Central rudder torn off, the Ultime Sodebo 3 ends its second attempt at the Jules-Verne Trophy

The second attempt lasted longer than the first: a little more than 16 days. But the observation is the same: the central rudder of the Ultime did not withstand the shock. It broke sharply while the maxi-trimaran was moving between the Kerguelen Islands and Cape Leeuwin. According to Thomas Coville, there was “no shock but we lost the rudder”. Even if the Ultime has two smaller rudders on each hull, it is not desirable to continue in the South Seas without the central rudder, also equipped with a supporting plane.

“We cannot continue in record mode and we do not think we should enter the southern seas without a central rudder. Committing a half-circle around the world in record mode with the main rudder missing is unfortunately not reasonable. This abandonment is of course a disappointment for everyone. », says the skipper who is considering a technical stopover, probably in Australia.

The attempt, which began on December 20, 2024 at 9:34 p.m., therefore ends this Monday, January 6, 2025 for the Sodebo 3 crew who had crossed the first two passages, the equator and the Cape of Good Hope, ahead of the record time of Idec Sport in 2017. In recent hours, in difficult seas and weather not conducive to great gliding, Coville and his teammates

were slightly behind by 257 miles.

In Concarneau, François Gabart’s Ultime SVR Lazartigue also gave up on his first attempt at the Jules-Verne Trophy on December 22. Back at its Finistère base, the crew must return to stand-by for a new start.