2018 Nice Ultimed, an amazing show

There should have been four trimarans on the start line for the first Ultim category race in the Mediterranean. But Armel le Cleac’h’s Banque Populaire IX capsized during the delivery trip round from her west coast homeport…

Nice Ultimed

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Published 09/05/2018

Issue: 159

Published: may / june 2018

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A few hours after the race start in Nice, it was Yves Le Blevec’s turn to pull out on his trimaran, Actual-Grand Large Emotion (the former Gitana 11), which he had chartered for the event, following the loss of his tri, Actual, off Cape Horn last winter.

So it was going to be between Thomas Coville and Francis Joyon, who stayed neck and neck throughout the race. At the finish line, it ended up being Coville’s Sodebo which crossed the line first, 57 minutes ahead of Joyon’s crew after three relentless days at sea…