On April 22, the Ultim class unveiled its racing calendar for the next four seasons, alternating between major classics, record attempts and a new project in the Mediterranean. The new measurement system was also approved, with the aim of offering greater visibility and stability to a class that hopes to attract new entrants.
“The calendar has been drawn up in close collaboration with all the teams,” emphasizes Pierre-Jean Golven, the class’s general delegate for almost a year. It is balanced between the three must-attend races – Transat Café L’Or, Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe and Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest, the second edition of which will start in early 2028 – multi-class events in which teams are free to participate – Tour de Belle-Ile, Armen-Race Uship and Rolex Fastnet Race this year -, periods dedicated to record attempts, as well as events specific to the class, such as the 24h Ultim in Lorient and a new project, Odyssée Ultim (April 28-May 10, 2026).
The latter will mark the class’ return to the Mediterranean, a year and a half after the Finistère Atlantique, a race linking Concarneau to Antibes co-organized by Ultim Sailing and CapMed in autumn 2024. “The tremendous welcome given to the Ultims at the finish confirmed our idea of basing a race solely on this Mediterranean zone,” explains Pierre-Jean Golven. As a result, the Finistère Atlantique is no longer on the program, but “it’s not out of the question that it could be revived in a different way, with a different class and in odd-numbered years”, says Emmanuel Bachellerie, co-founder of Ultim Sailing
For Odyssée Ultim, the class once again turned to the CapMed association, which since 2023, “wanted to organize a complementary race to the Voiles d’Antibes (dedicated to traditional yachts) in order to energize and enhance the port,“ explains Philippe Gavin, vice-president of CapMed. The Ultim class was a perfect match for this project and for the town of Antibes, which is very much focused innovation, with Sophia Antipolis, Europe’s leading technology park.”
This new event, for which Francis Le Goff will be race director, will offer course of around 2,000 miles starting and returning to Antibes, via Ithaca and Olympia. While “it is above all a sporting project focusing on regatta and strategy, the idea is also to promote the Mediterranean, both environmentally and in terms of history and culture, by following in the footsteps of the heroes of Greek mythology”, adds Philippe Gavin.
The Course des Caps in 2027?
“Odyssée Ultim is intended to return every two years,” says Pierre-Jean Golven, who adds, with regard to the overall calendar: “The Ultim class does not refrain from expanding the program as opportunities arise. We have in fact been approached by various organizers proposing new formats and new races, which are still being studied.”
For example, the class is looking very closely at the Course des Caps, the first edition of which, open to Imoca boats, will take place from June 26 to July 6, 2025. “We’re interested in sailing in areas where Ultims aren’t very visible, as well as on a very challenging course – the round-the-British Isles race – which allows us to demonstrate the performance of our boats,” confirms Pierre-Jean Golven. The plan is to alternate every two years between a dedicated Imoca race and an Ultim race.
As for major events such as Route du Rhum (2026) and Arkea Ultim Challenge (2028), while there are no major changes to report on the sporting side, Joseph Bizard, General Manager of OC Sport, points out that the organization “will once again be able to welcome all the Ultims to the basin at the heart of Saint-Malo and the festivities. For the Arkea Ultim Challenge, we’ll be able to build on the success of the first edition and open the floodgates wide on the village’s layout, size and ambition.”
No more routing on
the Transat Café L’Or
This year’s Transat Café L’Or (departure from Le Havre to Martinique on October 26) will also see a major change, which Tom Laperche, who will be competing with Franck Cammas aboard SVR-Lazartigue, is delighted about: “We’ll be doing the routing and strategy on board, so there won’t be a shore-based routing team. That makes the exercise even more complete and interesting.” Anthony Marchand, who will be sailing Actual Ultim 4 (formerly Gitana 17), is equally enthusiastic: “It’s a great step forward, as we’ll be on an even playing field! This rule has also influenced my choice of teammate, which will be announced shortly.”
The time for the latter is now to learn on this new trimaran: “We’re dismantling and reassembling all the parts, comparing them with our old boat and trying to get to grips with the Gitana philosophy.” The mast, currently under repair, is expected to be launched in late June, ready for the Fastnet. At the same time, the team is training on Actual Ultim 3 (still for sale) in order to “try out things that can be transposed to Actual Ultim 4.”
The class, which currently boasts 5 active Ultims – Actual Ultim 3, Actual Ultim 4, SVR-Lazartigue, Banque Populaire XI and Sodebo Ultim 3 – will soon have one more with the arrival next autumn of the long-awaited Gitana 18. The colossal project – 50,000 hours of design and an estimated 200,000 hours of construction – “is progressing well,” comments Cyril Dardashti, general manager of the Gitana Team. The boat is currently being assembled at CDK, and we should have a platform worthy of the name by the end of June, with all the fore and aft arms, central hull and floats. We’re pulling out all the stops to race the Transat Café L‘Or.”
While we can expect some innovations from Guillaume Verdier’s team and the Gitana Team, the latter, which organized a visit to the shipyard for the press in March, is keen to reveal as little as possible, apart from, says Cyril Dardashti, “a mast with a spreader bar, many more systems and sensors than on Gitana 17 (450 as opposed to 300).” Dardashti adds: “The team has pushed the envelope very far, thanks in particular to all the data collected on the previous boat, which covered 200,000 miles.”
A system to ensure “that the rules of the game
are well understood by all”
In addition to these six Ultims, two other trimarans are eligible for the rule, namely Idec Sport, skippered by Alexia Barrier as part of The Famous Project (Jules Verne Trophy attempt with a 100% female crew) and Eric Péron’s ex-Adagio, still for sale by Ultim Sailing. “We now have two potential buyers: an Imoca skipper and an Australian,” comments Emmanuel Bachellerie. The Imoca skipper in question is surely Guirec Soudée, who has announced his intention to set off at the end of the year to tackle the multihull against the prevailing winds and currents round-the-world record – also in Yvan Bourgnon’s sights – before tackling Route du Rhum and Arkea Ultim Challenge.
Another boat on the market, Actual Ultim 3, has yet to find a buyer, but Samuel Tual, president of Actual and, since last September, of the Ultim class in place of Patricia Brochard, is confident: “We have four to six serious proposals in the pipeline.” Will the class finally attract new entrants? “We hope so,” answers Samuel Tual, “to ensure our long-term survival. We’d like to aim for around ten units, but not more than that, particularly in view of the capacity available in the ports.”
With this in mind not only was a four-year schedule unveiled, but also a new measurement rule adopted for the same cycle. “There are no major changes,” notes Pierre-Jean Golven. The idea was above all that the rules of the game should be clearly understood by all.” Cyril Dardashti confirms: “Everything that could be open to interpretation has been clarified, in particular the cockpit visibility rule. We need to have stable rules so that we can plan ahead.”
Two other major projects are currently on the table, adds Samuel Tual: “We’re looking missions to join forces with in order to contribute to the preservation of oceans and biodiversity, and we’ve been working hard on the subject of non-identified objects to find anti-collision devices. We’ll soon be able to communicate on the work we’re going to initiate.” On the water, the first confrontation of the season is scheduled for May 10 on the Tour de Belle-Ile, with two Ultims at the start, Actual Ultim 3 and Sodebo Ultim 3.
Photo : Alexis Courcoux
