Historic challenge and first round the world race and solo race reserved for Ultim 32/23 Class trimarans, the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest is being revealed at the very beginning of 2023. On January 7, 2024, after ten days of entertainment in the heart of the Brest territory on the departure village installed on the quays of the commercial port, the sailors of the Ultim 32/23 class will set off from the city of Ponant for a unique global oceanic challenge. These precursors will write the first chapter of a historic sporting, human and technological event, supported by a territory and committed partners, organized by OC Sport Pen Duick, a subsidiary of the Télégramme group in charge of oceanic events.
Departure on Sunday January 7, 2024
While the time is for wishes, what should we wish for skippers accustomed to races or records aboard giant trimarans? An ultimate challenge, an event never before contested, organized specifically for these racing beasts. A wish that will come true on Sunday January 7, 2024, with the departure of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest, the first round-the-world racing and solo race reserved for sailboats in the Ultim 32/23 Class. Gathered in Brest, port of departure, this Friday January 6, just one year before departure, organizers, partners, sailors and shipowners of the event revealed the key dates. Thus, the first Sunday of the year 2024 will be stamped “day of great departure around the world”. Before that, the entire territory of Brest and Brittany will have been able to celebrate and discover the giants moored on Quai Malbert during the ten days of an entertainment village installed at the commercial port open from Friday December 29 2023.
A historic challenge!
On January 7, 2024, solo sailors will be ready to take on this historic challenge proposed by OC Sport Pen Duick and all the partners of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. The sailors registered to date have very different ocean profiles and experiences, and are determined to write a first major chapter in this new story around the world solo. From Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) record holder for the Solo Round the World Tour in 2016 to Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) recent winner of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, passing by Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI) winner of the Vendée Globe in 2017, Yves Le Blévec (Actual Ultim 3) fifth in the last Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe and Eric Péron (Ultim Sailing) brand new to this Ultim 32/23 Class, all are ready to take on the challenge. ultimate challenge!
A tailor-made race management team
To support the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest and its competitors on the sporting side and in terms of safety, we need race management that is up to the task. In this matter, the Mediterranean Guillaume Rottée* is the man for the job. Director or member of race management teams for many years, he has notably officiated on the last three editions of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe and benefits, as such, from the recognition of the sailors over whom he will be responsible. to keep watch during this world tour. He will not be alone to carry out this heavy task, far from it, he will have at his side a team with strong multihull experience and its undeniable legitimacy in terms of circumnavigation. At his side, three assistants, starting with Pierre Hays and Guillaume Evrard, essential guardian angels on the Vendée Globe and therefore particularly aware of the specificities of such a mission on a round-the-world event. Third recruit in Guillaume Rottée's team, and not the least, Fred Lepeutrec will join the race management of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest by donning the raincoat of “Mr. Security” and bringing his incredible multihull experience and his legitimacy indisputable in matters of circumnavigation.
*pending accreditation by the French Sailing Federation
An exceptional Trophy for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest
Finally, for an exceptional challenge, an exceptional Trophy was needed. The latter, developed by André Sommer and manufactured by Maison JP Leconte Paris, was presented this Friday to the press, partners and sailors. The opportunity to salute the memory of the person who imagined it, Alex Picot, project manager of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest who tragically disappeared last November in Guadeloupe. Symbolizing the excess of this first round-the-world trip through the three solo capes in the race and aboard giant trimarans, it says everything about this event awaited by the world of ocean racing for more than 15 years.