Five skippers complete the ultimate challenge
It was a race like no other; six Ultim Class trimarans racing solo, non stop around the world in the ultimate high speed battle across a 22,000nm racecourse starting and finishing in Brest and taking on the mighty Southern Ocean. In the end, the finish was somewhat anticlimactic with winner Charles Caudrelier in Maxi Edmond de Rothschild building up such an extraordinary lead over his rivals that he was able to take a two day break in Horta on the way back up the Atlantic in order to sit out a weather window – and still win with two days to spare.
Nevertheless, the race has still presented an extraordinary spectacle and is a true testament to the endurance of the sailors who competed in the race. Although Caudrelier’s winning time of 50 days and 9 hours was some way short of the 42d 14h solo round the world record set by François Gabart (FRA) on in 2017, the fact that only Tom Laperche on was forced to retire on this most
