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Sodebo 1

Client Thomas Coville
Year 2007
Project type Offshore racing
Class Ultim

Crédits photos : Jean-Marie Liot

The ex-Géronimo trimaran, Sodebo refit 2013-2014

The boat has two lives. Launched on September 29, 2001 in Brest under the name Géronimo, it was designed by VPLP Design for Olivier de Kersauson and built by Multiplast (Vannes) and JMV Industries (Cherbourg). Purchased by Sodebo in February 2013 after six years of inactivity in Brest, it was extensively modified by Multiplast and relaunched in May 2014 under the name Sodebo Ultim'. Thomas Coville skippered it until the launch of Sodebo Ultim 3 in 2019.

Architecture and construction

100% carbon/honeycomb trimaran. Originally, Géronimo measured 33.80 m for the center hull, 22 m beam, 39 m mast, and displaced 17 t while racing.

2013-2014 refit

One year of refit work at Multiplast. The center hull was shortened to 31 m, the float bows were rebuilt, and the crossbeams were reinforced to accommodate foils. New mast (from the molds of the former Groupama 3). Foils, daggerboard, and rudders recovered from the trimaran Oracle Racing USA17. Overall weight reduction of 6 tonnes.

Post-refit specifications

  • Center hull length: 31 m
  • Beam: 21.20 m
  • Air draft: 37 m
  • Draft: 2.50 m
  • Sail area: 444 m² upwind, 663 m² downwind

Boat achievements

  • Jules Verne Trophy 2004 — skippered by Olivier de Kersauson, in 63 days 13 hours 59 minutes 46 seconds (finish April 29, 2004).
  • Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 — 2nd with Coville/Nélias, 7 hours behind Macif.
  • Solo round-the-world record 2016 — Thomas Coville, 49 days 3 hours 7 minutes 38 seconds (finish December 25, 2016), first under 50 days solo.
  • Solo 24-hour record 2016 — 714 nautical miles covered (29.75 knots average), first solo passage under 700 nautical miles in 24 hours.
  • Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 — winner with Coville/Nélias in 7 days 22 hours 7 minutes.
  • Route du Rhum 2018 — 3rd with Coville (race interrupted by damage repaired in La Coruña, resumed to Pointe-à-Pitre).