In a setback for the Sodebo Ultim 3 crew, their ambitious quest for the Jules Verne Trophy has come to an abrupt halt following the loss of their central rudder during high-speed sailing. After more than 16 days at sea, the team, led by seasoned sailor Thomas Coville, made the difficult decision to suspend their attempt on January 6.
While navigating between the Kerguelen Islands and Cape Leeuwin at speeds exceeding 30 knots, Coville and his six teammates faced a significant challenge that rendered their vessel unable to sail at full capacity. Understanding the risks involved, the crew quickly assessed the situation and opted to head north to escape dangerous ice conditions while considering a technical stopover in Australia for repairs.
Thomas Coville, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle, Benjamin Schwartz and Nicolas Troussel have set a course north to get out of the ice area and are considering where to stop over for repairs Photo: Team Sobedo
Addressing the situation, Coville stated, “There was no shock but we lost the rudder. With the crew, we are very organized and everything is fine for us. We cannot continue in record mode... Engaging a U-turn of the world in record mode without the rudder is unfortunately not reasonable.” As they navigate the harsh Southern Seas, safety remains their primary concern.
Despite the disappointment of ending this attempt, Coville expressed gratitude toward the routing team and the entire support crew back home in Lorient for their outstanding efforts. “We have succeeded in making our fans dream through this extraordinary adventure,” he added.
Though the challenge ended prematurely, the experience has provided valuable lessons for the team—a stepping stone for future endeavors as they prepare to tackle new challenges ahead.
Thomas Coville, said this morning: "There was no shock but we lost the rudder. With the crew, we are very organised and everything is fine for us. We cannot continue in record mode, and we do not think that we should engage in the Southern Seas without a central rudder. We're at 25 knots and we're heading north to try to escape a depression. We are orienting ourselves for a technical stopover in Australia to put on a new rudder. Engaging a U-turn of the world in record mode without the rudder is unfortunately not reasonable. The ship is in general condition generally and we were able to deal with that. We have built something incredible. The pace was high up to this point. We were content with what was being done, despite the sea state, which has been difficult in the past 24 hours.
"On land, the routing team and the entire Lorient team were also superb during this attempt. I would like to thank them for all the work done. We have succeeded in making our fans dream through this extraordinary adventure.
"This abandonment is, of course, a disappointment for all. But it's great training and provides learning for the future of our team to meet the next challenges."
