At the helm of their ultimate Banque Populaire XI trimaran Armel Le Cléac’h and Kevin Escoffier are among the headliners of the Transat Jacques Vabre. For its 15th edition, the double-handed race will link Le Havre to Fort-de-France in Martinique. Among the 4 categories lined up for the start on November 7, the big ultimate trimarans are making a comeback.
It’s a big challenge for us. Armel Le Cleac’h
Armel Le Cleach, accustomed to the Jacques Vabre in Imoca, is now at the helm of this true Formula 1 of the sea, capable of taking off very quickly over the water. “This is a big challenge for us on a course which will be quite long for us in the end, because we are going to cover almost 8,000 miles (more than 12,000 km) so almost twice the distance on the direct route from Le Havre to the Martinique. There we will lengthen by going to veer islands off the coast of Brésil, then pass through Ecuador and the Doldrums a second time. It will be long”. Banque Populaire XI was only launched last April.
– Jérémie Lecaudey / BPCE
It is a fantastic boat. Kevin escoffier
Armel Le Cleac’h has chosen Kevin Escoffier as co-skipper, recovered from his sinking in November 2020 in the Vendée Globe: “I have to think about it again because people talk to me about it and it is quite normal. It’s a story that has marked the Vendée Globe. Today I am not traumatized. I am very happy that Armel offered this to me because it is a fantastic boat. It goes quickly. They are the most beautiful offshore racing boats in the world today. We will have to continue to learn during the race “.
4 other ultimate trimarans are competing for this Transat Jacques Vabre : Sodebo Ultim 3 by Thomas Coville, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild by Franck Cammas, SVR Lazartigue by François Gabart and Actual Ultim 3 by Yves Le Blévec.
