An Ultim from 2001 still racing, four names later
Launched in 2001 at the Multiplast yard (Vannes) for Olivier de Kersauson, the trimaran was designed by VPLP. Originally 33.80 m long and 21.10 m wide, rigged with a 43 m rotating wing mast, carbon/Nomex sandwich construction. In the 2022 Route du Rhum, Arthur Le Vaillant brought it back into racing as the oldest Ultim in the fleet — twenty-one years after its launch, under its fourth name.
Design and construction
Designed by VPLP (Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost), built by Multiplast with JMV Industries. Carbon/epoxy with Nomex core, rotating wing mast. The boat belongs to the series of maxi-multihulls produced by Multiplast in the early 2000s — six maxi-multis in seven years, a series unprecedented worldwide.
2013 refit: from maxi-tri to Ultim 32/23
Purchased by Sodebo and entrusted to Thomas Coville, the boat underwent a major refit by VPLP in 2013. Only the arms and three-quarters of the aft floats were retained; everything else was redesigned. Launched in 2014 under the name Sodebo Ultim', it was lengthened to 31 m to comply with the Ultim 32/23 class rules.
Boat achievements
- 2004 — Jules Verne Trophy crewed by Olivier de Kersauson, just over 63 days, under the name Geronimo.
- 2016 — Solo round-the-world record by Thomas Coville, 49 days 3 hours 7 minutes, under Sodebo Ultim'.
- 2022 — 6th in the Route du Rhum, Ultim 32/23 class, with Arthur Le Vaillant under the name Mieux.
The four lives
- 2001-2010 — Geronimo (Olivier de Kersauson).
- 2011-2018 — Sodebo Ultim' (Thomas Coville), after the 2013 refit.
- 2019-2020 — Actual Leader (Yves Le Blévec).
- 2021- — Mieux (Mieux team, Arthur Le Vaillant).
