Final-mile damage for Jules Verne challengers off Ushant
Alexandra
At approximately 400 miles off Ushant, Sodebo was sustaining bursts above 30 knots while remaining some 470 miles ahead of the 2017 pace set by Francis Joyon on Idec Sport, even as the team managed a controlled northward routing to avoid the worst of Storm Ingrid. In parallel, The Famous Project — about 800 miles from the finish — has been reduced to a dramatically simplified sail plan after catastrophic mainsail failure, forcing both crews to reconfigure systems, navigation and arrival logistics during the closing window of their Jules Verne Trophy attempts.
Rudder damage aboard Sodebo
Sailing under a J3 and a reefed mainsail, Sodebo encountered sustained gale conditions with gusts exceeding 50 knots and swells in the 8–10 metre range. The starboard rudder sleeve began to delaminate under load and subsequently tore away, leaving the rudder trim tab gone while the primary steering linkages remained operational.
Team communications indicate the detached sleeve did not lead to loss of steering; however, the failure increased on-board workload and tactical conservatism. The crew deliberately carried reduced points of sail to keep the Ultim platform in a safer orientation relative to the seas, trading off potential outright speed for system reliability.
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Immediate operational consequences
- Steering integrity: Primary steering maintained, but with degraded redundancy.
- Speed and routing: Boat returned to sustainable cruising at ~30 knots following the incident.
- Arrival window: Projected finish moved to a close-time arrival around 0700 on the next day, with the record expected to be broken by hours rather than a dramatic sub-40-day margin.
The Famous Project: mainsail and systems failures
The all-female crew of The Famous Project — led by Alexia Barrier and including Dee Caffari — lost the majority of their mainsail: an initial tear at the second reef propagated from luff to leech, leaving the sail unusable. The team has been sailing largely under the wingmast and headsail, supplementing with a makeshift hoist of the mainsail headboard acting as an improvised reef.
Compounding sail damage, The Famous Project reported loss of the starboard daggerboard and a failure of both autopilots, requiring manual steering and careful power management to preserve course and crew endurance for the remaining miles.
Sail-plan adjustments and seakeeping
- Configured with the head of the mainsail set as a small reef and the J2 headsail to regain consistent speed.
- Used the wingmast’s inherent power (noted as ~30 m² rotational area) to compensate for missing mainsail area.
- Maintained conservative angles into expected freshening winds, optimizing VMG while protecting structure and crew.
Comparative damage summary
| Vessel | Distance to finish | Major damage | Current sail/config | Effect on record bid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sodebo (Thomas Coville) | ~400 nm | Starboard rudder sleeve shredded; trim tab lost | J3 + reefed mainsail; steering intact | Still on record pace; margin likely measured in hours |
| The Famous Project (Alexia Barrier / Dee Caffari) | ~800 nm | Mainsail ripped luff-to-leech; starboard daggerboard lost; autopilots failed | Wingmast + headboard + J2; manual steering | Not contesting absolute Jules Verne record; aiming to finish as first all-female non-stop circumnavigation |
Logistics, safety and finish-line planning
Both crews have entered a phase where logistical decisions — choice of arrival time, communication with maritime authorities, and post-finish recovery — are as important as pure boat speed. Ports around Ushant and the approaches to northern France will need notification of arrival windows, tug and berthing availability, and any technical support required to inspect composite damage and systems such as rudder bearings, daggerboard trunks, and autopilot electronics.
For organizers and shore teams, spare-part staging and diver/inspection teams should be ready to act immediately. For charter operators and yacht owners watching these events, the incidents underline the operational emphasis on redundancy, clear maintenance protocols, and pre-positioned logistics for emergency repairs in high-seas racing or long-distance cruising.
Practical takeaways for sailors and charterers
- Prioritize redundancy on critical systems: steering, autopilot, and daggerboard actuators.
- Plan conservative arrival strategies when encountering storm remnants near busy approaches.
- Maintain transparent communication with ports and coastguards to secure safe berthing and repair windows.
- For charterers: verify insurance and salvage options when booking blue-water passages or long-distance charters.
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The key highlights here are the resilience of modern Ultim platforms, the human factor under sustained stress, and how even leading teams must adapt quickly when composite structures and control systems fail. Experiencing a new location is always a multifaceted process: one learns about the culture, nature, the indescribable palette of local colors, its rhythm of life and also the unique aspects of the service. If you are planning your next trip to the sea, you should definitely consider renting a boat (boat rentals, rent a boat, rent a yacht), as each inlet, bay, and lagoon is unique and tells you about the region just as much as the local cuisine, architecture, and language GetBoat.com
Forecast: this damage story is highly relevant within the global offshore racing and blue-water sailing communities but relatively limited in direct impact on global tourism and travel patterns. Still, it matters to recreational sailors and charter customers because it reinforces the importance of safety margins, equipment checks and flexible itineraries. However, it remains locally significant for port authorities and marine service providers in Ushant and nearby marinas. GetBoat aims to stay abreast of developments like this so customers can choose routes and vessels with informed confidence.
In summary, both Sodebo and The Famous Project faced critical mechanical and sail failures inside the final miles of their Jules Verne Trophy attempts; Sodebo retained steering despite a shredded starboard rudder sleeve, while The Famous Project continued under wingmast and headsail after losing its mainsail and other systems. The incidents underscore the value of redundancy, decisive seamanship, and shore-side logistics planning. For anyone planning charters, yacht charters or private sailing holidays, these events highlight why careful selection and preparation matter. Whether you are booking a day sail, a yacht charter, or considering the purchase or sale of a boat or superyacht, platforms like GetBoat provide a transparent, global, user-friendly solution to help secure unforgettable experiences on the sea — from marinas to clearwaters, from fishing trips to full yacht charters. Book with confidence.
