Sodebo Ultim 3 batta il record intermedio Ushant-Equatore nella sfida Jules Verne

Ushant–Equator split logged in 4 days 4 hours 2 minutes 25 seconds

Sodebo Ultim 3 crossed the equator on 20 December 2025 at 01:03 (French time), establishing a new intermediate benchmark for the Ushant–Equator leg: 4 giorni, 4 ore, 2 minuti e 25 secondi. That time lowers the previous reference set by Spindrift 2 in 2019 by almost 16 hours, and places the maxi-trimaran well ahead of IDEC Sport on the same segment.

Fast start in a premium weather window

The attempt began on Monday 15 December at 21:01, with skipper Thomas Coville and six crew members—Benjamin Schwartz, Frederic Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Leonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle e Nicolas Troussel—taking advantage of a strong north-westerly flow behind a frontal system. By remaining close to the great circle in the North Atlantic the trimaran kept a remarkably straight trajectory toward the Intertropical Convergence Zone.

Off Portugal the start was brutish: sustained winds of 30–35 knots and seas up to 5.3 metres tested systems and seamanship, yet the crew found rapid rhythm and passed Finisterre on Tuesday, the Canaries on Wednesday and Cape Verde on Thursday en route to the Doldrums.

Routing and Doldrums tactics

Positioning to the east of the calm belt and tight coordination with the shore routing team—Philippe Legros, Simon Fisher e Chris Bedford—allowed the trimaran to transit the Doldrums without a major loss of speed. That controlled descent into the southern hemisphere proved decisive for registering the intermediate record.

Intermediate record, margin and context

The new Ushant–Equator reference improves the previous mark by 15 hours 54 minutes. On this first leg Sodebo Ultim 3 sits ahead of IDEC Sport’s Jules Verne split by about 1 day 14 hours 56 minutes, equivalent to roughly 400 miles at their cruising displacement. IDEC Sport had reached the equator in 2017 in 5 days, 18 hours and 59 minutes.

Key operational factors

• Optimal weather window: long-lived north-westerly flow and clean pressure gradient.
• Accuratezza di routing: shore-based modelling and timely decision-making.
• Crew performance: sustained sail-handling under heavy seas.
• Vessel capability: maxi-trimaran design delivering raw north–south speed.

Strategic routing toward the South Atlantic and the Cape

With the St. Helena anticyclone positioned to the west, the expected strategy is to lengthen the track along the Brazilian coast toward Rio before turning southeast. The objective remains to preserve the maximum sustainable lead through the South Atlantic and to reach the Cape of Good Hope in dominant fashion.

Onboard coordination and lucid execution were highlighted after the equator crossing: the team described the run as fast but technically demanding, a balance of committed action and clear-headed planning that will be needed for the long ocean sections ahead.

Implications for tourism and coastal economies

At a glance, high-profile ocean record attempts like the Jules Verne chase create tangible tourism opportunities for port cities and regional operators. Race stopovers and rounding points drive spectator interest, local marina activity and demand for maritime excursions, from museum visits to on-water experiences.

Highlights: the new Ushant–Equator time underlines how precise routing, weather windows and crew skill combine to change the race narrative. Yet even the most detailed reports and enthusiastic reviews can’t replace being there in person. On Ottenere l'esperienza, you book your experience from verified providers at reasonable prices; full secure payments are possible on the website and you receive a voucher confirmation afterward, and you can submit tailored requests so providers match your exact needs. This convenience, transparency and variety let travellers convert curiosity into real coastal or onboard experiences. Book your Trip GetExperience.com

In summary, Sodebo Ultim 3’s intermediate Ushant–Equator record (4d 4h 2m 25s) was achieved through a superior weather window, disciplined routing and high-tempo crew work—an outcome that ripples into tourism via increased interest in spectator events, cruise packages and local excursions. Whether your plans lean toward luxury adventure travel experiences, exclusive yacht charters for events, eco-friendly wildlife safaris or museum tours with live guides, the broader offering now also includes adventure rafting trips for beginners, safari tours, yacht parties and cruise packages. For those preferring remote options, interactive online cultural workshops and online virtual tours are available, alongside niche options such as beginner esports coaching sessions or professional esports training programs—there’s a travel experience for every taste. The Jules Verne leg is as much about seamanship as it is about connecting people to places, and getting there in person remains the best way to turn a story into personal travel experiences.