ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – The countdown has started one year before departure on January 7, 2024 » PACA’s economic and political letter

A historic challenge and the first solo race around the world reserved for trimarans in the Ultim 32/23 Class, the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest is unveiled at the very start of 2023.

On January 7, 2024, after ten days of entertainment in the heart of the Brest territory on the departure village installed on the quays of the commercial port, the sailors of the Ultim 32/23 class will set off from the city of Ponant for a challenge unprecedented planetary ocean. These precursors will write the first chapter of a historic sporting, human and technological event, supported by a territory and committed partners, organized by OC Sport Pen Duick, a subsidiary of the Télégramme group in charge of ocean events.

Departing on Sunday, January 7, 2024

While the period is in good wishes, what should we wish skippers accustomed to races or records aboard giant trimarans? An ultimate challenge, an event never before contested, organized specifically for these racing beasts. A wish that will come true on Sunday January 7, 2024, with the start of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest, the first solo race around the world reserved for sailboats in the Ultim 32/23 Class. Gathered in Brest, port of departure, this Friday, January 6, just one year before the start, organizers, partners, sailors and owners of the event revealed the key dates. Thus, the first Sunday of the year 2024 will be stamped “day of great departure around the world”. Before that, the whole territory of Brest and Brittany will have been able to celebrate and discover the giants moored on the Quai Malbert during the ten days of an entertainment village installed at the commercial port open from Friday 29 December. 2023.

A historic challenge!

On January 7, 2024, solo sailors will be ready to take up this historic challenge offered by OC Sport Pen Duick and all the partners of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. The sailors registered to date have very different profiles and oceanic experiences, and are determined to write a first big chapter in this new story around the world alone. From Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) record holder of the Solo Round the World in 2016 to Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild) recent winner of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, via Armel Le Cléac’h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI) winner of the Vendée Globe in 2017, Yves Le Blévec (Actual Ultim 3) fifth in the last Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe and Eric Péron (Ultim Sailing) a brand newcomer to this Ultim 32/23 Class, all are ready to take up the ultimate challenge!

A tailor-made race management team

To support the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest and its competitors on the sporting side and in terms of safety, you need race management up to the task. In this respect, the Mediterranean Guillaume Rottée* is the man for the job. Director or member of race management teams for many years, he has officiated in particular on the last three editions of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe and benefits, as such, from the recognition of the sailors for whom he will be in charge. to keep watch during this world tour.

He will not be alone to carry out this heavy task, far from it, he will have at his side a strong team of multihull experience and its undeniable legitimacy in terms of circumnavigation. At his side, three assistants starting with Pierre Hays and Guillaume Evrard, essential guardian angels on the Vendée Globe and therefore particularly aware of the specificities of such a mission on a round-the-world event. Third recruit in Guillaume Rottée’s team, and not the least, Fred Le Peutrec will join the race director of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest by donning the raincoat of “Monsieur Sécurité” and bringing his incredible multihull experience and his legitimacy indisputable when it comes to circumnavigation.

*awaiting accreditation by the French Sailing Federation

An exceptional trophy for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest

Finally, for an exceptional challenge, an exceptional Trophy was needed. The latter, developed by André Sommer and manufactured by Maison JP Leconte Paris, was presented this Friday to the press, partners and sailors. The opportunity to salute the memory of the person who imagined it, Alex Picot, project manager for the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest, who tragically disappeared last November in Guadeloupe. Symbolizing the excessiveness of this first circumnavigation of the globe by the three capes alone in the race and aboard giant trimarans, it says it all about this event awaited by the world of offshore racing for more than 15 years.

They said :

Roland Tresca, Administrator of OC Sport Pen Duick: “The Télégramme Group and its subsidiary OC Sport Pen Duick are very happy to finally give shape to the organization of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. A project matured over a very long period of time which is materializing today, one year from the start. It is a great collective pride to find here, in Brest, all the actors who will make this first edition a unique event. All the lights are green, we are already all mobilized to give this ultimate event the dimension it deserves and we know we can rely on very committed partners, a committed territory resolutely cut out for the challenge and sailors eager to tackle this historic race. »

Julien Carmona, Chairman of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa and Crédit Mutuel de Bretagne: “Although this is a race offshore and around the globe, it is the Brittany Region and all the players in Brest which will take center stage during the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. This is a real spotlight on our entire economic, maritime and human ecosystem, a unique opportunity to create links, enhance our territory and make known all of its know-how. As title partner, we are very eager to welcome you to live this exceptional experience in Brest, one of the historical cradles of our group, its largest employment pool and the historic location of its head office. »

Cédric Malengreau, Director of the General Secretariat and Institutional Communication of Crédit Mutuel Arkéa: “Established on a large part of the Atlantic coast and present for many years with maritime professionals, our group shares a real passion for the sea and offshore racing. Already sponsor of skipper Yoann Richomme, who has just won the last edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in class 40 and is now preparing for the Vendée Globe, our ambition through the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest is to share this passion greater number, in the heart of our territory, by offering sailing experts and curious neophytes alike an experience worthy of this unprecedented extreme challenge: a solo circumnavigation aboard the Ultim class maxi-trimarans. »

François Cuillandre, Mayor of Brest – President of Brest Métropole: “I am delighted to see that we are getting to the heart of the matter today with the announcement of the dates of the race, the presentation of the competitors, the race director, the trophy, etc. After many years of discussion and reflection, the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest is now in operational mode and is about to set sail. In Brest we have experience in organizing and hosting these major meetings of maritime and sporting excellence. The names of great navigators and their performances, engraved in bronze on the record quay at the Port du Château, are a brilliant demonstration of this! And what better way to end 2023 and start 2024 with this magnificent race around the world, a few months before Brest 2024, our international maritime festivals and its hundreds of thousands of visitors? I mentioned it last December at the Salon Nautic in Paris and I repeat the point: we are all already strongly mobilized here to host the race. Breton institutions such as Brest Métropole, the Brittany Region, and the Finistère Departmental Council, regional and local economic partners and players, sector associations, beginners or seasoned practitioners, the general public will fully experience the magnificent epic that will announcement with this first edition of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest. And they will be, no doubt, numerous on the quays to celebrate as it should be, at the start as well as at the finish, the competitors”.

Loïg Chesnais-Girard, President of the Brittany Region: “With Brest as the starting and finishing point of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE, Brittany, a loyal partner of ocean racing and major maritime events, is once again at the rendezvous. you to accompany the first solo Ultime round the world. During this real solo odyssey, the competition between these giants of the ultra-fast seas promises an exceptional spectacle, an exacerbated competition, mixing sporting exploits and technological challenges. This unique adventure resembles Brittany, Bretons and Bretons, with shared values: humility, passion and commitment but the ability to unite behind these sailors at the helm of impressive multihulls. »

Guillaume Rottée, Race Director of the ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest: “The ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest is a magnificent challenge to take up, an exceptional race. The round-the-world format is new to me and that’s why I surrounded myself with experts who know the exercise well. We are now going to embark on our race management mission, naturally insisting on safety and contacting all the players on these aspects, as well as carrying out a lot of technical reconnaissance work on board the competitors’ boats. .

About OC Sport Pen Duick:

OC Sport Pen Duick is the French subsidiary of the OC Sport group in charge of offshore racing events. Created to manage the sports campaigns of Eric Tabarly, on the one hand, and Dame Ellen MacArthur on the other, emblematic figures of international sport, the group faithfully perpetuates the spirit and the values ​​which animated these founding pioneers: living and sharing unique experiences with the public, athletes and partners.

Historically involved in ocean racing, the group has developed unique expertise in professional sailing based on dual know-how in team management and the organization of the most prestigious races (La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, The Transat CIC, La Solitaire du Figaro, the Transat Paprec, ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest…). OC Sport is a Telegram Group company.