The SVR-Lazartigue trimaran team confirmed on Wednesday its presence on the starting line of the Ultim challenge on Sunday in Brest, the first solo round-the-world race between giant multihulls, after having spent more than a month under construction for repairs.
“The trimaran will be at the start. Its launch is scheduled for Friday and we will transport it to Brest the next day. We are very happy because there was real uncertainty about the possibility of repairing in time,” explained team manager Cécile Andrieu during a press point.
Since November 22, the date of the 32-meter-long sailboat’s return to Brittany after its 2nd place in the Transat Jacques-Vabre, the SVR-Lazartigue team has worked to repair a “structural damage” spotted on the starboard front arm.
“The workload was greater than we had imagined. At the peak of construction, 27 people were working on the boat at the same time. The teams are tired, but the adrenaline will carry us through the rest,” said Cécile Andrieu.
Also read: Charles Caudrelier: “The consequences of the slightest error will be enormous”
Concretely, the team removed a layer of carbon from the weakened arm, before installing two structural reinforcements to ensure that it withstands its first world tour, a journey of 21,600 miles (40,000 km) across three oceans.
At the helm of the blue sailboat for this unique race called Ultim Challenge, Tom Laperche, who took over from Charente sailor François Gabart, who became one of his weather routers on land.
“Obviously we would have liked to sail a little more before the race. But we spent a lot of time on the water with François (Gabart, editor’s note) during the doubles year which has just passed. I feel ready and I can’t wait to set sail,” said the 26-year-old sailor, the youngest of the six sailors at the start.
Tom Laperche, Eric Péron (Adagio), Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), Thomas Coville (Sodebo), Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire) and Anthony Marchand (Actual) will start on Sunday at 1:30 p.m.
