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Sodebo Ultim 3 is now in Lorient. The crew has barely left the boat, and the trimaran is already entering a new phase in her life, that of analysis and construction. This visit allows us to understand what forty days of round-the-world sailing has left on an Ultim, and how the team is preparing for the next stage of the program.
A distinctive but structurally sound trimaran
At first glance, the boat is in surprisingly good condition. The hulls, arms and platform show few visible signs of long, sustained sailing. There's no visible structural fatigue, and no need for major emergency repairs. The only immediately identifiable damage is to the rudder on the starboard float, broken but still in place.
This point is far from anecdotal. On a trimaran of this size, a damaged rudder can quickly become critical for balance and directional control. The fact that it remained in position right up to the finish is a testament both to the robustness of the part and to the boat's careful management at the end of the course.
François Duget insists on this aspect. In his opinion, Sodebo Ultim 3 may not be the fastest boat on paper, but it has established itself as a particularly reliable platform over time. An observation that takes on its full meaning on a crewed round-the-world race.
The life cell, forty days non-stop
On board, the atmosphere is still that of the race. The seven crew members' toothbrushes are in their right places. Nothing has been moved, as if the crew had just left the boat for a few hours. In its own way, the living quarters reflect the intensity of sailing, with constrained volumes organized for efficiency rather than comfort.
On an Ultim, every move is designed to limit fatigue and ensure safe maneuvering. Rest areas, watch posts and access to systems are all intertwined. After forty days at sea, the general state of these spaces also gives an indication of the human management of the project, between sailing pace, repairs at sea and recovery.
Damage indicative of the program
As with any round-the-world race, Sodebo Ultim 3's voyage was not free of technical problems. The crew had to deal with sail problems, as well as several mechanical failures. The coffee grinder system, essential for maneuvering heavy loads, failed. Even more surprisingly, the steering wheel broke after only a few days of racing.
These incidents are by no means exceptional at this level of performance, but they are full of lessons to be learned. Each failure feeds into our experience feedback and guides our choices when it comes to building the boat. On an Ultim, there's a fine line between weight savings, reliability and ease of repair at sea.
Disarmament and site preparation
On the quayside, the technical team is already hard at work. The dismantling of the boat has begun, with an exit from the water scheduled in the next few days. The mainsail, weighing over one hundred and seventy kilograms, has already been laid flat on the trampoline. The fairings will follow, an essential step before any in-depth inspection.
The trimaran enters the yard for about three months. This period is not limited to a refit. It is also part of the boat's evolution, with the installation of new foils. The objective is clear: to enable the trimaran to fly earlier, in lighter wind conditions, while maintaining the reliability for which it is renowned.
Reliability, a clear choice in the face of competition
François Duget makes it clear. Sodebo Ultim 3 is above all a machine designed to last. In an Ultim fleet where the quest for maximum speed sometimes pushes the cursors too far, this design choice takes on its full meaning on long, demanding courses.
Our visit to the boat in Lorient illustrates this philosophy. A trimaran which arrives victorious, relatively fresh in its structure, despite the hazards encountered, and which can quickly move on to an optimization rather than a rebuilding project. For sailors and observers of ocean racing, this approach raises a central question: the balance between pure performance and the ability to stay at sea for a long time.
The video associated with this visit extends the immersion. It offers a concrete look at the boat, life on board and the technical realities of a crewed round-the-world race. It's a straightforward way of understanding what forty days of sailing leave on an Ultim, far beyond rankings and averages.
