Jules Verne Trophy – Latest News
Sodebo Ultim 3 (Thomas Coville and crew) is very much “in the game” for the Jules Verne Trophy right now. After 24 days and 17 hours at sea (9 Jan), they had rebuilt a 500 nm lead over IDEC Sport’s 2017 reference track, ripping along at up to 38 knots and aiming to round Cape Horn next.
The Jules Verne Trophy is awarded for the fastest non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the world by any type of sailing yacht, inspired by Jules Verne’s novel Around the World in Eighty Days. The course involves crossing a line between the Créac’h lighthouse (France) and the Lizard (UK), sailing eastward around the three great capes (Good Hope, Leeuwin, Horn), and returning to the start line, with no size limits on the yacht or crew.
Will they break the record? Yes, it’s plausible, because they have banked good times at early gates and they’re currently ahead versus the currentl record holder. But it’s on a knife-edge: the Southern Ocean and the climb back up the Atlantic are where leads can evaporate quickly due to weather patterns, routing constraints, and reliability issues.
What’s happened (the story so far)
- Fast, clean early runs and big wins in the Atlantic and Indian split: Sodebo set a new reference time from Ushant to Cape of Good Hope of 10d 23h 56m 57s, a big statement of intent.
- They kept the pressure on across the Indian Ocean and posted a new record to Cape Leeuwin (17d 1h 17m), despite the Indian Ocena being a leg where IDEC Sport’s 2017 run was very efficient.
- Recent position check (Day 23): Sodebo is charging through the Pacific at very high speed, with forecasts described as favourable, and a target of rounding Cape Horn soon.
- The lead has fluctuated (it briefly tightened earlier in the Pacific), but as of the latest updates it has swung back to Sodebo by 500 nm as of the latest update.
Progress vs IDEC Sport (2017)
| Checkpoint / metric | Sodebo Ultim 3 (current attempt) | IDEC Sport (record run 2017) | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Official record to beat | Must finish faster than 40d 23h 30m 30s | 40d 23h 30m 30s | The only number that matters at the line. |
| Ushant to Cape of Good Hope | 10d 23h 56m 57s | ~12d 19h 27m (Sodebo was 1d 19h 31m faster) | Big early cushion. |
| Ushant to Cape Leeuwin | 17d 1h 17m | 17d 6h 59m | About 5h 42m gained versus IDEC at this point. |
| Status on Day 24 (9 Jan) | +500 nm ahead of IDEC reference track; 7,683 nm to sail | Reference track point | They’re ahead, but there’s a long way to go. |
Will they break the record?
They have a realistic chance
- They’ve already taken time at two big gates (Good Hope and Leeuwin), which means the boat speed and systems are working.
- They’re currently ahead on the reference by a decent margin in nautical miles, and still moving fast.
Why it’s still far from certain
- Pacific to Cape Horn and the Atlantic return can be brutal: one badly placed high-pressure system up the Atlantic can eat days.
- Reliability and safety constraints: ice risk in the deep south forces routing delays, and an Ultim at record pace is always one gearshift away from a costly slowdown.
If they round Cape Horn still ahead and stay lucky in the South Atlantic, they have a genuine shot at the trophy. If the Atlantic turns into a mill pind, this becomes a fight.
Voice Note – DAY 25 (9 Jan 26): Pierre Leboucher
Weather: conditions are currently much calmer, with about 15 knots of wind and a flat sea with a beautiful sunset toward Cape Horn at the 60th parallel south.
The Cold: it is very cold. The water is also extremely cold.
Recent Challenges: The previous 24 hours were stressful as the team was navigating through an ice zone with high winds and heavy seas. They were sailing at 38-40 knots while dodging icebergs detected by satellite.
Life on Board
Rest and Gear: The calmer weather has allowed for more sleep. They have to be careful when doing maneouvers because they are heavily bundled in gear to stay warm, which can cause them to overheat quickly during physical exertion.
Food: Pierre says enjoys all the freeze-dried meals provided. Mealtimes are a rare moment of relaxation where they can chat and feel less stressed about steering the boat.
Maneouvering: When going out on deck, the team has to be fast to protect their hands from the biting cold, as it’s hard to work with heavy gloves. It must have been hard for sailors in the past who didn’t have protected cockpits.
Race Progress and Strategy
Cape Horn Approach: Cape Horn is getting closer, and they currently have a lead of about 500 miles. However, the upcoming weather forecast is not in their favour, with light winds and a depression expected at the Cape.
Boat Health: the team is very pleased that the boat is still at 100% health after crossing three oceans. This gives them great confidence for the final climb up the Atlantic.
The Goal: While the reference time is important, he emphasizes that the ultimate focus is simply finishing the race in Brest with a new record.