Record smashed
Thomas Coville’s Sodebo Ultim 3 has set a new non-stop around the world record time to win the Jules Verne Trophy.
26 January 2026
Advertisement
After 40 days, 10 hours, 45 minutes and 50 seconds, Sodebo Ultim 3 breaks the new Jules Verne Trophy record previously held by IDEC Sport since 2017.
Thomas Coville’s Sodebo team crossed the virtual finish line between Ushant and Lizard Point this morning at 0746 (French time), after 40 days, 10 hours, and 45 minutes at sea, setting a new time for the fastest ever boat to sail non-stop around the world and claim the Jules Verne Trophy.
The Jules Verne Trophy requires participants to complete a non-stop, unassisted, crewed, around-the-world sailing circumnavigation via the “three capes”: Cape of Good Hope, Cape Leeuwin and Cape Horn.
Advertisement
The Sodebo Ultim 3 – crewed by Thomas Coville with Benjamin Schwartz, Frédéric Denis, Pierre Leboucher, Léonard Legrand, Guillaume Pirouelle – completed the circumnavigation 12 hours and 44 minutes faster than Francis Joyon’s long-standing previous record, which was held by IDEC Sport since 2017.
The team sailed 28,315 miles non-stop at an average speed of 27.17 knots.
After setting off from Ushant, they reached the Equator in just 4 days and 4 hours, and the Cape of Good Hope in just under 11 days.
Sodebo rounded Cape Leuuwin, having sailed half way around the planet, in 17 days and 1 hour – at that point having maintained an average speed of 32.1 knots since the start.
They crossed the Pacific in just 7 days, 12 hours and 12 minutes — taking three hours off the previous fastest time set by François Gabart (subject to WSSRC validation). And on the return leg, they were 20 hours and 49 minutes ahead of Idec Sport at the Equator crossing.
By that point they had already sailed nearly 2,000 miles further than IDEC Sport, and had maintained a blistering average pace of 29.9 knots since the start.
They team were still on course to break the symbolic 40-day barrier until the final miles, when Storm Ingrid forced them to take a westerly course and slow the trimaran in a potentially boat-breaking sea state.
Apart from the loss of a rudder casing, they got through Storm Ingrid relatively unscathed and were able to get back up to 30-knot speeds for the final approach to Ushant, crossing at 0746 25 January 2026.
Colville has twice set a Jules Verne record as crew — with Olivier de Kersauson in 1997 on Sport Elec (71 days), and the second in 2010 with Franck Cammas on Groupama 3 (48 days).
In 2019 he launched his new Sodebo Ultim 3, with the goal of becoming the fastest boat ever to sail around the world — see more about the remarkable boat and watch our exclusive video tour.
Over the past six years the Sodebo team have made three attempts at the Jules Verne. This is the first time an Ultim has sailed non-stop around the world.
Coville has been supported by Sodebo, a family-run food company that has a huge presence on the French offshore racing world, since 1998. Co-president Patricia Brochard was one of thousands who turned out to welcome Coville and crew back into Brest.
“It’s an intense joy, a mix of relief and excitement,” Brochard commented.
“We’re surrounded by family, friends, partners, and many Sodebo employees. We’re very happy and very proud to share this moment with them, just as our sailors have done throughout their journey. It’s the culmination of the wonderful story we’ve been writing together for 27 years with Thomas (Coville).
“What pleases us is seeing women and men united around a common project, with unwavering determination. They demonstrate here what’s important to us every day in our company. They’ve moved forward together, they’ve grown together, just like our employees, who are highly motivated and committed to growing Sodebo.”
Advertisement
Advertisement
Advertisement
