Route du Rhum Favourite Armel Le Cléac’h' Heads for Lorient with Daggerboard Damage on Maxi Banque Populaire XI

10th November 2022

At midday in the Route du Rhum race , Le Cléac’h heard a crack without any apparent shock onboard Maxi Banque Populaire XI Credit: Vincent Curutchet

Armel Le Cléac’h one of the favourites to win the Ultim class in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe solo race from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe is heading to Lorient after breaking the daggerboard of his Maxi Banque Populaire XI at midday.

His team reported that at midday, while sailing close-hauled in 20 knots of wind, Le Cléac’h heard a crack without any apparent shock. He noticed the breakage of the daggerboard under the bottom of the boat's hull. He is reported to be on his way to the technical base of the Maxi Banque Populaire XI in Lorient, which he will reach in about ten hours. All solutions will be studied there with Team Banque Populaire for the rest of this Route du Rhum.

“Armel told us about this breakage which requires him to return to Lorient for us to analyze the situation. Armel is safe, the road to reach our technical base will be in manageable conditions." said Ronan Lucas, Director of Team Banque Populaire.

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About The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe

Created in 1978 by Michel Etevenon, La Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe is regarded as the queen of solo transatlantic races.

For 44 years, the race has joined Saint-Malo in Brittany to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. It musters the biggest fleet ocean racing fleet of all levels on the same starting line. This transatlantic course at a total distance of 3,542 miles has become legendary as its unique magic is all about the range of different classes and the mix of competitors.

Some of the best solo racers in the world of sailing, professionals and amateurs, meet every four years to taste "the magic of the Rhum".

On November 6 2022, this legendary race will set off once again, taking on the Atlantic whilst appealing to a broad mass of public fans and followers. They are offered the chance to dream, to escape and share the wonder with the solo racers who are all ready to go to sea and challenge the Autumn Atlantic.

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