The ultimate trimaran Macif is changing hands and it's now the skipper Yves Le Blevec who will take the helm. Launched in 2015 and skippered by François Gabart, this yacht has never stopped evolving. In particular, she has to her credit the record for the single-handed round the world in 42 days achieved in 2017 (today beaten by Joyon on Idec in 40 days).
This trimaran had been on sale for some time, since Macif had decided to launch a new Ultime trimaran, entirely designed for flying this one. Many sailors had applied for the purchase. In particular, we remember Marc Thiercelin, who would like to fly around the world.
But Macif has always wanted to sell to an actor of the Ultimate class. A skipper who would lead the races and not try to chase records. That's why when Actual, already present in the circuit, proposed the buyout, the deal was concluded. We're talking about a cheque for 5 million anyway.
Thus the trimaran Actual Leader, on which Yves Le Blevec raced, is now for sale. This is the former Sodebo with which Thomas Coville broke the solo round the world record for the first time in 49 days.
From now on Yves Le Blevec will sail on Macif100 which is currently in Concarneau and which should change colour for delivery next June. The goal remains the Brest Océans, a crewed round-the-world voyage that should leave France in 2023.
Everyone in the ultimate class welcomes the news. Patricia Brochard, Co-President of Sodebo: "This is excellent news for Actual Leader, who is taking over a high performance boat. It's a very pertinent choice, which fits in perfectly with the company's overall project. It's also very courageous in an economic context which is not simple, as a form of resilience for the company. Actual Leader is putting a boat on the market which gives a company and a skipper the opportunity to enter the Ultim 32 / 23 class. With this well-proven boat, this represents a great opportunity. It's a chain that's being put in place and is a mark of trust that is so rare in this period, so I'd like to say a big bravo to Actual Leader." Like Yves Le Blevec, Skipper: "This new stage in our project is probably the most exciting in my life as a skipper. Always in tune with President Samuel Tual, I have built a solid base with the Actual Leader Team, which allows us to take advantage of all situations. With the acquisition of M100s with top level potential, our objectives have necessarily been revised upwards, which is terribly exciting. Now I have a machine to win."
