/ 
A gray sky, squalls, and a "completely calm" sea
Off the coast of Marseille, the scene is nothing like a summer outing on the Mediterranean. The sky is gray, and squalls are sweeping across the water. We board the Actual Ultim 4, which is sailing under a jib downwind of the coast.
The crew consists of five people in addition to the skipper for a half-day outing. The trimaran is sailing under a high mainsail; the crew maneuvers to exit the harbor, heading toward the Planier lighthouse, which marks the entrance to the Gulf of Fos for commercial vessels. The J2 is unfurled, then set flat. The crew eases the main sail traveller slightly to let the boat pick up speed, while the Cunningham line is pulled in to tighten the main sail?s luff along the 34-meter mast.
The leeward foil is lowered, and we?re sailing calmly out of the harbor at about fifteen knots. The crew is busy at the winches. The sheets creak and tighten. The beast is waking up and starting to pick up speed. On our port side, we see the first squall bearing down on us. A short 3-meter swell is building.
For Anthony at the helm, however, the conditions are nothing out of the ordinary. " "Compared to where we live, it's completely flat." ", says the Breton skipper with a smile.
The Actual begins to take off; the sensation of speed is electrifying, intense. The trimaran rears up as it takes off, then stabilizes on its three hydrofoils. I?m positioned behind the front arm?the sensation and the view are incredible. I?m clinging to the net as best I can. Perched several meters high, Actual races across the Mediterranean without a hitch.
The numbers are flying by. Over 30 knots, then 40 knots, and we hit a peak of 44 knots! Unbelievable! Still clinging to the foredeck, I can?t move. I turn around to look at Antho at the helm, all smiles. An impressive speed for any boat. But what strikes me most isn?t the number displayed on the instruments. It?s the way that speed manifests itself on board.
I know the harbor well, yet I?m a bit lost?I?ve lost my bearings. And all of a sudden, the Planier lighthouse?that sentinel that takes so long to reach on a standard monohull?comes into view right next to our windward buoy. On an Ultim, everything seems to unfold on a different scale. Distances shrink, movements speed up, and the sea rushes by with unusual speed.
A Few Minutes at the Helm of Actual Ultim 4
Back on the leeward side of the Frioul Islands, Anthony offered to let me take the helm. It was hard to turn down such an invitation! After experiencing a peak wind speed of 44 knots?clinging to the trampoline?here I am at the helm of this 32-meter trimaran, the former Gitana 17, winner of the 2022 Route du Rhum with Charles Caudrelier.
The change in perspective is striking. It?s no longer a matter of enduring the acceleration, but of steering this immense machine. And you have to stay alert: the water is busy, with many boats around us. It?s impossible to just sit back and admire the scenery. You have to watch for traffic, anticipate other boats? paths, and stay on course, all while getting the hang of steering.
The trimaran?s dimensions are impressive, but it?s its speed potential that really sticks in your mind. Just moments earlier, we were sailing at over 40 knots. Even downwind of Frioul, in more sheltered conditions, this power inspires a certain sense of humility.
Those few minutes at about 20 knots go by far too quickly. I finally hand the helm back to Anthony, just before I make a huge mistake. For me, it?s a truly special moment. For him, it will soon be his daily routine?alone on board, sailing between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre.
A Preview of the 2026 Route du Rhum
This voyage takes on special significance as the 2026 Route du Rhum approaches.
Anthony Marchand is preparing to sail solo across the Atlantic aboard Actual Ultim 4, the winner of the 2022 edition with Charles Caudrelier. The trimaran has since changed its livery and skipper. It has also undergone technical modifications, including the installation of a new mast.
His victory in 2022 demonstrates his potential, but does not predict how he will fare against the other Ultim boats competing this year. The competition has evolved, the boats have been modified, and reliability will remain a key factor.
For Anthony, the challenge will be to turn his trimaran?s speed into sustained performance throughout the entire crossing from Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre. After all, the Route du Rhum isn?t decided by a single 44-knot burst. It?s won by maintaining a high average speed, choosing the right routes, and preserving the equipment.
And when Anthony describes today's conditions as a "completely flat" sea, you suddenly realize just how much your frame of reference changes aboard an Ultim.
