Thursday 5 November 2026 – A demanding night crossing the front!
Crossing the front meant another night of hard work for Alexia Barrier. Between gusts and a cross sea, the skipper of the Ultim IDEC SPORT-CIC had to gradually reduce sail and cope with sudden accelerations. On Thursday morning, the update is reassuring: the trimaran has no technical issues and Alexia is fine. Lack of sleep, however, remains a major challenge for the rest of the race.
Update from Clément Surtel, technical director:
“We had anticipated this crossing well.” To adapt the boat to the strengthening wind, Alexia first swapped the J1 for the J2, then took a reef in the mainsail before switching to the J3. In the strongest gusts, the maxi-trimaran can accelerate up to 40 knots: with the cross sea, these sudden changes demand constant vigilance, and chances to rest remain rare.
Since the start, manoeuvres and changes of pace have left her little respite. With the boat in good shape, recovery now becomes central: every calmer spell must help her regain strength before the next manoeuvres.
Miles gained towards Guadeloupe:
At the time of this update, the Ultim IDEC SPORT-CIC is going faster than the nearby Ocean Fifty boats. The weather remains complex: the trade winds are not yet established and the team hopes the wind will stabilise in the coming hours, giving Alexia a welcome lull. Guadeloupe is still far away, but every mile brings her closer to the finish.
Excerpt from The Famous Project’s logbook
Follow the adventure on IDEC SPORT social media and live on the race tracker.
