A stronger CIC commitment to women's sport
For the past two years, CIC has been supporting sailor Alexia Barrier in the construction of an unprecedented project: beating the Jules Verne Trophy record with an all-female team. This partnership takes on a new dimension with the arrival of CIC as title partner of the project, renamed The Famous Project CIC. This increased financial and logistical support will provide the team with the optimum resources to meet the challenge of ocean racing.
For CIC, it's a commitment consistent with its values: team spirit, resilience, surpassing oneself, and support for female entrepreneurship. The banking group also intends to use this adventure as a lever for internal commitment and public outreach.
An intense sports campaign through to autumn 2025
The IDEC Sport maxi-trimaran, still the Jules Verne Trophy record holder since 2017, is now based in Brest, the team's new home port until the start. The crew, made up exclusively of female sailors, is actively preparing for the race with a sustained sports program until October.
Key preparation steps include :
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Continuous training all summer long
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A record-breaking attempt to circumnavigate the British Isles is scheduled for the end of July
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An Atlantic record on the Discovery Route in August (Cadiz - San Salvador)
At the end of August, the boat will be put in the yard for a series of checks and technical adjustments, before being put on stand-by in the autumn for a weather window favorable to the start of the round-the-world race.
Crew preparation and ramp-up
For several months now, the crew has been familiarizing itself with the giant trimaran, with priority given to getting to grips with the multihull, sailing with a reduced crew, managing onboard energy and optimizing maneuvers. The training sails on the MOD70 enabled the team to gain experience in conditions close to those expected during the round-the-world race.
The work is not limited to the sea: individualized physical preparation, weather studies, onboard systems management and logistical coordination are at the heart of the team's daily routine, with the active support of CIC staff ashore.
An attempt at history
The Jules Verne Trophy record is currently held by Francis Joyon and his crew in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes and 30 seconds. No 100% women's crew has yet set a reference time on this extreme challenge since Tracy Edwards' attempt in 1998.
With The Famous Project CIC, Alexia Barrier aims to write a new page in the history of ocean racing. This round-the-world voyage will be more than just a sporting achievement, it will be a manifesto for the recognition of women in ocean sailing, and a demonstration of the crew's skills and endurance in the face of the Southern Ocean.
The entry of the CIC as title partner and the launch of the training program mark a turning point for The Famous Project. This challenge, at once sporting, human and symbolic, promises to be a highlight of the 2025 calendar. The women's crew is now on deck to attempt one of the most demanding records in modern sailing.
