Around the world in 50 days

Six sailors set out from France, embarking on an arduous 40,000 km around-the-world journey on Sunday, hoping to complete one of sailing's "biggest challenges" — the Arkea Ultim Challenge — inside 50 days.

Under bright winter sunshine in the port of Brest in Brittany, the first such race on super-powerful, but relatively fragile, trimarans got underway.

The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, helmed by Charles Caudrelier, was the early evening leader with an advantage of a few nautical miles.

Caudrelier, Tom Laperche (Trimaran SVR Lazartigue), Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3), Armel Le Cleac'h (Max Banque Populaire XI), Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim) and Eric Peron (Ultim Adagio) were the six men to cross the starting line in their 32-meter boats.

In mild conditions for a Breton Sunday in January, the six giant multihulls began to fly on their foils, the side appendages which allow the boats to rise above the water to reach breakneck speeds.

The fastest could take around 50 days to complete the 21,600 nautical miles of this race, rounding the Cape of Good Hope (South Africa), Cape Leeuwin (Australia) and Cape Horn (Chile) in the process.

Their departure from Brest was emotional and tearful.

"Obviously there is emotion, but we will have to quickly switch to racing mode," said Marchand, 38, shedding a tear when his team gathered around the mast of his Ultim to welcome him.

"We're going for an extraordinary race, but it will really be extraordinary when we finish it."

Sailing out in the morning light towards the starting line out of Brest harbor, the six men were accompanied by their entourages until the last moment.

'Very beautiful story'

Some crew departed the craft by diving into the frigid sea just before cannon fire marked the start of the race.

"Everything comes together for a very beautiful story, I grew up here in Finistere, I learned to sail here. It makes me happy to see everyone gather to encourage us. It's up to me to succeed in my mission from now on," explained Le Cleac'h, who is setting off on his fourth around-the-world trip.

However, it's his first in a trimaran after competing in three Vendee Globes, including victory in 2017.

Completing a solo around-the-world trip in a trimaran is a rare accomplishment. Trimarans are faster, but experts regard the craft as much more fragile and riskier than a monohull.

Only seven sailors have achieved the feat, including just four who have done it non-stop.

The most recent was Francois Gabart, who set the record for the enterprise in 2017 after 42 days spent at sea.

On Sunday, he was on the SVR Lazartigue to accompany Laperche who, at 26, was setting off on his first circumnavigation of the globe.

"There's impatience, stress, concentration, emotion, a little bit of everything ...I'm going to make the most of it," said Laperche.

"The objective is to cross the finish line with a boat in good condition. It is one of the biggest challenges of all of our careers," added Caudrelier.

AFP