Ultim : les dernières infos Tip & Shaft

After a winter marked by round-the-world records, the Ultim fleet is now looking ahead to the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, which, for the first time in the class’s history, could bring together up to eight trimarans. Between the launch of Gitana 18 and the announcement of two new builds, the class is experiencing an unprecedented period, despite a reduced 2026 programme following the postponement of the Odyssée Ultim. 

Banque Populaire announced on Monday the launch of a new Ultim for 2029, designed by Antoine Koch’s AKO and built at CDK. Sailorz tells you more about the decision made by the sponsor and the future trimaran for Armel Le Cléac’h.

Highly anticipated, the new Gitana 18, designed by Guillaume Verdier with the Gitana Team, was unveiled on Wednesday in Lorient. Sailorz was present and introduces you to the main innovations of Charles Caudrelier’s Ultim.

After a refit and paint job in her new colours, Actual Ultim 4, the former Gitana 17, was unveiled on Tuesday in Lorient before being launched the following morning. Tip & Shaft spoke to Samuel Tual, chairman of Actual group.

On April 22, the Ultim class unveiled its racing calendar for the next four seasons, alternating between major classics, record attempts and a new project in the Mediterranean. The new measurement system was also approved, with the aim of offering greater visibility and stability to a class that hopes to attract new entrants.

François Gabart announced on Thursday his intention to set off next September on a three-year round-the-world family voyage on a cruising catamaran. In his absence, he will entrust the management of his company MerConcept to a duo formed by Cécile Andrieu and Thibault Garin, Tip & Shaft tells you more.

The SVR-Lazartigue team announced this week that Franck Cammas would be Tom Laperche’s co-skipper this year in the Ultim class, with the Fastnet, 24h Ultim and Transat Café L’Or on the program. An opportunity for Tip & Shaft to chat with the 52-year-old from Aix-en-Provence, who is still looking for partners to launch his Imoca project.

Armel Le Cléac’h has had a busy year, with third place in the Arkea Ultim Challenge-Brest, the torch relay between Brest and the French West Indies, a stopover in Marseilles and then Paris for the Olympic Games. Before returning to the helm in September of Banque Populaire XI for the 24h Ultim (4th) and the Finistère Atlantique, which sets off on Saturday from Concarneau bound for Antibes. Tip & Shaft rewinds this season with the sailor from Saint-Pol-de-Léon.