After setting the first round-the-world record with an all-female crew for the Jules Verne Trophy, French sailor Alexia Barrier is extending her horizons by entering the 2026 Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe at the helm of the legendary IDEC SPORT – CIC. As the first woman to compete in the ULTIM division, she is poised to add a remarkable chapter to the race’s storied history.
Taking the helm of IDEC SPORT – CIC solo—alongside the world’s best sailors and in the most demanding class in competitive sailing—is a formidable challenge. Alexia Barrier will master the 32-meter trimaran, capable of exceeding speeds of 40 knots. This immense responsibility requires perfect technical, physical, and mental mastery of a maxi-trimaran that is already a Route du Rhum legend, having crossed the finish line as the winner three times. By becoming the first woman to sail this ocean giant solo, Alexia Barrier joins the ranks of the greatest female sailors and writes a groundbreaking new chapter for the ULTIM class.
In 2018, IDEC SPORT won the race with Francis Joyon, in 2014 with Loïck Peyron (Banque Populaire VII), and in 2010 with Franck Cammas (Groupama 3). Alexia’s participation marks a significant milestone in the pursuit of gender equality in the sport of sailing.
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