Duel of titans on the Jules-Verne Trophy: SVR Lazartigue sets off more than 11 hours after Sodebo 3 [Vidéo]

To the 39 solo sailors still racing in the Vendée Globe, we must now add 13 new sailors to circumnavigate the planet: there are seven on board Thomas Coville's Sodebo, six on François Gabart's SVR Lazartigue. In record mode, the two Ultimes, who left their respective bases on Friday at 2 p.m., in Lorient and Concarneau, could catch up with the Vendée Globe competitors at the end of the Pacific Ocean, or even on the way up the South Atlantic.

“An atypical window”

These two flying machines are therefore tackling the record of Francis Joyon's Archimedean maxi-trimaran “Idec sport” which, in 2017, shrank the planet in 40 days, 23 hours 30' 30''. There are two of them but could have been three if Charles Caudrelier's Gitana 17 had not suffered a partial dismasting last October.

This high record has still stood for almost eight years and encourages the two teams to start in a window described as “atypical” by Coville. Because it requires going upwind, in tough conditions: the first 24-36 hours will be spent with four to five meters of sea and 30-35 knots of wind.

But then, the connection with the trade winds will be good, it offers an equator in five days and a Cape of Good Hope in less than twelve days. Very good passing times. “The activity in the South Atlantic is very interesting for us,” admits Coville, skipper who has taken the most starts around the world, both solo and with a crew. “We tried to count but we don’t know exactly how many,” he said. Not far from around fifteen according to our calculations.

“Probably my last world tour”

In Concarneau, François Gabart, still holder of the solo round the world record in a maxi-trimaran (Editor's note: 42 days 16:40' 35''), set off on his last attempt. “This is probably my last round the world race or record,” admitted the skipper of SVR Lazartigue who believes that his Ultime “has enormous potential”. His dream would be to go under 40 days: “To fly from start to finish, that would be extraordinary”.

Sodebo first, SVR Lazartigue then

Thomas Coville and his enormous experience to port, François Gabart and his natural vista to starboard. Each with fabulous machines led by two very high-flying crews. This duel of titans promises to be fabulous.

Friday, at 9:03:46 p.m., Sodebo crossed the starting line between the Créac'h lighthouse in Ouessant and Cape Lizard in the southwest of England. To capture the Jules-Verne Trophy, Coville and his teammates must be back on this same line before Thursday January 9 at 8:34:16 p.m.

This Saturday morning, the SVR Lazartigue crew crossed the starting line in Ouessant at 8:51:38 a.m. That is more than 11h47'52″ after Sodebo 3. To beat the current record, Gabart and his crew must return to the starting point before Friday January 10, 2025 at 8h51'38″.