/> The favourites were setting the pace in the early stages of the 2026 Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe on Sunday, 1st November, after 115 solo sailors set off from Saint-Malo in bright autumn sunshine and light north-easterly winds. The 3,542-nautical-mile transatlantic race began in unusually benign conditions, with winds of eight to 11 knots giving the fleet's six classes a downwind start.
Hundreds of thousands of spectators gathered along the Brittany coastline, particularly at Cap Fréhel, the first and only compulsory passing mark, 16 nautical miles from the start.
In the Ultim class, Tom Laperche aboard SVR Lazartigue held a narrow advantage over Armel Le Cléac'h on Banque Populaire XI at Cap Fréhel.
British sailor Sam Goodchild made a strong start in the IMOCA division aboard MACIF Santé Prévoyance, establishing a 1.3-nautical-mile advantage over Italy's Ambrogio Beccaria on Allagrande Mapei shortly after the mark.
Early Moves – The Route du Rhum fleet spreads across the waters off Saint-Malo as the solo skippers begin positioning themselves for a westward passage towards the Isles of Scilly and the Fastnet Rock. Photo: Loïc Venance
Goodchild, 36, is making his third Route du Rhum attempt after retiring from his previous campaigns in Class40 and Ocean Fifty. His victories in the Défi Azimut and the 1000 Race have made him one of the leading contenders.
"If I could win the Route du Rhum, it would of course be my greatest victory. But you can also have a great race without winning," Goodchild said before the start.
French sailor Violette Dorange was third in the early IMOCA standings, while Germany's Boris Herrmann was seventh aboard his new Malizia 4. Italian-American Francesca Clapcich occupied ninth place on 11th Hour Racing.
In the 49-boat Class40 fleet, Guillaume Pirouelle on Sogestran Seafrigo took an early lead over Quentin Le Nabour aboard Bleu Blanc Planète Location.
The new Ultim Gitana 18, skippered by Charles Caudrelier, appeared less comfortable in the light conditions before accelerating as the breeze strengthened. Its performance through manoeuvres and transitions could become an important factor in the opening stages.
Ultim Challenge – The giant trimarans of the Route du Rhum fleet head into the English Channel after the Saint-Malo start, with the leading skippers facing an early tactical test as strengthening winds carry them towards the Fastnet Rock. Photo: Loïc Venance
Fastnet Rock Features in Opening Atlantic Strategy
Rather than taking the more conventional south-westerly route towards Ushant, the north-easterly wind was expected to send the fleet west towards the Isles of Scilly. Strengthening winds overnight were forecast to increase speeds and potentially stretch the leading groups, with heavy commercial traffic and restricted navigation areas presenting additional challenges near the Cornish coast.
The next major tactical decision was expected southwest of Ireland's Fastnet Rock, where a developing easterly wind shift would allow competitors to gybe towards the direct route across the Atlantic.
For the fastest Ultims, that manoeuvre was expected overnight, with the IMOCA and Ocean Fifty fleets following on Monday morning and the leading Class40s later on Monday.
The precise timing could prove decisive. Skippers must choose between remaining farther north to retain stronger winds or taking a more direct route towards Guadeloupe. The fleet is subsequently expected to negotiate a narrow corridor between two Atlantic high-pressure systems, with the leaders forecast to reach that area on Monday evening.
Although the opening conditions were comparatively gentle, the first 24 to 48 hours could already establish significant differences between the contenders in the race to the Caribbean.
