Sodebo Ultim 3 has won the Jules Verne Trophy after completing the fastest crewed non-stop circumnavigation of the globe.
The trimaran crossed the finish between Ouessant and Cape Lizard on Sunday, 25 January after 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds at sea.
The time beats the previous record set by IDEC Sport in 2017 by 12 hours and 44 minutes.
Skipper Thomas Coville sailed with Benjamin Schwartz, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle and Nicolas Troussel.
It is the first successful Jules Verne Trophy record in nine years, after 13 attempts by various teams.
Sodebo Ultim 3 also becomes the first flying trimaran to complete a non-stop round-the-world voyage.
The crew faced demanding conditions throughout the attempt.
They were forced to extend their route in the South Atlantic, avoid icebergs in the Southern Ocean and complete more than 20 gybes in the Indian Ocean.
By contrast, IDEC Sport completed the same section in 2017 without a single gybe.
The boat also suffered damage to the J0 headsail tack fitting during the return north.
Storm Ingrid posed a final challenge as the finish approached.
Despite this, the team set record times from Ouessant to the Equator and across the Pacific Ocean.
They also logged reference times at the Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.
“This project is the work of a lifetime,” said Coville. “When you achieve it with people who share the same determination, it is exceptional.”
Patricia Brochard, co-president of Sodebo, said the achievement reflected long-term commitment.
“This record is the result of the story we have been writing with Thomas for 27 years,” she said.
The crew departed after a narrow weather window opened following four days on standby.
They left Brest on 15 December and built a decisive advantage of more than four days by the Equator.
That margin proved critical in securing the record.
Sodebo has pursued the Jules Verne Trophy since 1998 and launched four attempts in the past six years.
Two efforts in 2024 were abandoned, one at the Equator and another in the Indian Ocean.
All seven sailors returned for this attempt.
“There is mutual trust on board,” said Coville. “The courage of one feeds the courage of the others.”
The boat crossed the line at close to 40 knots before turning towards Brest.
Dozens of boats escorted the trimaran home as crowds lined the harbour.
Families joined the crew on board, champagne was opened, and celebrations continued ashore.
Coville described the crew as “the magnificent seven”.
More here (in French)
