Women Sailors Challenge the Jules Verne Trophy

News

Alexia Barrier leads first all-female crew set to complete historic round-the-world voyage aboard the Idec Sport

The world of ocean sailing stands on the brink of a historic breakthrough. For decades, the Trophée Jules Verne—the ultimate benchmark for speed and endurance in round-the-world sailing—has remained an exclusively male conquest. That narrative is now being challenged.

Under the command of Alexia Barrier, the all-female crew of The Famous Project CIC is nearing the completion of a full circumnavigation aboard Idec Sport, the legendary maxi trimaran that still holds the Jules Verne Trophy record set by Francis Joyon in 2017. Never before has a women’s crew attempted, let alone completed, such a voyage on a maxi multihull of this calibre.

jules verne trophy

“The Famous Project CIC is bringing together the best female professional sailors from around the world, with the boat that holds the current record we’re aiming to make history and disrupt this all-male legacy”, affirmed Alexia Barrier, Captain of the crew.

After weeks of relentless Southern Ocean miles and high-latitude pressure systems, Idec Sport is currently sheltered in the Azores archipelago, waiting for conditions in the North Atlantic to moderate before the final push toward Ushant, expected on the morning of Monday, 26 January. The decision to pause reflects the crew’s strategic maturity. Forecasts predicted waves exceeding 10 metres and winds above 40 knots in the Bay of Biscay—conditions that would turn speed into unnecessary risk.

jules verne trophy
jules verne trophy

A battle with the Elements

During violent winter storms in the North Atlantic, the crew suffered a major setback: the mainsail was torn during a gybe while taking the first reef. What followed was a four-hour operation in extreme conditions, with Molly LaPointe suspended from the mast as the team worked to secure the sail and rig a reduced configuration.
 
“We only have enough sail left for a minimalist setup”, explains Barrier. “Ironically, it’s exactly what we need for the conditions we’re facing. We’re strong, united, and determined to finish”.
 
Despite the damage, morale remains high. “We have to fight for every kilometre”, adds Dee Caffari, first officer and veteran of multiple global circumnavigations. “Our experience, resilience and teamwork will carry us to the finish”.
 
The Project is made up of a crew of 8 Female Sailors, representing 7 nationalities, all with very different sailing backgrounds and disciplines, ranging from Olympic, Offshore Racing and Record Breaking Attempts, the team includes:
 
  • Alexia Barrier (46) – Captain – (French)
  • Dee Caffari (53) – First Officer – (English)
  • Annemieke Bes (47) – (Dutch)
  • Rebecca Gmür Hornell (25) – (Swiss / New Zealand)
  • Deborah Blair (23) – (English)
  • Molly LaPointe (28) – (American / English)
  • Támara Echegoyen (41) – (Spain)
  • Stacey Jackson (41) – (Australian)
 
jules verne trophy

Idec Sport: a mythic boat 

Launched in 2006, Idec Sport is more than a racing trimaran—it is a floating monument to offshore sailing excellence. Powerful, unforgiving, and demanding absolute precision, it has carried some of the greatest sailors of the modern era.
 
With The Famous Project CIC, the boat enters a new chapter—one defined not only by performance, but by meaning. An all-female crew aboard one of the fastest boats ever built is not merely a symbolic gesture; it is a statement about competence, ambition, and evolution in professional sailing.
jules verne trophy
jules verne trophy

As Idec Sport prepares for its final Atlantic miles, history is already in motion. Whether measured in hours, miles, or barriers broken, this voyage will leave its mark.

Opening, Alexia Barrier running on the Idec Sport 
 
(Women Sailors Challenge the Jules Verne Trophy – Barchemagazine.com – January 2026)