Sodebo Ultim3 Jules Verne Record attempt 2025-2026.

Sodebo is off to a good start on their record attempt. They have a tracker, and a text comms feed, and frequently a live video feed.
Accueil - Sodebo - Ultim 3 https://sodebo-ultim3.sodebo.com/

 

They seem to be in a better position for the record than the ladies on the Famous Project,who have not had the best of the weather and who have suffered with the mainsail hook not working correctly.They too have a tracker Maxi Trimaran Idec Sport • Trophée Jules Verne https://trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer/ . I suppose it helps that Sodebo is a more recent design and has been racing more recently that Idec Sport.

 

Sodebo Ultim 3 and its crew have set a new outright record from Ushant to the equator of 4 days, 4 hours, 2 minutes, and 25 seconds. The previous record was set by Spindrift 2 in 2019. Sodebo beat the old record by 15 hours and 54 minutes. They are on track to pip the current record from Ushant to Cape Hope set by Rothchild in 2023.

 

Looks like Sodebo Ultim 3 beat Gitana's Record to Cape Hope by something over 13 hours.

 

I hope she doesn't suffer any race eliminating damage or structure failures. I'll really like to see her win that trophy,..at least once.

 

They seem to be operating quite conservatively - at least from a weather routing perspective. There have been frequent mentions that they are out-performing their polars when the sea state is big and the crew says they can handle bigger seas. I suspect it will be really close at the end. Idec had a magical run across the Southern Ocean in 2017; and Sodebo has given back about 1200 nm to her since Cape Hope. Sodebo will probable continue to lose a little ground this week. In 2017, Idec sailed from the middle of the South Atlantic over to east of New Zealand on one board. Sodebo has gybed 29 times so far and is only 2/3 the way there.

 

Good video showing a lot more of the boat's interior and general arrangement. They are still a bit ahead of record pace but not enough to be comfortable. Idec had a great run in the North Atlantic to the line. I think Sodebo needs better than average conditions to set a new mark. They currently have a five knot advantage over what Idec was doing, so are drawing away a little. Crew looks a bit punchy.

 

I forgot how to translate to english,..help

 

Arrival expected tomorrow (sunday) 6 to 8 am (French hours) with a new record a priori. Last 24 h in the heels of Ingrid storm which was violent on our Brittany coasts (Gusts > 140 km/h) + heavy rains (floodings) :
https://voilesetvoiliers.ouest-fran...s-agitee-8bebcf84-d55f-4f7c-918d-3d15fe1a1543

 

Line cut this morning, record done, video to come of their arrival to Brest :
https://www.youtube.com/live/DknhJsa7CCU?si=4loYgDAM4EfV08vh

 

They did it! From what I saw on the youtube livestream earlier,the boat looked a little worse for wear but was still moving at a good pace.I read that they had lost part of the rudder turret fairing and the helicopter shots revealed that the underside of the starboard fairing on the aft beam had been taken off over part of it's width.Same incident perhaps?
The entire crew from designers,builders,sailmakers and sailors deserve congratulations and Sodebo made it all possible.Well done everybody!

 

I think the rudder faring came off in Ingrid about 800nm from the line. Don't know about the cross-member fairing but Ingrid was the biggest seas they encountered.

 

And as a footnote, Famous Project crossed the line today after a whole lot of sail and rig troubles, setting the first mark for female unsupported RTW trip on the old Idec.