Tom Laperche Closes In on Route du Rhum Course Record

7th November 2026

Afloat.ie Team

Tom Laperche aboard SVR-Lazartigue at sunset as he closes in on Guadeloupe and a potential record-breaking Route du Rhum victory. Photo: Gauthier Lebec.

Sunset Charge: Tom Laperche aboard SVR-Lazartigue as he closes in on Guadeloupe and a potential record-breaking Route du Rhum victory Credit: Gauthier Lebec

French solo sailor Tom Laperche is closing in on a potentially record-breaking victory in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, with his Ultim trimaran SVR-Lazartigue approaching the finish off Pointe-à-Pitre.

According to Saturday morning's race bulletin, the 29-year-old held a lead of more than 600 nautical miles over his nearest challenger and appeared on course to improve on the six-day, 19-hour race record set by Charles Caudrelier in 2022.

Laperche was tacking towards Tête à l'Anglais, north of Basse-Terre, before the final approach around Guadeloupe. The closing miles can be unpredictable: in 2018, Francis Joyon overtook long-time leader François Gabart to win by just over seven minutes.

Behind the leader, Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim 3 and Louis Burton on Armand Thiery were battling tropical storm conditions, including squalls, erratic winds and lightning.

Laperche's performance follows a race marked by setbacks for several leading Ultims. For further background on his campaign, read W.M. Nixon's analysis of Laperche's race.

Published in La Route du Rhum Race

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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.