The Extraordinary Solo Race Around the World - Arkea Ultim Challenge Brest 2024

Six 32m trimarans racing solo around the world, it's never been done before. In fact, to date only four people have ever completed a solo lap of the planet in a multihull. The Arkea Ultime Challenge Brest is an extraordinary race between six exceptional sailors aboard a fleet of incredible machines, most of them fully foiling. The race started on 7 January 2024 and is expected to take between 40-50 days for the front runners. Matt Sheahan went to Brest ahead of the start to talk to one of the favourites and current monohull round the world record holder, Armel Le Cleac'h aboard Maxi Banque Populaire XI. The man, the machine and the mission.