Last Hours at Sea for Ultim Challenge Leader Charles Caudrelier as Solo Multihull Round-the-World Race Victory Beckons

26th February 2024

Caudrelier’s most up-to-date ETA is around 0830hrs local time on Tuesday morning (0730hrs UTC) at the finish line Credit: Yann Riou

A tantalising three hundred miles from the finish line of the first Ultim Challenge solo round the world race, French skipper Charles Caudrelier spent his 50th birthday and his 50th day of racing since leaving Brest on Sunday, 7th January, keeping his giant blue and white Verdier designed ULTIM Maxi Edmond de Rothschild on a very tight, short rein, looking to keep behind the worst of a strong low pressure system so he can close out victory early tomorrow morning in more modest, manageable conditions.

Caudrelier has been progressing at a very steady pace this afternoon, a little over 16 knots of speed in winds of around 20 knots, while the finish port of Brest and the Breton coast saw winds of 35-40kts this morning and waves of over five metres on the Bay of Biscay.

Caudrelier’s most up-to-date ETA is around 0830hrs local time on Tuesday morning (0730hrs UTC) at the finish line. Around an hour later, Caudrelier and his team should enter the narrows of Brest harbour – between 1000hrs and 1030hrs local times - before docking quai du Commandant Malbert.

Published in Ultim Challenge

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Ultim Challenge

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About the Ultim Challenge

The ULTIM CHALLENGE – Brest, which starts from Brest, France on Sunday, 7 January, will be the first-ever solo race around the world on giant Ultim trimarans, the biggest and fastest ocean-going sailboats in the world.

The inaugural six competitors of the Arkea Ultim Challenge - Brest are: