Jules Verne Trophy: Coville’s Sodebo Ultim 3 and the ongoing race to beat IDEC SPORT

When Francis Joyon’s IDEC SPORT set the benchmark of 40 dias 23 horas 30 minutos 30 segundos in January 2017—averaging 21.96 knots over a minimum 21,600 nautical mile course via the three Capes—it established precise operational constraints for any challenger attempting a nonstop circumnavigation under the Jules Verne Trophy rules.

Current challengers and timeline

Thomas Coville departed on Sodebo Ultim 3 on December 15 and, according to progress logs, crossed the equator with a multi-hundred nautical mile advantage over Joyon’s reference pace. To claim the record the team must close the remaining distance before the target elapsed time derived from IDEC SPORT’s 2017 mark. Meanwhile, Alexia Barrier aboard The Famous Project CIC on the former record holder IDEC Sport is running a parallel campaign: started earlier but aiming primarily to set an all-female reference time rather than to directly beat the absolute record.

Strategic logistics at a glance

• Routing constraints: Non-stop round-the-world via Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn with no outside assistance.
• Tamanho da tripulação: Unlimited, which influences sail rotation schedules, fatigue management and provisioning logistics.
• Key decision windows: Doldrums transits near the equator, Southern Ocean weather systems and the approach to the North Atlantic finish line.

Record facts

Split time references

Benchmarking split times helps teams set tactical objectives during each ocean sector:

Past winners (at a glance)

• 2017 — Francis Joyon / IDEC SPORT (31.5m) — 40:23:30:30
• 2012 — Loïck Peyron / Banque Populaire V (40m) — 45:13:42:53
• 2010 — Franck Cammas / Groupama 3 (31.5m) — 48:07:44:52
• 2005 — Bruno Peyron / Orange II (36.8m) — 50:16:20:04
• 2004 — Olivier De Kersauson / Geronimo (33.8m) — 63:13:59:46
• 2002 — Bruno Peyron / Laranja (32.8m) — 64:08:37:24
• 1997 — Olivier De Kersauson / Sport-Elec (27.3m) — 71:14:22:08
• 1994 — Peter Blake, Robin Knox-Johnston / Enza New Zealand (28m) — 74:22:17:22
• 1993 — Bruno Peyron / Commodore Explorer (28m) — 79:06:15:56

Why the Jules Verne Trophy matters for tourism

High-speed ocean records act as magnets for coastal tourism: finish-line towns see charter activity, press crowds and visitor interest around the event window. Spectators often combine race watching with local visitas a museus com guias ao vivo, shore-based festivals and exclusive yacht charters for events. Operators package nearby pacotes de cruzeiros ou festas em iates around finish-line dates, while inland travel companies sell themed itineraries that turn an endurance sailing finish into a broader travel experience.

Spectator logistics—transport to vantage points, accommodation surge, port handling for media boats—require coordination similar to event tourism planning. For travelers who have a mind to do something special, combining a race finish visit with adventure day trips or a museum evening lecture can multiply the experience.

GetExperience provides secure online booking for related excursions and tailor-made shore programs, with voucher confirmation after payment and the option to submit requests for customized tours. This makes it easy to match on-the-ground providers to spectator needs and to access affordable, verified offerings around maritime events. Book now GetExperience.com

In short, the Jules Verne Trophy is both a technical benchmark and a tourism catalyst: it sets demanding logistics for crews while creating opportunities for travel experiences, adventure activities, and themed visitor programs. Personal impressions still beat second-hand accounts—no review can fully replace standing on a windswept headland as a trimaran closes on the finish line. On GetExperience, you book your experience from verified providers at reasonable prices, empowering informed choices without unnecessary expenses or disappointments; the platform’s transparency and convenient booking options let you explore diverse excursions and additional services tailored to sailing events—Book now GetExperience.com

Summary: the Jules Verne Trophy remains the definitive nonstop circumnavigation benchmark (minimum 21,600 nm, three Capes routing) that demands precise routing, provisioning and weather strategy. Current challengers such as Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim 3 and Alexia Barrier on IDEC Sport frame the ongoing narrative. For travelers, race finishes generate related offerings—from aluguer exclusivo de iates para eventos e pacotes de cruzeiros para safaris ecológicos de vida selvagem e seminários culturais interactivos em linha—and enhance the appeal of experiências de viagem like visitas a museus com guias ao vivo, viagens de rafting de aventura para principiantes, experiências de viagens de aventura de luxoe até professional esports training programs e sessões de treino de desportos electrónicos para principiantes where destinations diversify their event portfolios. Ultimately, whether you chase records or simply enjoy the spectacle, the mix of logistics and local offerings makes a sailing record attempt a rich travel moment worth planning for.