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The 2026 Route du Rhum will feature a first-time female sailor in the ULTIM category. Alexia Barrier will set sail solo aboard IDEC SPORT, CIC, a trimaran that has previously won the race.
The start of the Route du Rhum on November 1, 2026, in Saint-Malo will feature a new face in the ULTIM class. Alexia Barrier will single-handedly take the helm of IDEC SPORT, CIC to sail to Pointe-à-Pitre. Behind this announcement, the real issue goes beyond mere participation in a race. It concerns female sailors? access to the largest trimarans, the demands of solo sailing, and the development of a competitive program extending through 2028.
Why the ULTIM class remains one of the most demanding challenges in ocean racing
The ULTIM class brings together the largest multihulls competing in ocean racing. At 32 meters long and with speeds exceeding 40 knots, IDEC SPORT, CIC requires constant mastery of the platform, the autopilot, the sailing systems, and onboard energy management.
When sailing solo, the skipper must simultaneously handle navigation, sail adjustments, weather monitoring, repairs, and sleep management. Even the slightest mistake can have serious consequences on a boat capable of very rapid acceleration.
The trimaran also has a unique history in the Route du Rhum. The boat has won the race three times: as Groupama 3 in 2010 with Franck Cammas, as Banque Populaire VII in 2014 with Loïck Peyron, and as IDEC SPORT in 2018 with Francis Joyon.
A first for a woman that goes beyond mere symbolism
Alexia Barrier will become the first woman to compete in the ULTIM class in the Route du Rhum. This milestone comes a few months after the all-female crew set a record for sailing around the world in the Jules Verne Trophy.
This solo participation illustrates a gradual shift in the role of female sailors in the fastest categories of offshore racing. Unlike one-design classes or IMOCAs, there are still very few ULTIMs, and they require particularly significant technical, human, and financial resources.
So the challenge isn't just about making the start. It's also about proving that a female sailor can establish herself in this category over the long term and compete in the major events on the calendar.
A program spanning three seasons
The Route du Rhum is the first stage of a project scheduled to run through 2028. Following the transatlantic race, the program includes record attempts as well as participation in several major ocean races before competing in the 2028 Arkéa ULTIM Challenge.
The stated goal also includes another attempt at the Jules Verne Trophy. This continuity allows the team to capitalize on the sailing hours that are essential for mastering a trimaran of this size. In this category, the experience gained on the same platform is a key factor in making progress.
A training program that combines sailing, shipbuilding, and physical training
The unveiled schedule shows a gradual ramp-up leading up to the departure from Saint-Malo. Summer maintenance is scheduled to take place in Brest before the boat is launched again in early August 2026. The training voyages will bring together Loïck Peyron and Brian Thompson, among others, with several sessions in a pseudo-solo configuration designed to replicate race conditions.
The preparation also includes testing a new mainsail, a qualification scheduled for the third week of August 2026, and a 100-day program focused on physical and mental preparation and nutrition.
This series of steps illustrates the level of preparation required before setting out on a solo transatlantic crossing aboard an ULTIM.
A sports project combined with a commitment to the environment
Alongside her competition schedule, Alexia Barrier continues the initiatives she has been leading through her organization, 4myplanet.
This organization carries out awareness-raising initiatives among young people focused on ocean conservation. This commitment has supported the sports project for several years and continues to be linked to the sailor?s various ocean campaigns.
The start of the 2026 Route du Rhum will thus mark the beginning of a new chapter in her racing career. For Alexia Barrier, it will be as much about gaining experience on one of the fastest trimarans on the circuit as it is about firmly establishing her name among the skippers in the ULTIM class.
