Ultim trimarans arrive safely

The eight Ultim trimarans competing in the 13th Route du Rhum have reached Saint-Malo without any issues, navigating through the Naye lock with careful maneuvers, as reported by an AFP journalist.

Details of the trimarans

These large racing boats are 32 meters long and 23 meters wide, and they will be on display at the race village, which opens on Tuesday and covers 70,000 square meters within Saint-Malo’s port.

Challenges of the lock passage

The port can only be accessed through the Naye lock, which is 150 meters long and 25 meters wide. With fenders in place to protect the boats, only 50 centimeters of space is available on each side for the trimarans.

Skipper’s comments on the maneuver

Armel Le Cléac'h, skipper of the Banque Populaire trimaran, noted that the weather was favorable, which helped during the stressful maneuver. He emphasized the need for caution before mooring the boats.

Manual maneuvering and specialists

After aligning the trimarans in the lock’s axis on Monday, they were moved by hand using ropes, supervised by lamaneurs, who are experts in navigating through locks, as reported by an AFP journalist.

End of technical preparation

Le Cléac'h expressed satisfaction with the successful arrival, calling it the end of the technical preparation for the boat. He mentioned that the team can now begin the festivities leading up to the race.

Race details and expected participation

A total of 115 vessels are set to depart on November 1st heading to Guadeloupe. Other boat categories, including Imoca and Vintage Mono, will arrive in Saint-Malo in the coming days.

Expected crowd at the race village

More than one million people are expected to attend the transatlantic race village by the time the race begins.