The champagne corks have barely settled from their triumphant Jules Verne Trophy assault, yet Team Sodebo Voile, under the seasoned hand of Thomas Coville, is already charting a bold new course. The Vendée-based powerhouse has officially unveiled its 2026 ambitions, and for those of us who follow the cutting edge of offshore racing, it's a declaration of intent: Sodebo is going all-in on the multihull circuits.

This isn't merely a shift; it's a strategic embrace of the fastest, most technologically demanding platforms in sailing today. After pushing the limits of solo and crewed circumnavigation, the move into circuit racing suggests a desire to engage in tighter, more tactical contests, likely within the Ultim or similar grand prix multihull classes. Imagine the spectacle: these colossal foiling trimarans, often equipped with custom Southern Spars rigs and intricate Harken hydraulic systems, battling it out on shorter courses, demanding not just endurance but unparalleled boat handling and strategic prowess.

For Coville, a sailor who has seen and conquered it all, this new chapter offers a fresh challenge. The transition from solo oceanic behemoths to the often-crew-intensive, high-speed maneuvers of circuit racing will demand a different kind of tactical acumen. It’s a world where every sail trim adjustment, every foil cant, and every wind shift analysis can be the difference between a podium finish and a mid-fleet struggle. Expect to see Sodebo leveraging their deep understanding of aerodynamics and hydrodynamics, honed over decades of pushing the envelope, as they prepare to contend with the best in this exhilarating arena. The 2026 season just got a whole lot more interesting.