Sodebo Ultim’ smashes record to win Transat Jacques Vabre

Thomas Colville and Jean-Luc Nélias on their maxi trimaran, Sodebo Ultim’ have won the Ultime class of the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre after crossing the finish line in the Bay of All Saints in Salvador de Bahia on Monday, November 13, 2017 at 10:42:27 (UTC), 7 days 22 hours 7 minutes and 27 seconds after leaving Le Havre, Normandy France. Sodebo Ultim’ sailed 4,742 nautical miles at an average speed of 24.94 knots.

Sodebo Ultim’ beat the previous record of 10 days 0 hours 38 mins set by Franck Cammas and Steve Ravussin on Groupama 2 in the 60ft multihull class in 2007 (the last time the race finished in Salvador) by 2 days 2 hours and 31 mins.

Second place for Maxi Edmond de Rothschild

This Monday, November 13, at 13h 30min 24s, Sébastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel crossed the finish line of the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre in second place in the Ultimes category. The duo took 7 days 23h 55min and 24s to cover the theoretical 4 350 miles from Le Havre at an average speed of 22.7 knots, but it actually covered 4838 miles at 25.21 knots. His gap with the first Sodebo Ultim ‘is 1h 47min 54s.

Starting on the run from Le Havre, the brand new foiling multihull team Gitana demonstrated that he was in full possession of his means. Its maddening speeds immediately signify an enormous capacity to accelerate to unbridled pace. After a mano a mano with Sodebo Ultim ‘at the beginning of the race, Sébastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel take the lead from the front of the Bay of Biscay and dig up to 75 miles apart. At the latitude of the Canaries, the tandem recalibrates and loses ground, leaving orders to Sodebo Ultim ‘. Despite a delay filled in the Doldrums, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild never could return to the forefront but has shown incredible potential on his first race … less than three months after launching!

Photo Credit : Jean-Marie Liot / Sodebo

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