The ULTIM® Class presents its race programme through until 2028

by Matthieu Honoré 9 May 08:49 BST

The ULTIM® Class © ULTIM®

Synonymous with excellence and innovation in the world of ocean racing, the ULTIM® Class presents an ambitious sport programme for the next four seasons, alternating single-handed, double-handed and crewed races.

The classics at the rendezvous

Underpinned by the great classics which engage the wider public the circuit remains strong. Starting out thus Autumn the fleet will be present in Le Havre for the start of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR - Le Havre Normandie, which will be sailed two up, double-handed. Visitors will be able to admire the giants of the seas in the Eure Basin and visit the ULTIM® exhibition Pavilion before they sprint towards Martinique.

The other major transatlantic race is of course the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, which will set sail from St-Malo in Autumn 2026. Raced single-handed, this race is a pinnacle that every sailor dreams of adding to the list of achievements. Since its first edition in 1978, it has been a holy grail whose history is inherently linked to those of the great multihulls.

And as the ULTIMs® with their high speeds seem to shorten distances, the entire lap of the planet is a playground for them for records but also in races. The ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE - Brest, which was a great success in its first edition, is now establishing itself as an unmissable event. The second edition of this solo round the world race will start in Brest at the beginning of 2028.

The Mediterranean, ULTIM's new playground

The ULTIM® Class is back in the Mediterranean in 2026. As early as 2024, the giant trimarans were welcomed to Antibes during the Finistère Atlantique. This sporting and popular success set a foundations for a more ambitious race: the ULTIM® Odyssey. This race offers a unique route, in the footsteps of the heroes of Greek mythology and offers a historical and cultural dimension to the sports programme. It will be officially presented to the media, in the presence of the skippers, on 10 June in Antibes.

A project in the North Sea

In the north of France, another project is being studied, that of the Course des Caps starting from Boulogne-sur-Mer. After a first edition open to monohulls this year, the ULTIM® could set sail for the more northerly latitudes in 2027.

A full calendar for a maximum number of competitions

Beyond these unmissable events, the ULTIMs® seize every opportunity to go racing because competition against each other is the best preparation. The ArMen Race and the Tour de Belle-Île will therefore welcome some ULTIMs®. It will be an opportunity for the other participants, enthusiasts and amateurs, to make a few tacks of their own alongside the giants of the seas before the kick-off. Every two years, the Rolex Fastnet Race is also a great moment of sharing. The ULTIMs® were the flagships of a fleet of more than 500 boats racing between Cowes (Isle of Wight) and Cherbourg-en-Cotentin. They complete this 600-mile course after just one single night at sea, while the slower, smaller boats can spend a week racing. Finally, the ULTIMs® will have the opportunity to meet again this year in a port they know well: Lorient. They will meet again at the start of the new school year for the 24 Hours ULTIM, a double-handed sprint ideal for preparing for the major events of the autumn.

Hungry for records

Of course this busy and varied programme also leaves room for the pursuit of crewed or solo records. The giant trimarans will be able to try to break times on the various reference routes in the Mediterranean, Atlantic or even around the world. Winter in France, or the austral summer, remains the ideal time to dare to tackle the most coveted of them: the Jules Verne Trophy.

Samuel Tual, Président of the ULTIM® Class: "This programme is a reflection of what we have been building for several years: a demanding, varied circuit that combines mythical events and new formats. The idea is to offer a playground that is up to the level of the boats and the sailors, while remaining connected to the public and to the evolution of our sport. "

2025

The Tour de Belle Ile en Mer - La Trinité-sur-Mer - 9 to 11 May 2025

ArMen Race - La Trinité-sur-Mer - 29 May to 01 June 2025

Isle of Wight Tour - Cowes - 7 to 11 June 2025

Rolex Fastnet Race - Cowes- Cherbourg-en-Cotentin - 24 July to 1 August 2025

24H ULTIM - Lorient - 25 to 28 September 2025

TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR - Normandie - Le Havre - Fort de France - 17 to 26 October 2025

2026

ULTIM® Odyssey - Antibes - April 28 to May 10, 2026

Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe - Saint Malo - Pointe à Pitre - November 2026

2027

Rolex Fastnet Race - Cowes- Cherbourg-en-Cotentin - Summer

TRANSAT CAFÉ L'OR - Normandie - Le Havre - Fort de France - Autumn

Project under study:

Courses des Caps - Boulogne-sur-Mer - July 2027

2028

ARKEA ULTIM CHALLENGE BREST - Brest - Early 2028

ULTIM® Odyssey - Antibes - Date to be confirmed

The ULTIM® Class announces the launch of its website. This platform, designed as an immersive showcase, offers privileged access to the fascinating world of these exceptional multihulls. Follow at www.classeultim.org

The teams: