The Famous Project CIC at the equator
by Agence TB Press 16 Jan 19:51 AEDT
16 January 2026
The eight sailors of The Famous Project CIC have been sailing since last night at 20 hours and 53 minutes standing upwards. They crossed the equator on their 48th day at sea and are now sailing in the northern hemisphere.
Ahead of them lie the last 3 000 miles of their incredible journey, a full week of tortuous sailing between the Azores high and the North Atlantic lows.
"We are truly delighted, happy with our time since Cape Horn, and because the northern hemisphere means we're heading home..." said Alexia Barrier.
Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) have begun their final sprint, which could see them reach Ouessant and then Brest on Thursday, January 22. The girls can legitimately congratulate themselves on their fast and efficient sailing in the South Atlantic. Having rounded Cape Horn in the middle of the afternoon on January 6, it took them only 9 days, 5 hours and 38 minutes to reach the equator, one of the very best time ever on this leg.
As we have seen since their departure from Brest, the eight sailors of the highly international crew at the helm of IDEC SPORT have continuously improved their mastery of the maxi multihull. They have been able to adapt to the inevitable damages that have slowed their progress, from the capricious hook on the mainsail to their delaminated starboard foil.
Positioned far to the west, close to the coast of Brazil, their trajectory should allow them to cross the Doldrums, which proved so troublesome on the outward leg, in a minimum amount of time. This will be followed by a long reach across the east-northeast wind generated by an Azores high, which is currently living up to its name. The smoothness and efficiency of their route to the Bay of Biscay, France, Ushant, and the port of Brest will depend on how far south it shifts.
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