Route du Rhum: Defending Champion Charles Caudrelier Suffers Foil Damage on Maxi Edmond de Rothschild

Defending champion Charles Caudrelier has reported significant damage to the port foil of his Ultim trimaran, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, while navigating north of the Azores. The incident marks the second major technical failure in the category, as the skipper works with his shore team to secure the vessel and assess repair options.

Charles Caudrelier, the winner of the 2022 edition of the Route du Rhum, alerted his shore team early Tuesday morning regarding a serious incident involving his boat, the Maxi Edmond De Rothschild. The damage occurred on the port foil of the Ultim trimaran while the skipper was sailing downwind approximately 400 nautical miles north of the Azores. At the time of the incident, conditions included a sea state of three meters and northerly winds ranging between 20 and 25 knots.

Prior to this event, Caudrelier held fourth place among the Ultim class fleet in the race heading toward Guadeloupe. The skipper is reported to be safe, and the situation on board is currently under control. Supported by his team on land, Caudrelier is conducting necessary operations to secure the damaged foil while simultaneously investigating the full extent of the damage aboard the vessel. Meanwhile, his routing cell is analyzing various possible scenarios for the continuation of the race.

This incident follows concerns expressed by Caudrelier just days before the start of the competition regarding the reliability of his new Ultim, which was launched earlier in the year. Speaking to Le Figaro, he had noted that while the boat's systems were functioning well, it typically takes two years to fully validate a giant trimaran. He admitted that having completed no more than three consecutive days at sea prior to the race, he could not guarantee the vessel would withstand the entire duration of the Route du Rhum, citing a need for further knowledge regarding the boat's adjustment options.

Caudrelier is now the second skipper in the eight-boat Ultim category to suffer significant damage during this edition. Earlier on Monday morning, Anthony Marchand, sailing the Actual Ultim, reported a major technical issue with his central rudder. That incident forced Marchand to stop his boat at sea to secure it before heading toward Ireland for repairs. The Actual Ultim is the former vessel of Caudrelier, with which he previously won the Route du Rhum.

Sources: Le Figaro.

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