Paris, September 16, 2025 – The Naval Museum hosted a historic announcement today : Alexia Barrier and her project The Famous Project CIC unveiled the 100% female crew who will attempt, aboard the maxi-trimaran IDEC SPORT, to take on one of the greatest challenges in sailing : the Jules Verne Trophy.
An unprecedented challenge in the history of offshore racing
This project goes far beyond simply completing a round-the-world voyage with an all-female crew. The goal of The Famous Project CIC is clear :
- To establish a first benchmark time for a nonstop and unassisted round-the-world trip completed by a 100% female crew.
- To attempt to beat the absolute record for the Jules Verne Trophy, which rewards the fastest round-the-world voyage, across all categories.
What makes this adventure unique is that no 100% female team has yet completed a round-the-world trip in this format or won this prestigious trophy.
The Jules Verne Trophy : the Everest of sailing
Since its creation in 1993, the Jules Verne Trophy has seen 33 attempts but only 9 boats have managed to complete the journey within the allotted time.
The presence of women has remained rare :
- 1998: Tracy Edwards and her all-female crew (Royal & SunAlliance), stopped after dismasting.
- 2003: Ellen MacArthur, the only woman aboard Kingfisher.
- 2015: Dona Bertarelli, the only woman on Spindrift.
- 2024: Amélie Grassi, the sole woman on the SVR Lazartigue crew.
In over 30 years, no exclusively female crew has yet completed an attempt. The Famous Project CIC could therefore make history with the maxi-trimaran IDEC SPORT.
A Legendary Boat : the Maxi Trimaran IDEC SPORT
The challenge will take place on a boat that has already made history. Built in 2006 to a VPLP design, the Maxi Trimaran IDEC SPORT has held the Jules Verne Trophy since 2017, when Francis Joyon and his crew completed a round-the-world trip in 40 days, 23 hours, 30 minutes, and 30 seconds.
An International and Multidisciplinary Crew
Around Alexia Barrier, captain and founder of the project, six sailors from diverse backgrounds are joining forces. Coming from the Olympics, IMOCA, or The Ocean Race, they represent a united, determined, and multicultural team:
- Dee Caffari (Great Britain) – First mate, pioneer of solo round-the-world voyages.
- Annemieke Bes (Netherlands) – Olympic and offshore sailor.
- Rebecca Gmuer (Switzerland/New Zealand) – Young offshore racing prospect.
- Deborah Blair (Great Britain) – Promising British sailor.
- Molly Lapointe (American-Italian) – Boat captain, winner of the Ocean Globe Race.
- Tamara Echegoyen (Spain) – Olympic and world champion.
A Crew That Embodies Sporting Excellence as Well as Values of Sharing, Resilience, and Solidarity.
A Strong Commitment from IDEC SPORT
Patrice Lafargue, President of the IDEC Group, emphasized the importance of this partnership :
“IDEC SPORT is proud to support Alexia Barrier and her crew in this visionary project. Our trimaran carries a unique history, and to see it entrusted today to a 100% female crew ready to take on one of the most demanding challenges in sport is a tremendous source of pride. The Jules Verne Trophy is both a human and technological adventure, and we are honored to be writing a new chapter.”
Next Steps
After intense preparation and a complete overhaul of the boat, the crew is now fully focused on its goal. Stand-by will begin in mid-November 2025, awaiting the best weather window to set off on their quest to conquer the globe and attempt to break one of sailing’s most legendary records.
IDEC SPORT, a Global Commitment to Sport
Since its inception, IDEC SPORT has established itself as a key player in high-level sports, beyond just sailing.
In motorsport, IDEC SPORT has been active since 2015 in endurance racing, with regular participation in the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the ELMS (European Le Mans Series) championships. The team notably won the ELMS title in 2019.
In rugby, IDEC SPORT actively supports Axelle Berthoumieu, a back-row player on the French women’s national team, embodying the values of determination and commitment that reflect the Group’s DNA.
In football, IDEC SPORT partners with professional clubs, contributing to the training and performance of future generations.
In sailing, IDEC SPORT has already made history with Francis Joyon and his around-the-world record and today continues this human and technological adventure with The Famous Project CIC.
Through these multiple commitments, IDEC SPORT affirms its desire to promote performance, self-improvement, and team spirit — values common to all sports fields, whether on a racing circuit, in a stadium, or on the ocean.
