The Famous Project achieved a historic milestone in offshore sailing on Monday, becoming the first all-female crew to complete a non-stop, unassisted circumnavigation of the globe. The eight-woman team crossed the finish line between Ushant and Lizard at 12:00, after 57 days, 22 hours and 20 minutes at sea.
The achievement, recognised within the framework of World Sailing, marks the first successful all-female attempt in the history of the Jules Verne Trophy, following the 1998 bid led by Tracy Edwards, which ended in dismasting. While breaking the outright speed record was never the objective, completing the course represents a turning point in one of the most demanding challenges in ocean racing.
Completing the challenge over chasing the record
From the early weeks, sailing aboard the trimaran IDEC Sport was shaped by a succession of technical setbacks. Initial steering and manoeuvring issues were followed by an entanglement with fishing gear mid-ocean, which rendered the starboard foil unusable. “Each incident forced us to rethink how we sailed and adapt the boat to a new reality,” explained Alexia Barrier, reflecting on the progressive management of the damage.
The most critical moment came in the final stretch, when the mainsail tore apart in strong winds, a situation worsened by Storm Ingrid, with gusts reaching 45 knots. The crew completed the final days largely restricted to the wingmast and headsails. “It wasn’t about speed anymore, it was about finishing,” said Dee Caffari, summarising the last push towards the finish.
Despite the condition of the boat and external doubts over whether continuing was viable, the crew ruled out retirement and chose to seek temporary shelter before resuming their voyage. “Retiring was never our first option,” Barrier stated, emphasising that safeguarding the crew and completing the circumnavigation remained the overriding priority.
Female leadership and a lasting legacy in offshore sailing
The arrival in Brest carried strong symbolic weight. Co-skipper Dee Caffari referenced an adapted version of Theodore Roosevelt’s ‘person in the arena’ speech, highlighting the value of taking risks and persevering through adversity. The message linked the experience at sea with the broader meaning of the project.
Alexia Barrier, founder and skipper of the initiative, led an international crew comprising Annemieke Bes, Rebecca Gmür Hornell, Deborah Blair, Molly LaPointe, Támara Echegoyen and Stacey Jackson, sailing a boat with a unique legacy in the Jules Verne Trophy, having previously held the outright record.
Almost simultaneously with the completion of The Famous Project, the Jules Verne Trophy saw a new benchmark set for speed. Thomas Coville and his crew aboard Sodebo Ultim completed the 28,315-mile course in 40 days, 10 hours and 45 minutes, improving the previous record by more than twelve hours.
