After completing the Jules Verne Trophy at the end of January 2026 in 57 days, 21 hours and 20 minutes aboard Idec Sport CIC with The Famous Project CIC, an all-female crew, Alexia Barrier announced on Thursday her participation in the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe. It was the perfect opportunity for Sailorz to look back at how this new chapter has been put together.
“I will be the first woman to race in the Ultim class in the Route du Rhum,” Alexia Barrier announced enthusiastically on Thursday. “Even though this will be my second Route du Rhum [15th in IMOCA in 2018, Ed.], it feels like the first one because the sporting challenge is huge. We are once again coming in as the underdogs, with a small budget and a small team, but with the ambition to perform well.”
How was the decision to race the Route du Rhum (starting on 1 November from Saint-Malo) made? “When we finished the Jules Verne Trophy, all our partners were really pleased with what we had achieved and we could feel that they wanted to continue the adventure. But we didn’t know exactly how to make it happen, it took us five months to define the outline of this new chapter,” explains the skipper.
Before adding: “Several options were on the table and we went through a short period of uncertainty. Between our desire to enter the Ultim circuit, the possibility of turning towards an international record programme, and our shared ambition to compete in the Route du Rhum, we took the time to think through a coherent programme that would meet everyone’s needs. Personally, I was eager to return to solo sailing, and I felt that racing solo on an Ultim was part of the progression I wanted to follow. We also needed to know what Idec Sport wanted to do, as they own the boat.” While finalising her project, Alexia Barrier had informed OC Sport Pen Duick of her desire to be on the Route du Rhum start line and received confirmation that she could benefit from a wildcard entry.
THE FORMER ACTUAL ULTIM 3 CONSIDERED
Among the options considered by the team was changing boats for a more recent platform. Acquiring the former Actual Ultim 3, the trimaran eventually bought by Louis Burton with his new sponsor Armand Thiery, was one possibility explored. “It was very tempting, but beyond our means,” explains Alexia Barrier. “Moreover, you have to remain realistic in the current climate, and the idea is to keep a budget that is accessible for our partners and for those who might want to join us. Our budget, which is €1.8 million for our 2026 programme, is equivalent to those of the middle of the IMOCA fleet, while we are fortunate enough to be part of the leading class in offshore racing.”
The budget is covered by the three partners of The Famous Project CIC, who have all committed again. “Alexia is challenging conventions and helping to move the whole discipline forward. We are proud to support her in this new adventure,” explains Eric Pasquier, vice-chairman of the board of directors of Sopra Steria, in the press release, while Idec Group president Patrice Lafargue praises “this determination to achieve what nobody has yet dared to do.”
Speaking to Sailorz, Laurent Metral, deputy managing director in charge of human resources and communications at CIC, explains: “The Route du Rhum is a project that fully matches our ambitions. We support it both for its sporting dimension – it is a legendary race that Alexia will compete in on a boat with an impressive track record – and for this commitment to female entrepreneurship.”
“THE AIM IS TO GROW GRADUALLY”
The project is still looking for partners to support the Southern French sailor in the solo transatlantic race: “Ideally, we would need an additional €800,000 to be more comfortable,” she explains. “We would like to upgrade the electronics, replace more sails and strengthen our small team of around twelve people.”
Partners are also being sought for the years ahead, as the team is already looking towards two round-the-world campaigns in 2028: the Arkea Ultim Challenge (starting in January) and the Jules Verne Trophy at the end of the year. The ambition is also to equip the Ultim with new foils, a large cockpit cover, fibre optics and more technology. “Our goal is to gradually move towards larger budgets so that we can have the same equipment and resources as the male projects in terms of boats, and be ready when purchase opportunities arise,” explains Alexia Barrier.
Before adding: “A partner pool has just been created in Brest under the name Brest Oceans Leaders to showcase the region where we have been based for a year and to give many companies the opportunity to be part of the adventure through entry-level contributions ranging from €1,000 to €50,000.”
“FINISHING NOT TOO FAR BEHIND THE OTHERS”
The boat, which will be launched on 3 August, is currently undergoing a refit in Brest. The work programme includes: “Replacing our mainsail, which we blew out in Storm Ingrid two days before the finish of the Jules Verne Trophy, repairing our starboard foil and working on the boat’s ergonomics,” explains the sailor. “We will cut down the winch pedestals and raise the floor so that I am more comfortable during manoeuvres, and we plan to bring the galley, bunk and navigation station together under the cockpit cover so I don’t have to go below deck. On my side, I have 100 days of physical, mental and nutritional preparation to arrive fully ready,” says Alexia Barrier. “For me, that is the biggest challenge, because the rest – sailing the boat – doesn’t scare me.”
Before completing her 1,200-mile solo qualifying passage during the third week of August, Alexia Barrier will train with three of her Jules Verne Trophy crew members – Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes and Molly Lapointe – as well as sailors Brian Thompson and Loïck Peyron, who will join her for a few days. The skipper emphasises that “the aim will be to understand how to handle such a large boat solo with my build.” What about her sporting objective for the Route du Rhum? “I know it will be a tough battle, especially at the start where there could be manoeuvres in strong winds,” replies Alexia Barrier. “So the idea will be to stay focused, use this experience for the future and finish not too far behind the others in Guadeloupe.”
Photo : The Famous Project
