The Famous Project CIC Jules Verne Trophy record attempt - Day 6
by Agence TB Press 5 Dec 2025 08:58 GMT
29 November 2025
The Famous Project CIC, aboard the maxi trimaran IDEC SPORT, during their Jules Verne Trophy record attempt © The Famous Project CIC
A long, fast tack in the trade winds
We like to repeat it over and over again: to date, no 100% female crew has managed to carve its name on the Jules Verne Trophy. Only, perhaps, Switzerland's Dona Bertarelli (Maxi trimaran Spindrift) and Britain's Dame Ellen McArthur (trimaran B&Q Castorama solo) can boast of having completed the loop in a multihull.
These giants of the seas, now 31 meters long and more, are the almost exclusive privilege of a handful of long-distance sailors, experienced in navigating at impressive speeds. Patiently, diligently, as humble as they are committed, the eight women of The Famous Project CIC improve their game day after day, with no pressure other than the desire to do well, attentive to the boat and to themselves, convinced that it is their professionalism and pure talent, honed on all major ocean races and Olympic regattas, as well as their kindness and spirit of sharing, that will lead them to the conclusion of their colossal challenge.
Five contrasting days...
The first five days of their circumnavigation perfectly illustrate this state of mind, from the caution of their departure in rough seas and stormy squalls to the tricky crossing of an anticyclonic ridge off the coast of Portugal. Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen) et Stacey (Jackson) have since been sailing downwind in a trade wind true to its capricious and unstable nature. The maxi trimaran is shaking off the dust and lengthening its stride south of the Cape Verde Islands. The next feat of bravery in this immense adventure is already upon them: the Doldrums, the Intertropical Convergence Zone, that part of the globe just above the equator, where the northeast and southeast trade winds collide, creating an area of great stormy instability, where sudden gusts of over 30 knots alternate with endless moments of dead calm. Alexia and her "Angesl" have their sights set on the narrowest possible passage, which they hope will stabilise and not swell as they approach. The verdict will be in tomorrow, Saturday.
Alexia Barrier's account:
"Over the last 48 hours, I've finally been able to breathe. The sea has calmed down for a moment, just enough for us to catch our breath, for the boat to settle down, for everything to return to a kind of natural rhythm. Of course, there are still those squalls, always, which come and tease us, sometimes even annoy us, but that's part of the game. We make adjustments, we adapt. On Wednesday, between the Canary Islands and Cape Verde, we were able to deploy a drifting weather buoy. A simple gesture in appearance, but a scientific, useful, rare, and historic one. This is the first time that a buoy of this type has been deployed from a trimaran sailing around the world. These small, discreet but essential buoys measure atmospheric pressure, sea temperature, and surface currents. They send their data every hour, free of charge, to the international scientific community. They are the eyes and ears of the ocean. "
The tempo of the trade winds
"Since Madeira, we have really entered into the rhythm of the trade winds. We are picking up speed, looking for the right angles, experiencing squalls and maneuvers... The boat is flying, the transitions are smooth, and we feel that the crew has found its cruising speed. It's a long, challenging leg, with the wind changing constantly in strength and direction: we have to be on top of it... We work hour after hour, staying focused on the course and the small adjustments that make all the difference on a maxi-trimaran like IDEC SPORT. The atmosphere is studious and serene: we know that every mile counts. We are in a well-established trade wind, with the wind oscillating between 18 and 30 knots depending on the squalls. The sea is relatively manageable but still rough enough to keep us wide awake. The squalls still bother us from time to time, but that's part of the game: observe, anticipate, react. Overall, these are ideal conditions for speed. "
Constantly adjusting the sails
"We are sailing with the mainsail up or with one reef, and the J1/J2 at the bow, depending on the wind variations. We adjust to maintain the right balance between power and control. Reefing downwind is always challenging, but the crew has mastered the manoeuvre and it's going smoothly."
Intense hours at the helm...
"The hours at the helm are intense. We push, we feel, we listen to the boat as if she were a living creature. We try to use the autopilot more to save some of our strength. Taking in reefs downwind... ah, that's never fun. Downwind, when the wind is rolling in, it's not easy at all. But the crew always delivers. We try to use the autopilot more when possible, but we have to remain vigilant. Steering requires precision, lucidity—and a lot of energy. We rotate regularly, every 30 minutes, to stay fresh and efficient."
Eating, steering, sleeping, adjusting, watching the sky...
"The rhythm becomes almost organic: eating, steering, sleeping, adjusting, watching the sky... and starting all over again. The trade winds impose a steady but demanding pace on us. The boat lives at high frequency: everything vibrates, everything accelerates, everything sings. It's a mixture of routine, endurance, and constant wonder at this incredible glide."
A snub to the fashion police...
"The temperatures are clearly rising. We can feel that we are heading south: we've taken out our shorts and Crocs. Fortunately, the fashion police are unlikely to catch up with us! We hydrate a lot and protect ourselves. "
A weekend in the Doldrums
"The Doldrums are like a living animal: unpredictable, shifting, sometimes generous, sometimes ruthless. The goal is to get to the right place at the right time, at the right angle. We know that this phase can make or break an attempt. So yes, we look at it as the judge it is. And it also came into consideration once we passed Cape Verde. "
Express repairs!
For several days, the crew had sensed that some bolts in the steering system had come loose. So the girls took advantage of their arrival in the Cape Verde archipelago, off the coast of Sal Island, to remove the port rudder and tighten everything up. In 30 minutes flat, the mission was accomplished and The Famous Project CIC was able to resume its forward march !
Quick Links: