{"id":17068257,"date":"2026-11-12T07:35:29","date_gmt":"2026-11-12T06:35:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.idecsport.com\/?p=17068257"},"modified":"2026-11-12T08:38:52","modified_gmt":"2026-11-12T07:38:52","slug":"route-du-rhum-2026-alexia-barrier-first-woman-solo-ultim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.idecsport.com\/en\/route-du-rhum-2026-alexia-barrier-first-woman-solo-ultim\/","title":{"rendered":"Route du Rhum: Alexia Barrier becomes the first woman to cross the Atlantic solo in an Ultim"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Wednesday 11 November 2026, Pointe-\u00e0-Pitre. First woman in the overall rankings of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe after 10 days and 7 hours of racing, Alexia Barrier makes sailing history: she becomes the first woman to complete a solo transatlantic at the helm of a maxi-trimaran from the premier class, the Ultims.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The tears of joy came twenty minutes before the finish line. Once she had crossed it, at 3:42 pm local time, Alexia celebrated at the bow of the Ultim IDEC SPORT-CIC, flares in hand, as she approached a pontoon where a large crowd had gathered to cheer her in.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alexia
Alexia Barrier celebrates her arrival in Pointe-\u00e0-Pitre. \u00a9 Qaptur \/ The Famous Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

A major page in offshore racing history:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIt hasn\u2019t really sunk in yet.\u201d And yet Alexia Barrier has just written a major page in offshore racing history, after 10 days, 7 hours, 40 minutes and 13 seconds of solo sailing. Fifth in the Ultim rankings, she crowns months of work begun with her all-female round-the-world voyage with The Famous Project: \u201cSolo and crewed sailing are really not the same thing. I wasn\u2019t prepared for such an intense pace, it was completely crazy.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On an Atlantic crossing like no other, which saw three leading figures of the class forced to retire, the skipper managed to tame the power of her maxi-trimaran all the way to the finish line.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"The
The Ultim IDEC SPORT-CIC approaching Guadeloupe. \u00a9 Qaptur \/ The Famous Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI\u2019m 400% proud of my team\u201d:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This Route du Rhum will go down as one of the most complex ever in tactical terms. \u201cI\u2019ve done several transatlantics, it\u2019s a bit like crossing the street. This one was more like crossing it in the middle of a protest march!\u201d Alexia smiles. An analysis shared by Cl\u00e9ment Surtel, technical director of The Famous Project: \u201cFar from the royal trade-wind route, it was more like an English transat profile, with tricky strategic choices when it came to the fronts.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Between the northern route and low-pressure systems, the start of the race was demanding: \u201cNo sleep, hallucinations in the first few days, then the fronts where nobody got any respite.\u201d On 8 November, with the maxi-trimaran still at full potential, the mainsail tore under the impact of a very heavy sea. A major setback, overcome before facing the opposite challenge on leaving the tropical depression: \u201cLight airs are no rest, you have to keep trimming all the time.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite exhaustion, doubts and fear, Alexia is savouring the moment: \u201cI feel so privileged. I\u2019m proud of myself, I\u2019m 400% proud of my team.\u201d A formative experience during which she got the measure of the manoeuvres and built her automatic reflexes. \u201cShe handled it extremely well,\u201d says Cl\u00e9ment Surtel.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

True to her environmental commitments, Alexia also used the crossing to deploy an ARGO float, a chance \u201cto involve the Ultim class more closely in oceanographic research\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Alexia
Alexia Barrier\u2019s smile after ten days of racing. \u00a9 Qaptur \/ The Famous Project<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Patrice Lafargue, Chairman of IDEC SPORT:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cAlexia has shown exceptional strength of character, unwavering determination and a remarkable ability to see her commitment through, despite the difficulties encountered at sea. She fully embodies the values we hold dear: daring, perseverance, courage and the will to push the limits. We are proud to have supported her in this adventure and to see the IDEC SPORT boat cross the finish line once again by her side. I warmly congratulate her and her whole team on their achievement.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Daniel Baal, Chairman of CIC:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cA second challenge met for Alexia Barrier aboard her trimaran IDEC SPORT – CIC. This race will go down in offshore racing history for its toughness, its twists and turns and its incredible human adventures. Alexia has completed her odyssey across the Atlantic and becomes the first woman racing an Ultim to reach Pointe-\u00e0-Pitre. We are proud of her, and all CIC employees join me in thanking her for taking on this challenge with such panache.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eric Pasquier, Vice-President of Sopra Steria:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe Route du Rhum is an exceptionally demanding race that only a handful of sailors dare to tackle solo in an Ultim. With gruelling weather and a torn mainsail, Alexia has once again shown a resilience that commands the admiration of everyone at Sopra Steria. As the first woman to cross the finish line in an Ultim, she is paving the way for generations to come. Congratulations to her and her whole team: great adventures are always collective.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Her race in figures:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n