Ultime round the world race postponed
Following the severe damage incurred by the Ultime maxi trimarans during the Route du Rhum, the much-anticipated solo round the world race for the Ultime class has been postponed.
The Brest Oceans race was due to start on 29 December 2019, with hopes that up to half a dozen foiling Ultimes would take to the start line for a non-stop single-handed around the world race. However, with almost the entire fleet suffering serious damage during the Route du Rhum, organisers have confirmed that the race has been postponed. No new date has been announced, although it will likely be after the 2020-21 Vendée Globe.
The Lorient-bermuda race, which was scheduled to start on 5 May 2019 for the Ultime class, has also been postponed.
During the Route du Rhum, Armel Le Cléac’h’s Banque Populaire IX capsized and broke up mid-atlantic, Thomas Coville was forced to slow with cracking to the floats on Sodebo, and Sébastien Josse on maxi Edmond de Rothschild lost nearly 10m of one float (see above). The 2nd finisher François Gabart on Macif also lost a foil and rudder.
The Banque Populaire team later confirmed that damage to the trimaran was so extensive, having been exacerbated by a lengthy salvage operation, that rebuilding was impossible.
Coville and Gabart both have new Ultimes in build for launch later this year. Concerningly for Coville, the new Sodebo V Ultime has been built using the moulds of Banque Populaire.