Twenty minutes before reaching the finish line she shed tears of joy. Once she crossed it, Alexia Barrier celebrated on the bow of her boat as she ebcame the first woman to complete a transatlantic crossing solo in the Ultim class on the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe. With a broad smile she greeted the big, noisy crowd gathered along the barriers, who were chanting the name of a skipper who says she is already eager to do it all over again.
A first in the Ultim class. “Twenty minutes before the finish line, I was crying my eyes out, finally grasping what I had achieved. Being the first woman in history to sail this type of boat—it’s just wild. This Route du Rhum was truly special. I endured pain, it was tough, but I held on and loved every single day of this race. Solo sailing is a completely different world compared to sailing with a crew. I wasn’t prepared for such an intense pace.”
The challenges faced. “The pace, the relentless succession of weather events—you had to be on top of everything, constantly, with no let-up. Even at the end, when there was no wind, you still couldn’t sleep; you had to keep the boat moving. And on my boat, I’m constantly exposed to the elements. Early in the race, I was freezing—sleeping on the floor on a single cushion, unable to warm up, having to crawl just to reach a rope. It was very much ‘survival mode.’ That was the hard part.”
A single breakdown. “I tore my mainsail three days ago. We’d experienced the same thing during our round-the-world passage, so I knew I could still finish the race—even, in a worst-case scenario, without a mainsail. But I really didn’t want it to end that way, especially since there was no wind for the final stretch. It caused me some stress, but then I reminded myself that I knew what to do. So, I got rid of the knot in my stomach and replaced it with a disco ball.”
"It’s a bit like making your first crêpe: it doesn’t always turn out perfectly. But the next one? It’ll be magnificent.”
A mix of pride and a desire to head out again. “I’m a bit surprised to have finished so far behind the other Ultims, but at the same time, I’m incredibly proud to have completed the race, and I’m so happy to already have a clear idea of the areas I need to work on. I’m hungry to get back out there and truly show what I’m capable of. This was a first—a trial run. It’s a bit like making your first crêpe: it doesn’t always turn out perfectly. But the next one? It’ll be magnificent.”
Setting sights on the Arkéa Ultim Challenge-Brest. “For me, the next big goal is a solo round-the-world voyage in 2028. Over the coming year, we’ll be getting the boat ready for that. No more spending nights in that little exposed nook on deck—we’re going to add some protection. We’ll also be taking part in races within the Ultim class to get a real sense of the competition and see how we measure up against the others. Even though we have an older boat, there’s no reason not to take our shot.”
A collective victory. “I’m proud of myself, and I’m 400% proud of my team. Once again, nothing would be possible without this group. We didn’t take home the trophy, but we conquered an XXL challenge. That’s the magic of the Route du Rhum: it’s a solo race, but it’s, above all, a collective effort that makes crossing the Atlantic possible.”
