The decision will relate to the form, namely a contract signed between Gabart/Kresk and the Ultim class about the conflict to be resolved, and which the former denounce, and not on the substance, that is to say on the conformity or not of the flying maxi-trimaran.

The key is participation in the Route du Rhum, a solo transatlantic race that will start from Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine).

Gabart will not be able to take the start, on November 6, if he does not obtain a measurement certificate or a derogation issued only by the Ultim class.

The latter refuses by highlighting a breach of an international security rule.

"We are asking to repair this injustice that we have been suffering now for more than six months. This situation is abnormal and it should not exist," said Didier Tabary, who heads the Kresk group, as he left the court.

"We are forced to fight and we are fighting, but the idea is to be present on the starting line in Saint-Malo in November to be able to make all those passionate about offshore racing dream."

The dispute, which has been going on since last September, concerns rule 3.11 of the International Sailing Federation (World Sailing) which provides that winches (work stations) must not be located under the deck of a boat (to avoid any danger ).

However, the definition of what a "bridge" is is subject to interpretation.

Security and fairness

"It's all the more surprising as a situation that, once again, all the expert reports have declared the conformity of the boat. If this boat seems too fast to some, that's no reason to come to that ", continued Tabary, who is claiming 19 million euros in compensation from the Ultim class.

Nicolas TUCAT AFP/Archives

The class for its part reiterated its wish to see Gabart "on the starting line".

"This procedure has affected us from the start and the question of compliance no longer arises. More than anything, we want to find a favorable outcome. And we remain, as from the start, open to discussion in order to allow François Gabart to take the lead. start of the Route du Rhum", indicated Samuel Tual, vice-president of the Ultim class, who had asked Gabart to make modifications to his boat.

"On the other hand, he cannot ignore the rules that he himself helped to build as a founding member of the Collectif Ultim. He knows them perfectly but today tries to free himself from them in defiance of the safety of third parties, of sporting fairness and the opinion of the main reference authority, World Sailing", he warned.

The Ultim 32/23 class was created in 2018 at the instigation of a collective of sailors and their owners for an elite fleet of giant multihulls up to 32 m long.

It is currently managed by Sodebo (with skipper Thomas Coville), Banque Populaire (Armel Le Cléac'h), Actual (Yves Le Blévec), Gitana (Edmond de Rothschild stable/Charles Caudrelier) and Brest Ultim Sailing (Arthur Le Valiant).

© 2022 AFP