The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe fleet is entering a decisive tactical phase, with the leading Ultim trimarans making rapid progress southwest as weather shifts and damage to two of the ocean giants reshapes the early contest.
Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) continues to set the pace, opening a lead of more than 65 miles over Armel Le Cléac’h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), who has been sailing in lighter conditions.
Le Cléac’h remains unconcerned, pointing out that such margins can disappear quickly in Ultim racing, particularly with unsettled weather ahead. The boats have been reaching 30–35 knots, but the skippers face several possible routes to Guadeloupe.
Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) is about 150 miles behind in third, while Louis Burton makes an impressive debut in the Ultim class aboard Armand Thiery, the former record-breaking trimaran sailed by François Gabart.
Meanwhile, defending race winner Charles Caudrelier has slowed considerably aboard the new Gitana 18 following damage to its port foil, reported earlier on Tuesday.
Foil Setback: Defending Route du Rhum winner Charles Caudrelier has been forced to slow his Gitana 18 trimaran following damage to its port foil, interrupting his challenge in the Ultim fleet. Photo: PolaRYSE
Of particular Irish interest, Anthony Marchand's Actual Ultim 4 was approximately 40 miles offshore of Galway on Tuesday afternoon after suffering main rudder damage. The French skipper was expected to rendezvous with his technical team off Ireland's west coast. Afloat has reported separately on the race's Irish diversions and damage incidents.
IMOCA Leaders Split Over Weather Strategy
In the IMOCA fleet, Corentin Horeau (MACSF) has taken the lead after choosing a more direct course through a ridge of lighter winds.
The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe fleet is entering a decisive tactical phase, with the leading Ultim trimarans making rapid progress southwest as weather transitions and damage to two of the ocean giants reshapes the early contest.
Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) continues to set the pace, opening a lead of more than 65 miles over Armel Le Cléac’h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), who has been sailing in lighter conditions.
Le Cléac’h remains unconcerned, pointing out that such margins can disappear quickly in Ultim racing, particularly with unsettled weather ahead. The boats have been reaching 30–35 knots, but the skippers face several possible routes to Guadeloupe.
Chasing the Leader: Armel Le Cléac’h pushes Maxi Banque Populaire XI at speeds approaching 35 knots as he attempts to close the gap on Ultim leader Tom Laperche, with further weather transitions still to come. Photo: Vincent Curutchet
Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) is about 150 miles behind in third, while Louis Burton makes an impressive debut in the Ultim class aboard Armand Thiery, the former record-breaking trimaran sailed by François Gabart.
Meanwhile, defending race winner Charles Caudrelier has slowed considerably aboard the new Gitana 18 following damage to its port foil, reported earlier on Tuesday.
Of particular Irish interest, Anthony Marchand's Actual Ultim 4 was approximately 40 miles offshore of Galway on Tuesday afternoon after suffering main rudder damage. The French skipper was expected to rendezvous with his technical team off the west coast of Ireland. Afloat has reported separately on the race's Irish diversions and damage incidents.
IMOCA Leaders Split Over Weather Strategy
In the IMOCA fleet, Corentin Horeau (MACSF) has taken the lead after choosing a more direct course through a ridge of lighter winds.
Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance) and Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei) have favoured more northerly options, with Goodchild concerned about becoming trapped too far south.
The leading skippers must now decide whether to continue south in the northerly breeze or head west towards a developing low-pressure system near Newfoundland, potentially gaining stronger winds at the cost of additional miles.
British skipper Will Harris warned that relatively small gaps between the leading boats could rapidly grow to 50 or 60 miles as the first competitors reach the new breeze.
Pamela Lee in Class40
Greystones offshore sailor Pamela Lee, the first Irishwoman to compete in the Route du Rhum, is continuing her solo Atlantic challenge aboard the DFDS-backed #EmpowHer. The 11:00 ranking on Tuesday, 3 November, placed Lee 34th in the 49-boat Class40 fleet, about 131 nautical miles behind leader Luca Rosetti, as the fleet faces difficult routing decisions ahead of the Azores.
Atlantic Ambition: Pamela Lee powers her Class40 #EmpowHer towards Guadeloupe as the Irish solo skipper battles for position in a closely contested fleet, with difficult weather decisions ahead. Photo: Richard Mardens
Lee received an Irish send-off in Saint-Malo before Sunday's start. Her progress adds a direct Irish dimension to the closely contested Class40 race, alongside the separate drama involving Anthony Marchand off Galway.
Close Racing in Ocean Fifty and Class40
Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) continues to lead the Ocean Fifty multihulls, benefiting from stronger northerly winds, while Baptiste Hulin (Viabilis Océans) remains among his closest challengers.
In Class40, Italy's Luca Rosetti (Maccaferri Futura) holds a narrow advantage, with Pierre Leboucher and Guillaume Pirouelle converging from the south. The approaching low-pressure system near the Azores is already influencing routing decisions, with forecasts suggesting potentially difficult conditions ahead.
Czech skipper Milan Koláček (Inland Roots Ocean Soul) remains firmly in contention in seventh, less than 30 miles from the lead, with Spain's Pep Costa (VSF) close behind in eighth.
For the Route du Rhum fleet, the opening speed contest is giving way to a more complicated Atlantic chess match, with the next weather transition likely to prove as important as outright boat speed.
