The Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire XI will bring the Olympic flame across the Atlantic next summer as part of the torch relay en route to the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

Skipper Armel Le Cléac’h will lead a legendary crew for the historic voyage from 7 June 2024 from Brest to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe and then Fort-de-France in Martinique.

It will mark the first time in the Games’ history in the modern era that the Olympic flame crosses the ocean by sail — carried by the winds aboard one of the fastest sailboats in the world, the Maxi Banque Populaire XI.

The boat’s title sponsor Banque Populaire is also official sponsor of the Olympic torch relay and a premium partner of Paris 2024.

Tony Estanguet, president of the organising committee for the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games said: “The Olympic torch relay will be an event in its own right. For 12 weeks, the flame will help unite as many people as possible, promote our territories and generate enthusiasm until the Olympic fortnight.

Christening of Banque Populaire XI during the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 by Tony Estanguet, godfather of Utim, and in the presence of Edouard Philippe, mayor of Le Havre | Credit: Jean-Marie Liot/Aléa/Transat Jacques Vabre

“The Maxi Banque Populaire XI will participate in this great popular celebration by allowing residents of Brest, Guadeloupe and Martiniquais, as well as all French people, to experience it intensely.

“It is a source of pride to be able to bring the Olympic flame solely by the force of the wind to the other side of the ocean. As sponsor of this boat, I am happy that he can take part in this adventure which will remain etched in history.»

Le Cléac’h added: “I am very proud to participate in this historic event. We are very happy to meet all those who have the same passion for the sea as us, in Brittany and the West Indies and who have been experiencing great offshore racing moments for years.

“It is an honour and a great responsibility to take part in this celebration and to lead the Olympic Flame across the Atlantic, and a joy to share these emotions with all French people.”

The new Ultim trimaran Banque Populaire XI was launched after exiting the CDK Technologies yard in Lorient in Brittany yesterday, Tuesday 27 April.

All the teams involved in the project were present to witness the fruit of two years of hard work behind closed doors amid the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Banque Populaire XI is the third craft to be built and developed by Team Banque Populaire with CDK Technologies completely taking charge of the project management.

CDK has built the majority of the Banque Populaire boats, including the IMOCA Banque Populaire VII and the Maxi Banque Populaire V — now known as Spindrift 2 and the largest racing multihull ever constructed.

Members of Team Banque Populaire and CDK Technologies who worked on the two-year build Credit: B Philippe/CDK Technologies

For its latest built, CDK subcontracted the central hull and floats to its partners, Multiplast in Vannes, Brittany and Fibre Mechanics in Lymington in the UK.

The new trimaran, designed by the VPLP architectural firm and GSea Design, breaks new ground with elements such as and foils which measure twice the size of those from previous generations.

Banque Populaire XI will now embark on a lengthy setting-up period with a view to competing, with Ocean Race veteran Armel Le Cléac’h at the helm, in the next Transat Jacques Vabre offshore race later this year.

Bertrand Magnin, head of development with Banque Populaire, said: “We’re very proud of the launch of this boat, which testifies to our trust in entrepreneurship, in collaboration as well as in the passing on of knowledge.

The new Ultim trimaran is lifted towards the water Credit: B Philippe/CDK Technologies

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank the 150 firms and their associates, together with Team Banque Populaire, who have enabled the construction of this fabulous trimaran.”

Skipper Armel Le Cléac’h added: “I’ve greatly appreciated the synergies and the mutual trust between Team Banque Populaire and CDK Technologies throughout the past two years of working together. They’ve managed to pull off this massive challenge and they can be proud of the outcome.

“The boat is ready to go and is very well designed technically, which is ideal for taking on the major challenges that await us.”