The challenge was audacious as Francis Joyon and Idec had, in 2017, produced an almost perfect copy, in 40 days 23h30 minutes and 30 seconds. After several unsuccessful attempts (in 2020 and twice in 2024), Thomas Coville and the crew of Sodebo Ultim 3 crossed the finish line this Sunday morning at 7:46 a.m., connecting the Créac’h lighthouse on the island of Ouessant and the Cape Lizard lighthouse, in 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds (12 hours and 44 minutes better than Idec).
“It’s an intense joy, both relief and a lot of excitement,” reacts Patricia Brochard, co-president of Sodebo. This is the result of the beautiful shared story that we have been writing for 27 years with Thomas (Coville). Sailors demonstrate what is important to us every day in our business. They moved forward together, they grew together, like our employees, who are very mobilized and committed to helping Sodebo grow. »
This is the 10th world tour completed by Thomas Coville (5 with a crew, 5 solo), the first for his six partners.
Thomas Coville, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle, Benjamin Schwartz and Nicolas Troussel had left Brest on December 15 and were always ahead of Idec at each crossing point.
In the morning at the port of Brest
However, concerns had increased a notch in recent days, when the crew understood that, to win the Jules Verne Trophy, they would first have to get out of storm Ingrid. The night from Friday to Saturday was particularly rough for the 32 m long and 23 m wide Maxi trimaran, which had to deal with waves of 8 m and violent gusts of wind. Sodebo Ultime 3 nevertheless managed to maintain its lead, to complete its world tour in just over 40 days.
Once the line has been crossed, the crew is now expected in the morning in the port of Brest, in particular by their relatives. If the Vendée company Sodebo, created in 1960, is now managed by the Bougro sisters, Patricia (the boss of the Sailing Team), Marie-Laurence and Bénédicte, its founders, Joseph and Simone are present in Brest. It was Joseph, now aged 91, who launched the sailing program and recruited Thomas Coville, who had already won the Jules Verne Trophy with Olivier de Kersauson (71 days, 14 hours and 22 minutes).
Almost 30 years later, this record has been lowered by more than 30 days. Meanwhile, Thomas Coville held the solo round-the-world record, in 49 days and 3 hours.
