Five participants in the solo round-the-world race
Five sailors will be lining up at the start of the Arkea Ultim Challenge on January 7, 2024. Registration closed on June 30, 2023, and we now know which skippers will be sailing solo on their giant trimarans. They include Charles Caudrelier on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Armel Le Cléac'h on Banque Populaire XI, Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim 3, Tom Laperche on SVR-Lazartigue and Anthony Marchand on Actual Ultim 3.
Guillaume Rottée, Race Director, comments: "We're lucky to be able to count on an exceptional line-up. Few skippers have the ability to compete in a single-handed round-the-world race aboard these exceptional boats, which have now reached maturity. They're the crème de la crème!"
Qualifying and training for the season's races
While the three experienced skippers Charles Caudrelier, Armel le Cléac'h and Thomas Coville qualified by completing the Route du Rhum 2022, newcomers Tom Laperche and Anthony Marchand had to complete a 2,500-mile single-handed qualifying course.
All will now be preparing throughout the year for the three races hosting the Ultims: the Rolex Fastnet Race on July 22, the Défi Azimut Lorient Agglomération from September 19 to 24, 2023 and the Transat Jacques Vabre Normandie Le Havre on October 29.
A challenging line-up
Among the motley fleet, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the favorite. It won the Rolex Fasnet Race in 2019, the Transat Jacques Vabre in 2021, the Finistere Atlantique and the Route du Rhum 2022. However, he'll have to compete with a strong field, as SVR-Lazartigue has put in some fine performances, securing second places in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 and the Route du Rhum 2022.
