An Unforeseen Setback for The Famous Project CIC: Mainsail Loss
By Agence TB Press 23 Jan 01:42 PST, January 23, 2026
Last night at around 9 p.m., during a gybe maneuver aimed at rounding Terceira Island in the Azores, disaster struck as the head of the mainsail on the IDEC SPORT maxi trimaran ripped apart. This unfortunate event came just after the same sail had already suffered a tear in the middle during a similar maneuver early yesterday morning. Due to that earlier damage, Alexia and her dedicated crew had to reduce the sail area by lowering it to the second reef.
They had initially intended to navigate toward Ushant and cross the finish line with this setup, which was well-suited for the stormy weather conditions that lay ahead over the approximately 1,000 nautical miles remaining. However, fate had different plans!
Now, they are faced with the challenge of continuing their journey without any mainsail. Their only means of propulsion will be a wing mast, which has an area of 30 square meters, along with their headsails. Yet, undeterred, they managed to execute a series of gybes overnight, successfully rounding Ponta Delgada Island this morning and leaving the Azores behind as they set their sights on the Iberian Peninsula.
The weather in this region is consistent with forecasts, featuring winds exceeding 35 knots and a formidable sea with waves taller than 6 meters from the northwest, conditions that are expected to intensify over the next day. The crew, who have already spent 55 grueling days at sea, are gearing up for a difficult day ahead; nevertheless, their resolve to reach Ouessant and complete their circumnavigation remains unshaken.
With their single mast and headsail, Alexia (Barrier), Dee (Caffari), Annemieke (Bes), Rebecca (Gmür Hornell), Deborah (Blair), Molly (LaPointe), Támara (Echegoyen), and Stacey (Jackson) are pushing forward. They anticipate making landfall at Ushant and finishing their round-the-world expedition by Monday evening or Tuesday morning.
Alexia Barrier shared her thoughts, saying, "As dawn breaks, we haven't spotted the sea yet, and I believe this is advantageous for our start. Without sails, we're averaging speeds over 10 knots with just our 30-square-meter mast surface area. We expect to unfurl the J3 (staysail) around 11 a.m., once the roughest seas have subsided in our current area.
"Our objective is to maintain a speed above 10 knots. Christian (Dumard) has provided us with a specialized polar route tailored for sailing without a mainsail. We'll keep you posted on our timing updates while staying cautious, of course..."
Quick Links:
- Track the boat (The Famous Project CIC website)
- Track the boat (IDEC Sport website)
- The Famous Project CIC website
