For Thomas Coville's crew on "Sodebo Ultim 3", the new year has begun with a promising first Cape celebration. Just 11 days, 15 hours and 11 minutes after setting off on its latest Jules Verne adventure, the French trimaran and its crew of seven reached the Cape of Good Hope on 1 January of the new year.
Jules Verne Trophy: around the world at record speed
"Sodebo Ultim 3" passed the first of the three large capes along the route around the world on New Year's Day at 12:46 German time. Two more milestones will follow, as in the Vendée Globe with Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn. At Cape Number One, Thomas Coville, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle, Benjamin Schwartz and Nicolas Troussel have already covered 8277 miles (15,329 kilometres) since the start on 20 December.
After "Sodebo Ultim 3" had already crossed the equator on 26 December with a lead of 15 hours and 37 minutes over the existing record time, the lead over the record set by Francis Joyon's "Idec Sport" in 2017 (40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds) was further extended with a successful voyage through the South Atlantic.
When passing the Cape of Good Hope, the seven men on board were 1 day, 4 hours and 17 minutes faster than "Idec Sport" at the time. The Sodebo team will now continue its record attempt in the Indian Ocean and the Southern Ocean. To snatch the Jules Verne trophy from "Idec Sport", "Sodebo Ultim 3" must cross the finish line in Ouessant before Thursday (30 January 2025) at 21:05 (German time, subject to confirmation by the World Sailing Speed Record Council).
Versatile crew mix for the Jules Verne Trophy
The average age of Thomas Coville's experienced crew in this record attempt is 41. It is lowered by the young up-and-comers Guillaume Pirouelle and Lénorad Legrand, who are both only 30 years old. Their 57-year-old skipper, Thomas Coville, has put together a team of experienced circumnavigators, tried-and-tested crew and young up-and-comers from the Figaro class.
The next cape in the battle for the Jules Verne Trophy could be reached in much less than a week. The reigning record holder "Idec Sport" only took around four and a half days from the Cape of Good Hope to Cape Leeuwin in 2026/2017. Once Tasmania has also been passed in the Southern Ocean, "Sodebo Ultim 3" will begin to lap the Vendée Globe stragglers boat by boat.
On New Year's Day, the Ultim giant was travelling extremely fast, reaching top speeds of around 34 knots. The next waypoint is the Kerguelen Islands, before the second milestone follows with Cape Leeuwin. At the Cape of Good Hope, Thomas Coville's men had already completed almost 29 per cent of the course around the world. The Jules Verne Trophy rewards the fastest circumnavigation in a team.
Rival "SVR Lazartigue" in her home harbour for the time being
The French competitor "SVR Lazartigue" and her team led by skipper François Gabart also abandoned their second record attempt on 23 December shortly before Christmas after a collision at the first attempt. After three days, the wind forecasts were no longer accurate the second time round. "SVR Lazartigue" is in her home harbour in Concarneau.
