Armel Le Cléac’h, Charles Caudrelier, Thomas Coville, Anthony Marchand, Tom Laperche — some of the biggest names in sailing competition — gathered in Antibes to present this new Mediterranean odyssey. Next spring, from April 29 to May 10, 2026, spectators will be able to admire the most spectacular boats of offshore racing in front of the city’s historic ramparts.
These “ULTIM” multihulls, gliding (or flying?) in the footsteps of Homer’s Odyssey, will race towards the unknown (or almost), in what promises to be a thrilling and epic sprint that will take them to the shores of Greece, before returning to Antibes and its marina — one of the largest in Europe, boasting 25 centuries of history.
For these champions, this is almost a first: they humbly admitted, especially in front of the elements, that they are not familiar with this playground. Indeed, all agreed, “to shine here, you must withstand the particular challenges of the Mediterranean, a notably tricky environment for sailors. Wind shifts are sudden and varied, the sea state can be very deceptive, and one must be extremely vigilant to make the best of it without losing ground to rivals. The Mediterranean is so unpredictable that it would have been difficult to race solo on these boats where every maneuver is long and demanding.”
After two days of “runs” (short timed courses) under the city’s ramparts, the official start will be on Sunday, May 3, in Antibes, the nerve center of the race. The skippers will then head towards Olympia, the twin city of Antibes. However, the route will depend on weather conditions. “You can have very strong winds or periods of calm,” reminds Francis Le Goff, race director. “Our only constraint is to reach Olympia, which is the DNA of this race.” Then, if weather permits, “we could consider rounding Malta, heading to the Balearic Islands, before returning to Antibes.” The sailors are expected at the finish line on Friday, May 8, after a sprint of five days covering more than 2,000 miles (3,704 km).
Beyond the competition itself, whose start and winner’s arrival will be celebrated in the city, the race will also be an opportunity for exchange, sharing, and conviviality. The village, set up at the gates of Antibes’ historic city center for twelve days, will host numerous festivities, educational and cultural initiatives. Fun workshops, concerts, meetings with local businesses, and other events will put the public front and center to discover these outstanding sailors and their iconic boats: Banque Populaire, Sodebo, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Actual, and SVR-Lazartigue — giants measuring 32 meters long. A unique occasion to unite and celebrate the Mediterranean and Antibes in all their glory.
Such an event would not be possible without the commitment of key individuals and dynamic companies, including Patrick Gilliot, co-founder of CapMed and organizer of the Ultim Odyssey, alongside Samuel Tual, president of the Ultim class and Actual Group, Serge Amar, Vice-president of the Région Sud and Deputy Mayor of Antibes Juan-les-Pins, who emphasized: “The region has a 100% sustainable development budget for sports and events. We could not fail to support this event. I was fortunate to board an Ultim during the Finistère Atlantique runs last year, and it was magnificent. I’m happy our fellow citizens will experience such an event next year!”
Audouin Rambaud, Deputy Mayor of Antibes Juan-les-Pins and President of EPIC (Tourism and Congress Office of Antibes), added: “The city of Antibes Juan-les-Pins creates a unique alliance between the high technology of Sophia Antipolis and the Formula 1 of the seas that are the Ultims, sparking a nautical revolution where innovation and performance meet on the waves.” The closing word went to Simon Perrot, the new CEO of the Nice-Matin group who arrived in 2024, pledging extensive coverage of the event across the regional daily’s various editions.
Source:forbes
