Today, Saturday 4th November 2017, 2 Ultim trimarans crossed the start line for a solo round the world race. But if the 2 boats are in the same class, if the start line is the same, these two boats will not take the same route!
While Macif with François Gabart at the helm will attempt to beat Thomas Coville's record on Sodebo by sailing around the three capes "right side up", i.e. following the prevailing winds, Yves le Blevec will attempt the adventure "upside down". By going against the winds and currents!
For François Gabart it is a question of beating the record, held since 25 December 2016 by Thomas Coville in 49 days 3 hours 4 minutes and 28 seconds. Macif will have to cross the finish line before December 23rd at 12:09 pm. An attempt that requires both getting this machine working at full capacity, but also benefiting from favourable conditions to link up the weather systems. It was François Gabart who first crossed the line this morning at 10:05 am (French time).
Yves le Blevec, for his part, is more of an adventurer. Indeed, today only 5 skippers have managed the feat of finishing this round the world in reverse... on 5 monohulls. The record was held by Jean-Luc Van Den Heede in 2004 in 122 days. With his trimaran, Yves le Blevec hopes to take between 88 and 98 days. He crossed the line behind Macif in the early afternoon at 15h 37min 22s, in around twenty knots of wind, in a squall.