The Famous Project’s all girl crew of the MOD70 Limosa reached the Portuguese Algarve port of Portimao this morning to successfully complete their main objectives, delivering the boat back to Europe from Antigua on the first ever transoceanic passage on a MOD70 by an all-female crew and to significantly increase their learning and cohesion together as ateam at some 18 months before they plan to sail the Maxi trimaran IDEC SPORT onthe Jules Verne Trophy record course and set a women’s benchmark.

The Transatlantic passage was co-skipperedby project founder Alexia Barrier (FRA) and Dee Caffari (GBR) and the teamcomprised Marie Riou (FRA), Joan Mulloy (IRL), Deborah Blair (GBR), Annie Lush(GBR), Rebecca Gmuer (NZL) and media reporter Georgia Schofield (NZL). In partthe crossing helped in the training and future selection of the 10 strong teamwhich will sail the giant multihull ULTIM IDEC SPORT non stop round the world duringthe winter of 2025.

For the former Vendée Globe solo oceanracer turned team leader, project founder and ocean racing skipper AlexiaBarrier, it was also another big step in her own personal transition from lonesinglehanded racing to skippering a strong team of women  on a high speed multihull for the first time.

“I discovered myself as a captain,” AlexiaBarrier admits with her usual frankness. For the past year, she has been learningthe role of skipper and team leader which she gets more and more used to.

“Certainly, we have not pushed the boat toits limits,” says Alexia, “We didn’t look to make it hard for ourselves either.The main idea was to build cohesion and good understanding between us eight womenwho had very little sailing time together, even if we all knew each otherindividually. As far as I was concerned, it was important for me to prove tomyself that I knew how to take on the role of captain and leader. It seems tome that on these two counts, our Transat is a success. There was loads of goodfund and good humor all the way across. Everyone quickly found their place, andI was able to keep a close eye on the team and assess their reactions, bothfrom a technical review point and on a human level. I appreciated their goodhumor and their ability to support each other. There was a real kindness onboard which seems essential to me for a successful round-the-world crew.”

Supported ably Caffari on the water, and onland by team manager Jonny Malbon, Barrier is giving herself several moremonths to continue her experiments and trials with other sailors. “Our doorsare open to everyone, whatever their level of excellence or experience. We sharethe belief that everyone can dare and achieve their dreams. The fundamentalcriteria are an ability to adapt and live in a group in the long term. I thinkI will have to test around ten more girls before deciding on a shortlist of 14people, for a final crew at the start of the Jules Verne Trophy of 8 to 10teammates. New races against the other MOD70s, Phaedo by Brian Thompson, Zoulouby Erik Maris and Loick Peyron on Argo with Jason Carroll) are on the program, inPalma de Mallorca this summer and in Greece with the Aegean 600. And on May 31,the IDEC SPORT trimaran will be launched ready to go sailing.”

With no time to rest or enjoy a pastel denata in Portimao Alexia heads to Lorient for the start of the The Transat CIC thisweekend before going to Vannes to catch up on progress with the Maxi TrimaranIDEC SPORT at the Multiplast yard ready to supervise the launching of the famousboat which still holds the Jules Verne Trophy.

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