Thomas Coville and Benjamin Schwartz (Sodebo) 2nd in the Ultim division of the Transat Café L'or
by Transat Café L'OR 6 Nov 00:47 PST
6 November 2025
Early this Thursday morning at 02.40 hours local time (UTC minus 4 hours) Thomas Coville and Benjamin Schwartz crossed the finish line of the 17th edition of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie.in second place in the ULTIM class in Fort-de-France Bay.
Their race time is 10 days, 17 hours, 30 minutes, and 9 seconds.
Coville and Schwartz covered the 5 400 miles of the course between Le Havre and Fort-de-France at a speed of 20,97 knots on the great circle route (direct course). They actually sailed 6 591,36 miles at an average speed of 25,60 knots (over the water).
At 57 years old Coville is one of the most famous sailors in France with a long list of round the world records and transatlantic crossings to his name, but nothing has reduced his passion for multihull racing and determination.
He teamed up with Benjamin Schwartz the only first timer in the ULTIM class on this TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie. Although now one of the older ULTIMs - SODEBO ULTIM 3 was launched in 2019 – the VPLP design has been regularly updated and the duo pushed hard and smart, competing on equal terms a lot of the time with race winner SVR-Lazartigue.
Having led at Cape Finisterre for a time, Coville and Schwartz sailed a good Doldrums and were finally outgunned by winners Tom Laperche and Franck Cammas after the southernmost turning mark, taking second today ahead of ACTUAL ULTIM 3.
Thomas Coville returns to the podium of the TRANSAT CAFÉ L’OR Le Havre Normandie extending his record on the race after winning in 1998 with Hervé Yann in the 60 foot monohull division and winning again on Sodebo 2 2017 with Jean-Luc Nélias.
*subject to jury confirmation
Find out more at www.transatcafelor.org and track the fleet here.