultim. Guirec Soudée had once left school without any qualifications. Life at sea seemed to him to be a better training ground.
The final is underway: less than 2500 nautical miles to the finish
Now the tension is mounting in the final spurt of the latest challenge he has taken on: will he make it through his courageous adventure in destination? This Friday, Guirec Soudée was travelling around 750 nautical miles west of Cape Verde at a good speed of 16 knots in the North Atlantic. He has travelled 436 nautical miles in the past 24 hours. The destination is close. And yet still far away. Click here for the tracker for Guirec Soudée and "Macsf".
Tatjana Pokorny
Sports reporter
