Nice UltiMed: Offshore Race of trimarans

• An offshore sprint starting and finishing in Nice via Corsica, Sardinia the Balearic Islands and the coastline of the Région Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
• 12 days of celebration between 25th April and 6th May 2018. 
• A crew race with 3 to 6 crew members per boat. 
• 4 outstanding skippers: Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim’), Francis Joyon (IDEC Sport), Armel Le Cléac’h (Banque Populaire IX) and Yves Le Blévec (Actual Ultim) 
• The biggest racing boats in the world: maxi trimarans measuring more than 30 metres.

THE BIGGEST BOATS, THE GREATEST SKIPPERS AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL SETTING

A CLASH OF TITANS

Thomas Coville (2nd fastest man solo round-the-world record holder), Francis Joyon (current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy), Armel Le Cléac’h (winner of the last Vendée Globe) and Yves Le Blévec (3rd in the 2011 Transat Jacques Vabre) will be lining up to take starter’s orders for this unprecedented race. These outstanding sailors are capable of taming the oceans single-handedly on the Ultims, veritable monsters of the seas.

For Nice UltiMed, the skippers will be sailing their maxi trimarans assisted by crews. Backed up by exceptional team-mates, they will be able to exploit the full power and speed of their machines.

AN UNPRECEDENTED FORMAT IN A WONDERFUL MEDITERRANEAN SETTING

In order to allow the giant boats to express their full potential, Nice UltiMed is proposing an innovative format: an offshore sprint, a veritable link between ocean racing and nautical stadium competitions.

Between its start and finish, that will take place in the Baie des Anges, just in front of the mythical Promenade des Anglais, the race boasts a sublime route that will take in some of the most iconic Mediterranean coasts. Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and the coastline of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region will provide, alongside the Baie des Anges, a majestic setting for this major first in the Mediterranean.

ENJOY THE EXTRAORDINARY

On land, the spectators will be fully immersed in Nice UltiMed. An exhibition located on the Promenade des Anglais (at Quai des Etats-Unis) involves a full immersion in the race’s atmosphere, allowing discovery of the Ultims, their skippers and a behind the scenes look at how the race is organised. Visitors can then go and meet the giant trimarans and their crews face to face at Nice’s harbour (at Quai Infernet).

Presentation

On Wednesday 2nd May at 13.02, the Ultims will set off for 2 laps of a majestic circuit that promises to feature an intense struggle and close contact between the boats over 3 days. A specific feature of Nice UltiMed is the compulsory way points that will oblige these seafaring giants to steer around markers very near to the coasts. The 2nd lap can be shortened at one of these way points to ensure the race finishes on the afternoon of Saturday 5th May.