Imagine facing the final stretch of a grueling round-the-world sailing voyage, only to have your primary sail ripped to shreds! That's precisely the nightmare scenario that unfolded for The Famous Project CIC team aboard their IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran. But here's the kicker: this wasn't the first time this particular mainsail had failed them on this very leg of the journey.
The incident occurred around 9 p.m. last night, January 23, 2026, as the crew was executing a gybe (a maneuver to change direction with the wind at their back) around Terceira Island in the Azores. The head of the mainsail, already weakened from a previous tear the day before, gave way completely. To recap, the mainsail had torn the previous morning during a similar maneuver, forcing skipper Alexia Barrier and her team to reef (reduce the sail area) down to the second reef. Their initial plan was to limp towards Ushant and the finish line, roughly 1,000 nautical miles away, relying on this compromised configuration, which they hoped would be sufficient to withstand the prevailing stormy conditions.
Alas, fate had other plans. Now, they're forced to sail using only their wing mast (a mere 30 square meters) and their headsails. Think of it like trying to drive a car across the country using just the parking brake – challenging, to say the least! Despite this significant setback, the crew bravely executed a series of gybes throughout the night around Ponta Delgada, leaving the Azores behind them as they continue their journey toward the Iberian Peninsula.
The conditions in the area are, as predicted, quite harsh. Winds are blowing at over 35 knots and intensifying, creating a formidable sea state with waves exceeding 6 meters, originating from the northwest. These waves are expected to grow even larger over the next 24 hours. This translates to an incredibly uncomfortable and potentially dangerous situation for the crew, who have already endured 55 days at sea. But, their resolve to reach Ushant and complete their ambitious circumnavigation remains unbroken. They're like marathon runners who've tripped near the finish line, but are determined to get back up and cross it!
Driven forward by their diminutive mast and headsails, Alexia Barrier, Dee Caffari, Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen, and Stacey Jackson are pushing forward with unwavering determination. The current estimate has them reaching Ushant sometime next Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
In a statement, Alexia Barrier conveyed a sense of resilience, "The day is breaking, we haven't seen the sea yet, and I think that's better for getting started. We have no sails and are moving at an average speed of over 10 knots with a mast surface area of 30 square meters. We think we'll be able to unfurl the J3 (staysail) around 11 a.m., once the worst of the sea has passed for the area we're in. The goal is to stay above 10 knots. Christian (Dumard) has given us a special polar route, without a mainsail. We will keep you informed of the various timings. We are remaining cautious, of course..."
This situation raises some interesting questions. How much slower will the lack of a mainsail make their progress? And this is the part most people miss... Could this setback actually force them to abandon the race altogether, despite being so close to the finish line?
Here are some quick links to follow their progress:
- Track the boat on The Famous Project CIC website: https://thefamousproject.io/mapster-wp-map/tracking-theboat/
- Track the boat on the IDEC Sport website: https://trimaran-idec.geovoile.com/julesverne/2025/viewer/
- Visit The Famous Project CIC website: https://thefamousproject.io/
But here's where it gets controversial... Given the repeated failures of the mainsail, should the team have perhaps taken a more conservative approach to sailing in those conditions? Or was pushing the boat to its limits a necessary risk to achieve their ambitious goals?
What do you think? Should they have pushed harder, or played it safer? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! We're eager to hear your perspective on this challenging situation.
