Under the glow of a Caribbean night sky, the blue trimaran SVR-Lazartigue ghosted across the finish line in Fort-de-France at 22:13:58 local time on 5 November 2025. At the helm, 28-year-old Tom Laperche and 52-year-old Franck Cammas secured victory in the ULTIM division of the Transat Café L’OR Le Havre Normandie — the world’s longest and arguably most demanding double-handed transatlantic race.
The pair completed the 6,670-nautical-mile course from Le Havre to Martinique via the remote Saint Peter and Saint Paul islets in just 10 days, 13 hours, 3 minutes, and 58 seconds, averaging 25.65 knots across 6,490 miles sailed. It was a relentless pace that confirmed the giant foiling trimaran’s power and the duo’s mastery of high-speed ocean racing.
Early dominance, perfect execution
From the opening hours, SVR-Lazartigue was in control. The defending champions, Armel Le Cléac’h and Sébastien Josse aboard Banque Populaire XI, were forced to pit-stop in Lorient after suffering rudder damage, leaving Laperche and Cammas to press their advantage. While Sodebo Ultim 3 and Actual Ultim 4 briefly challenged in the Bay of Biscay, the French-Swiss pairing quickly established a decisive lead.
They were the first to enter the notorious Doldrums — and crucially, the first to escape. From there, they never looked back, extending their margin all the way to the finish in Fort-de-France.
A win for two generations
For Laperche, the win marks a defining moment in his young career. Having finished runner-up in both 2021 and 2023, this long-awaited transatlantic triumph confirms his reputation as one of ocean racing’s brightest new talents.
For Cammas, it’s a record that cements his legendary status. After victories in 2001, 2003, 2007, and 2021, this year’s success makes him the first sailor ever to win the Transat Café L’OR five times — a feat unmatched in the race’s 32-year history.
“It’s a special victory,” said Cammas after the finish. “To share it with Tom, and to see SVR-Lazartigue finally fulfil its potential, is hugely satisfying.”
The spirit of the race
Since its creation in 1993, the Transat Café L’OR Le Havre Normandie has charted a bold course between the French Channel coast and the coffee-growing heartlands of the Caribbean. Organised in partnership with JDE Peet’s and the city of Le Havre, the race is built around values of sustainability, accessibility, and adventure — celebrating both endurance and innovation in the modern offshore era.
As dawn broke over Martinique, SVR-Lazartigue’s crew toasted their victory — a moment of champagne, sea spray, and quiet satisfaction. For the foiling trimaran launched in 2021, and for two sailors at opposite ends of their careers, it was proof that speed, experience, and belief still rule the Atlantic.
