The Drheam Cup, counting for qualification for the Route du Rhum, offers itself a dream fleet with 120 boats at the start on Sunday in Cherbourg, including the one skippered by François Gabart (SVR Lazartigue), the only Ultim in the running but without the sailor, positive for Covid-19.
Legendary sailboats, including the Pen Duick III designed by Eric Tabarly in 1967 or the famous Red Cigar again in the hands of Catherine Chabaud and a multitude of boats that have come to seek their qualification for the Route du Rhum: the Drheam Cup announcement noted for its fourth edition, which was full (there were only 40 boats in 2016 for the 1st edition). Especially since there will be Gabart’s blue sea giant on the starting line, a flying maxi-trimaran, the latest addition to the elitist Ultim fleet, a class with which Gabart is in conflict due to a dispute over the conformity of the boat.
Solo round-the-world record holder takes case to court; the decision (on the form, not the substance) will be made on Thursday. Gabart intends to obtain authorization to participate in the Route du Rhum, a solo transatlantic race whose start will be given on November 6 in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine) and only the Ultim class can deliver this sesame for this race. In the meantime, Gabart’s multihull is struggling with competition. And it is first of all happy that he had registered for the Drheam Cup, with three other Ultim: those of Yves Le Blevec (Actual Ultim 3), Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) and Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultimate 3). But the three Ultim withdrew for various reasons.
«Unfortunately, we haven’t been able to race in recent months. We would have preferred to be several Ultim, that’s the game unfortunately, it’s a shame. But it’s a pleasure to be at the start in Cherbourg, we’re super happy to be in racing conditions, happy to sail with other boats, and with the public who have come to see our new boats of which we’re proud.“, had underlined Friday morning Gabart in an interview granted to AFP. A few hours after this interview, Gabart learned that he was positive for Covid-19 and had to give up on this intense journey. But the boat will indeed be in the running, while the race is a crewed race for the multihulls. It is Tom Laperche, in tandem with Gabart during their 2nd place in the Transat Jacques Vabre 2021, who takes the lead.
running dynamics
«Even if there is no confrontation with other Ultims, the Drheam Cup will allow us to get into the dynamics of a race. Doing a set course puts a rhythm on board. We’ve never raced as a crew, so we’ll be able to settle in well together, find the right functions and prepare the boat for single-handed racing at the end of the year (for the Route du Rhum). It can only be more“, explains Laperche to AFP. Gabart’s sailboat will be the only one to cover the longest course of the race, 1,500 nautical miles (about 2,780 km), going up to the Isle of Man (Irish Sea) to go down to the coast of Bilbao ( Spain) for an arrival in La Trinité-sur-Mer (Morbihan).
The start will be Sunday from 2:00 p.m. for the nine classes of boats, in the Bay of Becquet, off Cherbourg. “It is a complex area to navigate because of the currents which can be very strong in certain places. You can find yourself walking along the coast or entering this famous harbor to shelter from the current. We feel that we are in the middle of the Channel, even on our Ultims, it is never anecdotal to pass in these corners“explained Gabart.
