The meeting takes place at dawn in Antibes, this Monday, October 7. François Gabart and his crew of the maxi trimaran Ultim, the SVR-Lazartigue, are seated at breakfast in a hotel before a delivery between Antibes and Cannes, where the skipper must put his fingerprints on the city’s “Maritime Walk of Fame”. . Amidst croissants and coffee, discussions abound. The subject: the repairs to be planned on the 30 m long and 23 m wide boat, affected during the Finistère Atlantique (4th) four days earlier.
One of the last preparations on the giant of the seas which will carry them for their challenge planned for November: the Jules Verne Trophy, this non-stop and unassisted crew race, the record of which has belonged to Francis Joyon since 2017 (40 days, 23 hours and 30 minutes).
At 41, François Gabart, with a track record as long as the 35 meters of his mainsail (victory in the Vendée Globe 2012-2013, the Route du Rhum 2014 and the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015) is tackling one of his final offshore challenges . The last one? “I don’t know anything about my career, but in any case, it’s the next challenge in the coming months, and probably in offshore racing on these big boats. I will sail a lot in the next few years but differently”reveals the skipper, who aims to launch a 65 meter long transport cargo trimaran in 2026.
No weariness or fatigue, simply curiosity and the desire to transmit for him, who that day took his son on board for the short crossing. “I am a fairly curious person, who often wants to do new things, continues the engineer-skipper, between two maneuvers on his trimaran, headset screwed to his head to communicate with his troops. I had the chance to experience incredible things alone and learn a lot when I was young. Kito de Pavant trusted me a lot, Michel Desjoyeaux accompanied me in my first Vendée Globe. So it’s quite normal to continue this loop.”
To carry out this project, the native of Charentes surrounded himself with a carefully considered cast. There we of course find Tom Laperche, who did his end-of-study internship on the making of this trimaran, and to whom he has already passed the torch on the solo races last year. “CHe is someone with human values that touch me, and above all he is an incredible sailor, a little genius. There aren’t often people like that. He has an ability to really understand how boats work.”supports François Gabart.
In this crew of six skippers, there will also be the two engineers Emilien Lavigne and Antoine Gautier, as well as the latest arrival, Amélie Grassi, only embarked on the adventure in August. “It is essential in a crew to have this freshness. I have sailed on lots of different boats, it is rich from a settings point of view in addition to providing an outside point of view”, she explains.
“The Jules Verne is a bit like the Holy Grail when you’re racing offshore. It’s hard to aim above it.”
Amélie Grassi, skipper, member of the SVR-Lazartigue crewat franceinfo: sport
To complete this young team (there are five under the age of 43), Pascal Bidégorry brings colossal experience, having already attempted the Jules Verne in 2011, then won the Transat Jacques Vabre with François Gabart in 2015. “Our strength is that we have good complementarity. We are able to always take turns with the same intensity, whether in respect of the strategy, the trajectories, the use of the boat”rejoices the 56-year-old Basque.
He modestly forgets to add that it will also bring a real humorous note. “It’s certain that for them, five Bretons with a Basque, that’s a challenge! Note, for me too because I feel outnumbered”he smiles as he works energetically to raise the mainsail.
Faced with four competitors who will also attack the record (Charles Caudrelier on Edmond de Rotschild, Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim 3, Armel Le Cléac’h on Banque-Populaire XI and Anthony Marchand on Actual Ultim 3), time is precious.
Especially to polish a boat which suffered in 2024, with the abandonment of Tom Laperche on the Arkéa Ultim Challenge in January then the tearing of the mainsail during the Finistère Atlantique at the beginning of October. “Unfortunately, a large part of the boat was destroyed. It’s a blessing in disguise: it’s better to have these problems beforehand. We took the opportunity to try to rebuild better. We’re going faster, we’re really on a boat that has incredible potential.”estimates François Gabart after a reassuring two-hour journey along the Riviera coast.
For the crew, the objective of going under 40 days is possible, especially with the improvement of the foils, which allow the boats to “fly”. “We have speed theories that are superior to the boat that Francis Joyon had. But we are also dependent on wind currents on a round-the-world trip. We hope to be between 38 and 39 days”ambitions Tom Laperche.
What does the captain think? “It’s within the realm of possibility, obviously. We are sailing on machines that have progressed enormously. But it is far from obvious. One, because you have to be able to maintain your speed for a very long time, and today with these boats that fly, we are still learning a lot about reliability. Two, because it’s a record: you need a little success, the weather is favorable. It’s not easy to have 100% of the boat’s potential for the entire world tour.”adds François Gabart.
Before even thinking about the record, you will have to think about the start. Scheduled from the first half of November due to a mild weather window, its postponement can generate significant frustration if the wait continues for weeks or even months. “This is one of the difficulties of the record, even more so with a crew of six. If we leave after a week it’s easy. But if we wait two and a half months without knowing if we’re going to leave the next day, it’s complicated.” admits François Gabart.
“It’s part of my job that it’s not a wait that’s gnawing and tiring, and that when we leave, we’re at 100% of our energy.”
François Gabart, skipper of the SVR-Lazartigue trimaranat franceinfo: sport
And if they have to wait, they will wait. As best they can, but this will allow them to fine-tune the final settings. “We will continue to optimize the boat if we are on stand-by. And at one point, we will freeze a large part of the boat. We will tell ourselves that we are no longer touching certain elements and that we are ready to leave “assures François Gabart. The sooner the better for them.
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