In short. A new offshore racing boat costs from about €60,000 for a production Mini 6.50 to nearly €20 million for an Ultim: Charles Caudrelier's Gitana 18 is estimated at €18 million. In between, a new Class40 is close to €1 million, an Ocean Fifty about €5 million and an IMOCA €5 to €12 million depending on the source. The boat is only part of the bill: it then has to be sailed, season after season.
The price of a new boat, class by class
| Class | Price of a new boat | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Mini 6.50 (production) | €60,000 to €110,000 | Sailorz, 2026 |
| Mini 6.50 (prototype) | up to €300,000 | Sailorz, 2023 |
| Figaro Beneteau 3 | €155,000 to €175,000 excl. VAT at launch | Bateaux.com, 2018 |
| Class40 | about €1 to €1.2 million | Sailorz and RCI, 2026 |
| Ocean Fifty | about €5 million | RCI, 2026 |
| IMOCA | €5 to €12 million | Figaro Nautisme 2025, RCI 2026 |
| Ultim | €18 to €25 million | Wikipedia, RCI 2026 |
The figures come from press articles and statements by people in each class: no yard publishes an official price for these custom boats. They are orders of magnitude, not quotes.
Ultim: Gitana 18, about €18 million
Gitana 18, the only new Ultim in the Route du Rhum 2026, took some 50,000 hours of design and 200,000 hours of construction, for an estimated cost of €18 million (Wikipedia, Gitana 18). Radio Caraïbes Internationale puts the class at €20 to €25 million (RCI). Its innovations, Y-shaped foils and U-shaped rudders, are covered in Gitana 18: cost, foils and secrets, and the fleet on the Ultim page.
IMOCA: estimates that vary twofold
For the IMOCA, the monohull of the Vendée Globe, published figures diverge. Le Figaro Nautisme estimated in 2025 that a new IMOCA built for the round-the-world race costs about €5 million, and that a competitive second-hand boat sells for €500,000 to €2 million (Figaro Nautisme). RCI gives €10 to €12 million for the build (RCI). The gap depends on what is counted: the hull alone, or also design work, foils and spares. Le Figaro Nautisme puts the full budget of a Vendée Globe campaign at €1 to €8 million depending on ambition. The boats are on the IMOCA class page.
Ocean Fifty and Class40
An Ocean Fifty, a 50-foot trimaran, costs about €5 million, and a Class40 about €1.2 million according to RCI (RCI). For the Class40, Sailorz notes that a new build "now approaches one million euros" (Sailorz). It is the largest class in the Route du Rhum 2026, with nearly fifty boats (the Class40s and their skippers).
Mini 6.50 and Figaro: the entry points
The Mini 6.50, the boat of the Mini Transat, remains the most affordable way in. According to the class president, a fully equipped production Maxi 6.50 costs €100,000 to €110,000 and a Pogo 3 €60,000 to €80,000 (Sailorz). A prototype can reach €300,000 (Sailorz).
The Figaro Beneteau 3, the one-design of the Solitaire du Figaro, launched at €155,000 excluding VAT for the first fifty boats reserved for class members, then €175,000, without sails, electronics or safety gear (Bateaux.com).
The boat is only the beginning
Once built, a boat costs money every year: shore team, sails, transport, entry fees. In the Class40, Sailorz reported in 2026 one skipper sailing the Route du Rhum on €80,000 in total while others aim for up to €500,000, and another who had to pay €18,000 in entry fees plus a €5,000 deposit (Sailorz). Winnings are modest by comparison: the winner of the Vendée Globe 2028 will receive €250,000 (Vendée Globe 2028 notice of race). Without a partner there is no project, which is why boats carry their sponsor's name, and change it with them.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Gitana 18 cost?
Gitana 18, Charles Caudrelier's Ultim launched in February 2026, is estimated to have cost €18 million, for about 50,000 hours of design and 200,000 hours of construction.
How much does a new IMOCA cost?
Published estimates range from about €5 million (Figaro Nautisme, 2025) to €10 to €12 million (RCI, 2026), depending on whether the hull alone or also design, foils and spares are counted. A competitive second-hand IMOCA sells for €500,000 to €2 million.
How much does a Class40 cost?
A new Class40 is close to €1 million in 2026, around €1.2 million according to RCI.
What is the cheapest offshore racing boat?
The production Mini 6.50: €60,000 to €80,000 for a Pogo 3, €100,000 to €110,000 for a fully equipped Maxi 6.50.
How much does the Vendée Globe winner earn?
The winner of the Vendée Globe 2028 will receive €250,000, out of total prize money of €1 million.