Sodebo christened

Dame Ellen does the honours in Les Sables d'Olonne

More than 5,000 people gathered in Les Sables d'Olonne for the christening of Thomas Coville's new maximum Sodebo trimaran, to wish the skipper 'good luck' for his attempt on the solo round the world this autumn.

The 32m long Sodebo trimaran has been moored off the famous Vendee Globe pontoon in Les Sables' Port Olona for the last few days allowing the public and spectators the possibility of viewing this extraordinary boat.

Today the big red trimaran was finally christened by Dame Ellen MacArthur, the present singlehanded non-stop around the world record holder, at a ceremony mixing humour and emotion. Ellen and Coville arrived at the ceremony in Optimist dinghies while a giant white headed eagle delivered a message to the skipper.

Under a rain of petals falling from the sky Ellen broke the traditional champagne bottle over the stem of Sodebowith the words - "wait - it is harder you than than you imagine!"