French skipper Tom Laperche has won the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in record time, crossing the finish line aboard the giant Ultim trimaran SVR-Lazartigue after six days, 13 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds at sea.
The 29-year-old finished off Pointe-à-Pitre at 10.31pm local time on Saturday (7 November), equivalent to 2.31am UTC on Sunday, completing his first attempt at the 3,542-nautical-mile solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe.
His winning time improved on Charles Caudrelier's 2022 record by six hours, 19 minutes and 45 seconds. Laperche covered 4,308.32 nautical miles on the water at an average of 27.18 knots, compared with 22.27 knots over the theoretical course.
Laperche took the lead near Cap Fréhel, just 16 nautical miles after the start, and held it all the way across the Atlantic. His performance fulfilled a childhood ambition and made him the third skipper under 30 to win the race, following Marc Pajot in 1982 and Laurent Bourgnon in 1994.
For the background to his campaign and the significance of SVR-Lazartigue's Fastnet connections, see W.M. Nixon's feature on Laperche's Route du Rhum challenge.
A Demanding Atlantic Crossing
Despite his commanding lead, Laperche's crossing was far from straightforward. Unusual weather patterns disrupted the normal trade-wind route, requiring repeated sail changes, demanding manoeuvres and a more northerly course. He also negotiated difficult tropical conditions approaching Guadeloupe.
The race was overshadowed by serious problems for several leading Ultims. Laperche's closest early rival, Armel Le Cléac'h, was among the challengers whose fortunes changed dramatically when Maxi Banque Populaire XI capsized north-west of the Azores. Le Cléac'h was subsequently rescued by a cargo ship. Charles Caudrelier suffered foil damage, while Anthony Marchand diverted towards Ireland with rudder problems.
In his first comments ashore, Laperche described the capsize as a chilling reminder of the risks involved in sailing these high-performance boats alone. “When you find out about something like that while alone in the middle of the ocean, it's an intense, chilling experience – it truly makes your blood run cold,” he said. “My thoughts are with them (Team Banque Populaire).”
Afloat previously reported on the damage and diversions affecting the Ultim fleet and Laperche's final approach to Guadeloupe.
“In Complete Fusion With the Boat”
After lifting the Route du Rhum trophy, Laperche said the victory was the culmination of a lifelong ambition dating back to his childhood in La Trinité-sur-Mer. He recalled watching great champions arrive in Guadeloupe and dreaming of one day racing the giant multihulls himself.
“I knew it wouldn't be easy. No one ever wins the Route du Rhum by just coasting along,” he said. Describing his connection with SVR-Lazartigue, he added: “With every gust, with every sail change, I was in complete fusion with the boat.”
He said the unusual weather had made the race particularly demanding. With no established trade winds, he was forced to concentrate on constant adjustments and lengthy manoeuvres rather than settling into a straightforward high-speed crossing.
“I loved being in the midst of these challenges – pushing myself, transcending my own capabilities, and reaching beyond limits I hadn't even imagined,” he said.
Team Effort Behind Solo Victory
Laperche paid tribute to the technical team that had developed SVR-Lazartigue over five years and singled out François Gabart, Pascal Bidégorry and Franck Cammas as important influences on his progress. Cammas was part of the routing team during the crossing.
“I may have been alone at sea, but I can tell you that the team back on shore did an extraordinary job,” he said.
The win follows Laperche's two-handed transatlantic success with Cammas aboard SVR-Lazartigue in 2025. Looking ahead, he identified a solo circumnavigation aboard an Ultim as one major challenge still to be completed.
Victory in Numbers
- Finish: Saturday 7 November, 22:31:40 Guadeloupe time (Sunday 8 November, 02:31:40 UTC)
- Elapsed time: 6 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes, 40 seconds
- Previous record beaten by: 6 hours, 19 minutes, 45 seconds
- Official course: 3,542 nautical miles
- Actual distance sailed: 4,308.32 nautical miles
- Average speed over actual distance: 27.18 knots
- Average speed over theoretical course: 22.27 knots
