In a chasing position in the English Channel, Bay of Biscay and until after the Canaries, Sodebo Ultim' took the lead of the fleet on Thursday 9th November 2017, passing in front of the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild led by Sébastien Josse and Thomas Rouxel. And since then, at a steady pace, the Coville/Nélias duo has held firm, taking first place on the podium in the 13th edition of the Transat Jacques Vabre. The fleet leader crossed the finish line in Salvador de Bahia (Brazil) on Monday 13th November 2017 at 11 h 42 min 27 s (French time), i.e. 7 h 42 min 27 s Bahia time. The trimaran will have covered 4,742 miles at 24.94 knots.
Sodebo Ultim' won the Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 by setting a new record in 7 days 22 hrs 7 min 27 s. The record had been held since 2007 by Franck Cammas and Steve Ravussin (Groupama), who completed the course in 10 days and 38 minutes.
Setting out from Le Havre at 1335 hours on 5th November, Sodebo Ultim' and the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild have been indulging in a mano à mano panting for over seven days. Faced with the state-of-the-art hydrofoil trimaran Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, this Route du Café wasn't going to be easy for Sodebo Ultim'. "It will be the battle of two generations of trimarans" announced Thomas Coville in Le Havre.
Chased, seriously threatened (less than 2 miles apart last Saturday in the Doldrums!) by the Josse/Rouxel tandem, Sodebo Ultim' has managed to perfectly manage the weather parameters and play the best trajectories. It is the victory of a proven boat and a close-knit crew that closes an exceptional year for the Sodebo team!
