Nice UltiMed – An unprecedented race

An offshore team sprint round an iconic circuit, with Nice as the start and finish © Jean-Marie Liot / ASO

Today in Paris, the movers and shakers in sailing and ocean racing came together for the launch of Nice UltiMed, an unprecedented type of race created by the City of Nice and Amaury Sport Organisation. With Yves Le Blévec and Francis Joyon at sea, Christian Estrosi, Armel Le Cléac'h and Jean-Pierre Dick set the countdown ticking to this major first in the heart of the Mediterranean.

For Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice, "it is a both unprecedented and exceptional nautical event that is being prepared for Nice and the Mediterranean. I insisted that Jean-Pierre Dick, a native of Nice, is the patron of the event. He is a great skipper, an authentic champion and a magnificent ambassador for sailing in Nice".

Recently crowned as winner of the Transat Jacques Vabre, the skipper from Nice Jean-Pierre Dick could not hide his delight: "The latest gems of ocean racing are coming to Nice to put in their first tacks. It's an outstanding event that should not be missed and which will be a milestone in the history of sailing. I'm very happy to be the patron of this great Ultim boat regatta that is taking place in Nice, a city very close to my heart".

The biggest boats and the elite skippers

Nice UltiMed will be raced by Ultim trimarans, the biggest sailing racing boats in the world. Such outstanding boats demand an exceptional casting, with the presence of elite skippers for a genuine Clash of the Titans. Three of the four members of Collectif Ultim have already confirmed their presence: Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim), the solo round-the-world record holder, Yves le Blévec (Actual Ultim), currently at sea attempting the round-the-world record against prevailing winds and currents, and Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire IX), winner of the last Vendée Globe.

This dream casting is completed the formidable Francis Joyon (IDEC SPORT), current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy. The skippers will be assisted by exceptional team-mates. "There will be six of us on-board for a permanent sprint," explains Armel Le Cléac'h. "We'll be looking to get stuck in. It will be very intense because we will be able to see our rivals as we sail," adds Francis Joyon.

The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur Region Prologue which will start in Marseilles and finish in Nice on Friday 27th April will allow the spotlight to shine on the region's magnificent coastline. Afterwards, the event will set up camp in Nice for 9 days. On the menu: an exhibition run on Sunday 29th April, the race start on Wednesday 2nd May and its finish on Saturday 5th May, but also a grand nautical parade on Sunday 6th May in which all boats and crafts are invited to celebrate the Ultim trimarans.

To complete this celebration of sailing, a nautical stadium will be set up throughout event in Nice, a few metres from the Promenade des Anglais. With Tour Voile Diam 24od and the presence of Olympic series, sailing will be represented in all its diversity, as well as by the young sailors from the P.A.C.A. league and Nice sailing clubs, who will exceptionally be invited to share in this extraordinary event. "With this initial confrontation between these extraordinary boats in the Mediterranean, we are on a mission. The entire event, beyond the race itself, through its deployment on land for the general public and its nautical ramifications is designed to share with, inspire and bring on board a new target public for the fabulous adventure of sailing," declares Jean-Baptiste Durier, Director of Nice UltiMed.

After the start in Nice on Wednesday 2nd May at 13.02, the boats will cover two laps of a circuit measuring 1,000 nautical miles via Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and the coast of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. This circuit can be adapted depending on the weather conditions to enable a finish in Nice in front of the Promenade des Anglais, on Saturday 5th May in the afternoon. "The route of Nice UltiMed is a major journey in itself: Nice, Corsica, Sardinia, the Balearic Islands and the French Riviera. However, each of these places represents a potential weather obstacle which will make racing more complex. The Mediterranean Sea can be surprising and perturbing. It will oblige all us sailors to put on an excellent performance," points out Thomas Coville.

"We will be in a magnificent setting to show just what these boats are capable of," says Yves Le Blévec. The skipper of Actual adds: "Nice UltiMed will allow us to show the public these extraordinary boats which are part of our everyday life but which the people of the Mediterranean are not used to seeing". On land, an immersive exhibition located on the Promenade des Anglais will place visitors at the very heart of the race. They will also be able to get up close to these seafaring giants and meet their crews at Nice's harbour on Quai Infernet.

"Already in 2005 when I was President of the Alpes-Maritimes general council, I wanted to become one of the official partners of Jean-Pierre Dick on all the major offshore races on all the world's oceans and seas. This partnership made it possible to strengthen an ambitious sailing plan for our territory. I continued along this path with Nice by reviving this great nautical tradition that has always existed in our city" says Christian Estrosi, the mayor of Nice.

"The expertise of A.S.O., who are leaders in organising major sporting events, has enabled us to once again play host to the Tour de France à la Voile since 2014, to demonstrate our know-how and to display our desire to be a major player in the finest sailing competitions. Nice Ultimed is a step further and our hearts will be set on offering the best conditions of welcome and organisation to these great skippers, their extraordinary boats, the media and the public. The innovative concept of this race will also make it possible to be in contact with the race on the many passes along the coasts, to promote the most remarkable Mediterranean sites and to hold many activities on both the water and land".