EXTRAORDINARY BOATS
Over the past 32 years Banque Populaire has sponsored boats that have broken 17 world records
The Ultime class currently includes Banque Populaire XI, Actual-Leader (the former Macif), Sodebo and François Gabart’s new M101, now sponsored by Kresk. Gitana is out of the Ultime class rules, but will be attempting many of the same records, including a Jules Verne, later this year.
Banque Populaire Xl exceeded 40 knots on every day of its sea trials
Banque Populaire Xl is the latest 32m Ultime trimaran for Vendée Globe winning skipper Armel Le Cléac’h
Banque Populaire is one of the world’s most experienced and successful sailing teams, and was the force behind Armel Le Cléac’h’s 2016 record-breaking Vendée Globe victory. Yet a year after her launch, the previous giant trimaran crashed out of the 2018 Route du Rhum in spectacular fashion, having already capsized once before, and was declared an insurance write off after being towed in broken chunks back to shore. Much has been learned from the, this boat was conceived with a single objective in mind – for one person to sail round the world faster than anyone else. The record to beat is 42 days, 16 hours set by François Gabart in 2017.
