History of the arrival of the giants in ocean racing
In 1976, Alain Colas' 72-meter giant monohull, Club Mediterrannée, participated in the OSTAR. At the end of this edition, the organizers decided to limit the length of the participating boats to 17 meters.
In 1978, Michel Etevenon created the Route du Rhum, a race open to all sizes and types of boats. In 1982, Eugène Riguidel was the first skipper to set off alone on a 27.10-meter maxi-trimaran.
At the end of the first Transat Québec Saint-Malo in 1984, the shipowners set a limit of 22.80 m which will last until 1990. As a result, no more multihulls are built to participate in races.
But with the creation of the Jules Verne Trophy in 1993, new multihulls were born, such as Geronimo, Orange I, Orange II, Groupama 3 and Banque Populaire V. And in 2010, when the Route du Rhum returned to its original spirit, with the removal of size constraints, Franck Cammas created a surprise by setting off on a 31.50 meter trimaran, and won the race. This race and the victory which goes with it sign the great return of the giants of the seas, which adapt to the navigation in solo, as in crew.
In 2013, the Transat Jacques Vabre welcomed the MOD70 one-design trimarans. It is therefore logical that it opens in 2015 to the Ultimates. These giants are rather well equipped to break records. Sébastien Josse and Charles Caudrelier's MOD70 completed the 5400 mile course between Le Havre and Itajai in 11 days and 5 hours.
The Ultimate Class
It was in 2010, during the Route du Rhum that the Ultimates class was born. These are giant racing trimarans, the most powerful and fastest boats in ocean racing. Their impressive size requires experience, concentration, anticipation and know-how.
The Ultimates, easily capable of reaching speeds of 30 knots, are different in size and philosophy (power/lightness/comfort/sturdiness), to fit the sailing program they were built for.
For the moment, Spindrit 2 is the largest trimaran built for ocean racing with a length of 131 feet (40 meters) and a masthead reaching 40 meters. It was designed to break records with a crew.
But in the Ultimates class we also find Thomas Coville's Sodebo (31 m), François Gabart's brand new Macif (30 m), Francis Joyon's trimaran Idec Sport (31.50 m - former Banque Populaire VII with which Loïck Peyron won the 2014 Route du Rhum), Lionel Lemonchois's Prince de Bretagne (23.3 m), Yves le Blevecâeuros¦
The crews racing in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015
But after all, nothing is decided yet. Indeed, the four multihulls in the Ultime class are all different, in size, age and design. The most recent, Macif, François Gabart's brand new trimaran, is a latest generation Ultime, designed by VPLP. She will undoubtedly be the most powerful in her category and promises great performance. But she is still in the testing phase since she was launched last August. To master this giant, François Gabart, one of the most talented skippers of his generation, will be able to count on Pascal Bidégorry, who distinguished himself in the 2014/2015 Volvo Ocean Race, in the Franco-Chinese Dongfeng Race Team.
We will also have to count Sodebo, owned by Thomas Coville, (Olivier de Kersauson's former trimaran) which had to abandon the Route du Rhum 2014, following a collision, which occurred on the first night of the race. Since then, the trimaran has been in the works to be further optimized. The skipper of the trimaran will be able to count on the support of Jean-Luc Nélias, who also distinguished himself in the Volvo Ocean Race, with Dongfeng Race, alongside Bidégorry.
Finally, Actual, an Irens-Cabaret design, in the hands of Yves Le Blévec, was also refitted at the Multiplast shipyard and put back in the water at the end of September. As for Lionel Lemonchois' Prince de Bretagne, she is already 8 years old and is not as efficient as her competitors, but it is worth remembering that she won a good 4 e place on the Route du Rhum 2014.
Technical specifications
| Length | between 21.33 m (70 feet) and 32 m (105 feet) |
| Maximum width | 23 m |
| Draft | Free |
| Air draft | 120% of the length of the hull |
| Guard at sea | 1,70 m |
| Upwind and downwind sail area | Free |
There are no technological constraints, no maximum draught, no appendage limits...
