The start of the 3542 miles Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe solo race across the Atlantic from Saint Malo to Guadeloupe, which was due to be on Sunday at 1302hrs local time has been postponed, because of the forecast for storms which would have hit the 138 boat fleet during the first hours of the course and particularly in the English Channel.

The decision was announced at 10.30 a.m at the skippers’ weather briefing this Saturday, November 5 when the 138 skippers learned of the decision to postpone the start of the race because of the forecast weather situation in the Channel during the first 36 hours of the race. This decision is made in particular because of the the passage of a very violent depression, accompanied by a very big sea blocking the course during the first night and leaving no escape for the sailors to get out of the English Channel.

And so after consultation with Météo Consult forecasters, OC Sport Pen Duick, the organizer of La Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, and Race Director Francis Le Goff, have therefore decided to postpone the start of the 12th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, while waiting to find a next more favorable window for a new start on Tuesday November 8 or Wednesday November 9.

Giving a start on Sunday in 20 to 25 knots of westerly wind was possible. But the latest 48-hour accurate weather reports showed conditions were much tougher during the first hours of the race. A very active cold front with average winds of around 40 knots and gusts above 50 knots will be accompanied by a very big swell created by tropical storm Martin, creating a seven metres swell in the Channel from Monday. It is in particular it is the timing of the phenomenon which is making the the situation critical leaving no alternative course for an escape south to safety.

Many skippers and their routers had expressed concern over the past 24 hours about the situation which they considered very serious. The decision takes account of all the factors but most importantly the safety of the 138 sailors.

The decision aims to maximise the safety of the fleet and the best possible conditions for the sporting success of the event, for sailors and the general public.

There are 138 solo sailors due to set out to take the start of the most legendary single-handed transatlantic races. After 13 days of festivities and record crowds in Saint-Malo, popular and media popularity confirms the unique status of this event. Until then, the entertainment will continue today with a village open until 10 p.m., and tomorrow from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Route du Rhum carries a frustrating memory for British solo racer Alex Thomson. With a comfortable lead, on course for his first ever IMOCA major ocean race win, he slept through his electric shock watch alarm, and his IMOCA hit the island of Basse Terre. A consequent 24 hours penalty for using the engine to get off the rocks dropped Thomson to third and handed victory to Paul Meilhat.

After announcing a break from ocean racing to focus fully on family life and help other emerging teams, Thomson is back today in Saint-Malo, relaxed, happy and wearing the colours of Canada Ocean Racing, the outfit which his Alex Thomson Racing are mentoring towards the 2028 Vendée Globe.

“It is fantastic to be back.” Thomson volunteers, “Obviously there is a big part of me wants to be back doing this. But it is a pleasure to be back and see everyone and this is the first race start I have been to since the Vendée Globe. I have had a proper break.”

“For all the new boats, it is really touch and go if they even make it to the other side”

The IMOCA fleet has grown almost twofold since the 2018 race – his only Route du Rhum – when there were 20 boats on the start line. He concurs that many of the new, youngest IMOCAs might not make the finish line.

“Thirty eight IMOCAs is insane. What a fleet. Obviously, APIVIA, Charlie Dalin is the favourite. For all the new boats it is really touch and go if they even make it to the other side as they have not done the miles. Most people will take it quite carefully. I can imagine many going far to the north or even to the west. I think a few new boats will get there. I think Jérémie Beyou will make it and do well, he has Franck Cammas in his camp and that is one of the smartest moves ever.”

Jérémie Byeou'ss Charal - The Frenchman is one of only a handful of sailors to have taken part in four Vendée Globes and is aiming for a fifth entry in the 2024-25 Vendée Globe race. His best position to date in the solo non-stop round the world race is a 3rd place that he picked up in the 2016-17 edition Photo: Eloi Stichelbaut 

Surveying the assembled fleet for the first time, he says, “I love Kevin Escoffier’s boat and technically, he is very good, and I can see him doing well. Of those new boats, Boris (Herrmann) might find it tough to get to the other side as he is on this schedule to get to Alicante directly for The Ocean Race start. And the other thing is these boats are doing 16-18kts upwind now, which is amazing.”

Team Maliza Seaexplorer , Boris Hermann’s new IMOCA, designed for both The Ocean Race 2023 and the Vendée Globe 2024 by naval architects VPLP, was launched in Lorient on 19 July 2022 Photo: Antoine Auriol

Inevitably the questions about his 2018 accident are replayed. Four years on it still rankles that he was so close to winning his first ‘major’ with a huge lead, racing the fastest most optimised boat in the fleet.

“It is funny how everyone wants to remind me.” He smiles with his trademark grin, “ And that is fine. I describe touching Guadeloupe as ‘my most embarrassing public moment’. And what is great is it means I don’t have to talk about my other most embarrassing moment!. But it happened. I can never get away from it. I should have won that race and therefore I did not ever win an IMOCA race which grates, but everyone’s reaction was way better than I thought. And my reaction at the time? There was minutes between being told the outcome (of the Jury decision which penalised him +24hrs). The only thing at the time was not making it bad for anyone else.”

And looking back, he adds, “It doesn’t matter whether I think the penalty was fair or not. I gave them the opportunity to give me that penalty in the first place, stupidly. But that is life. But the reaction from the French public was great. And from that point of view as well, it is lovely to be back here on the docks and getting such a warm reception.”

Among his first visits on the IMOCA pontoon were Ollie Heer, the young Swiss skipper who was previously boat captain on Thomson’s IMOCAs and the young, 24-year-old Brit James Harayda.

“I am saying to them is ‘guys, don’t think about going west or north.” Thomson explains, “You have to finish and get the miles. Ollie is a really good sailor and a good communicator. I told him he had to quit working with me and get on and do it too. And I feel responsible as well a bit for James Harayda too as I kind of told him what he could do and how he could do it too. Now they have gone and done it too. It is great to see. And now, the pathway for them is to get to the finish, get the miles and find some money. They don’t need big, big budgets; they need funding.”

Has the landscape changed much for them compared to when Thomson was prepping his first IMOCA race? He responds: “ I think it is fairly similar. Going on board their boats today was a real déjà vu compared to my first Vendée Globe, but neither have anything on their job lists to be done. That brought me back, figuring out how to do stuff. There was never much help, and there is still a French/English thing. It is not easy. But the scale of the whole thing, these big races, and getting to the start of the Vendée Globe is a much bigger task on shore than on the water.”

Surveying the fleet, he concludes, “It is amazing to think of the next Vendée Globe with 38 boats here and seven more new ones coming. There are something like 56 active projects for the next Vendée Globe and that is great. And 40 boats in the Vendée Globe will be amazing. We always used to talk (as a team) about whether the slice of the pie we got became smaller the more boats there were. But 40 boats is great as long as it is safe. There are more people to follow and the whole thing is bigger. And I think for the sport to grow the whole idea of the IMOCA Globe Series is working.”

Approaching her first Route du Rhum Pip Hare is taking a necessarily cautious approach, especially for the first 24-36 hours. The British skipper lit up the last Vendée Globe with her effervescent joie-de-vie during her first adventures in the Southern Ocean and her tenacious attack with one of the oldest boats in the race.

She has more than enough deep ocean racing miles, even with her new foiling Medallia, to race the course at close 100 per cent, but - as is the case with most solo IMOCA skippers - most of all, she is under huge pressure just to finish the race into Guadeloupe to accumulate miles to secure qualification for the next Vendée Globe which is currently oversubscribed.

And, also like others in the class who need to repatriate their boats quickly, she needs to get her Medallia back to the UK quickly for a refit which will see her graduating to new, latest-generation foils which will be fitted this winter in England.

The biggest initial danger is simply the size of the IMOCA fleet. With a record 38 IMOCA boats competing, avoiding a collision in the hectic first 24 hours will be key. Add in a giant fleet of 55 Class40s of which nearly half are fast, new-build latest generation boats which will be as fast as many IMOCAs, plus even some Multi 50s in a mixed up fast moving fleet, the whole scenario is concerning, especially if it is windy as seems set to be the case.

“This is a massive fleet. I am really, really nervous about the start.” Hare contends, “Can you imagine having a collision at the start and in the first 24 hours? And it looks like it will be upwind which then means the fast, new Class40s will be in with the IMOCAs so it will be ... busy.”

She continues, “I think I will approach this all with a sailplan I can handle quickly and easily with the top (roof) open, fully kitted up, alarms on and the minimum possible sleep. I need to be super vigilant and if the situation looks ‘iffy’ at all then just back off a bit.”

The whole complexion of IMOCA racing has changed because of the constant quest to finish big races and clock up qualifying miles for the 2024 Vendée Globe. And the Route du Rhum is a high tariff, valuable miles building race. Even so she is totally on board with the need to have a qualification process for the solo non stop race around the world.

Pip Hare's Medallia - latest-generation foils will be fitted to the boat this winter in England Photo: Richard Langdon

“This is what we are used to in other classes. It is how we qualify for the Mini650.” Hare notes, “It is all fantastic for the Vendée Globe to have all this interest and it is fantastic to be part of it and I definitely respect the need for a qualification. But I do joke about the fact that everyone got a free pass before this and then the year I come back to do it again you need to qualify! But I think it is a sensible move. I do have mixed feeling the way it has been done. But it really has changed the whole dynamic as it is now just mostly about a race for miles, even for the new boats. Everyone has a lot to lose if they don’t finish this race. And that includes the guys who are doing The Ocean Race who have to get the boat back quickly and then have, like, three weeks or so for a refit to do The Ocean Race.” 

“This is a massive fleet. I am really, really nervous about the start”

She is looking forwards to the ‘Rhum’ and the new challenge it brings. She has been to two Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe starts helping as a preparateur but while she is enjoying the passion of the huge crowds it is somewhat overpowering for a sailor who says her ‘happy place’ is being alone on her boat,

“I am nervous about this whole thing.” she reveals, “ I don’t think you ever come to a race like this and aren’t nervous. But this is crazy big. I think being able to distance myself from the race village at some point every day for me that is essential. And I am not someone who enjoys crowds. I love the enthusiasm, it is lovely that people want to know about me and support our project, everyone wants to be kind and generous and meet you and that is great but I am at my happiest alone on the ocean.”

Hare is totally single-minded when it come to the Vendée Globe, she had no real interest in joining the crewed The Ocean Race, “Boris (Herrmann) asked me when he was trying to rally the troops and get a few more boats but we bought this boat to do the Vendée Globe and the budget to do The Ocean Race is enormous. We don’t have it. And I want to keep my boat for best.”

And after a winter with Medallia in the yard she is looking forwards to organising training with other boats, “I know next year when I get the big foils I need to be lining up and training with other boats. I need to be working with other boats to see what we are doing well and what we are not. If we have to organise things ourselves we will.”

She concludes, “This is our last race with the small foils and on paper we are quite far down the pack. This is definitely a learning race and about not damaging the boat. I need to finish this race. And then I need to turn round and sail the boat back almost immediately as I need to have the boat out the water and in the shed at Carrington Yachts before Christmas. I will enjoy it and it will be the longest race for me, that is my thing and I will really enjoy it.”

French-based British skipper Sam Goodchild lines up for his second Route du Rhum as one of the widely tipped favourites to win the Ocean Fifty multihull class. While the quietly spoken, hugely experienced 32-year-old Brit whose formative years were spent on boats in the Caribbean, on the island of Grenada and in the southwest of England, is playing down the dockside and media-room chat in Saint Malo during the final week before this Sunday’s start, he firmly believes he has every chance of his first major ocean racing victory.

Others in the class may have newer more modern boats but Goodchild is happy to be equipped with a solid, fully proven, all-round, optimised boat. He has the hard ocean miles under his belt and is backed by a supportive, well-resourced international partner. This is very much Goodchild’s time to shine. “Yes, I’ve got a chance to win.” He smiles aboard Leyton at the Saint Malo race dock among the eight-boat Ocean Fifty fleet, “ But I’m not the only one. The aim is just to do my best. I dropped out four years ago and I don’t want to end up like that again, but I do want to make the most of my chance now.”

Third on last year’s Transat Jacques Vabre, racing two-handed with the Leyton team’s Aymeric Chapellier, the duo were on the back foot early in the race on a rich-get-richer course to Martinique, but came back from fifth at Cape Finisterre course to be second by the Brazilian coast. But the Route du Rhum is a very different animal; racing solo on the fast, light Ocean Fifty requires maximum attention and focus as the multihulls can be prone to capsizing.

Sam Goodchild’s time to shine onboard the Ocean 50 Leyton in the Route du Rhum Race Photo: Polaryse

“You still have to consider that sailing across the Atlantic is a challenge in itself. And then, when you’re in this solo racing environment, you need to do things very well all the time. There is no room for mistakes. The Route du Rhum happens every four years, and so it’s a big, big event. I want to be the one that comes out on top in the end. And as a team, that’s what we’ve been putting our time and energy into. And believe me, doing it on a multihull puts it into a whole different dimension from doing it on a Figaro or Class40.” Goodchild attests.

"racing solo on the fast, light Ocean Fifty requires maximum attention and focus as the multihulls can be prone to capsizing"

On the 2018 edition, when he raced in Class40 on a boat in the colours of a Netflix series, he was unfortunate to have to retire during the first big storm when the mast of his boat broke. Looking back, he says, “It hurt at the time, but the project was always quite late and last minute. And we knew what caused it, so I got over it relatively quickly, but you learn from it and move on. The most important thing was learning from what happened and doing things differently next time.” Goodchild recalls, “ And this race is followed by the whole sailing world. Everyone really wants to perform. We are driven towards the highest competition there is so for us, that’s the Route du Rhum. It’s a big challenge on this multihull, and I’m really looking forward to it. Two years ago, I didn’t really know if I would take this on, so I have spent two years breaking this down bit by bit, step by step, to get here, and now I feel comfortable to go.”

During its first weekend, the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe village has clearly been a huge success with the crowds turning up. Out on the water, the Rhum Mono and Multi boats took advantage of ideal weather conditions for their parade in front of the ramparts in the privateers’ city. When he arrived early this afternoon in the dock, Nicolas Rouger completed the line-up for this twelfth edition. In terms of the special events, Sunday, the 138 sailors will be on show with the official presentation of the skippers on the main stage from 5 p.m.

La Route du Rhum - More international than ever

With 25 skippers originating from outside of France representing 14 different nationalities, the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe fascinates people around the world, from Australia to the United States and from China to South Africa. The dream of sailing away across the Atlantic is shared by everyone and they all express their desire to see the event and ocean racing become more popular with their fellow citizens.

The parade of the IMOCA yachts at Saint Malo ahead of the 2022 Route Du Rhum race Photo: Alexis Courcoux

You just have to listen to sailors on the pontoons to hear that the big French transatlantic race is something other nationalities look forward to. You can hear people speaking English, Italian, Chinese, Japanese… There are indeed 25 foreign skippers taking part (12 in the IMOCA class, 11 in Class40, 1 in the Rhum category and 1 aboard an Ocean Fifty). Several will be aiming to win the race: Britain’s Sam Goodchild (Leyton) on his Ocean Fifty, the German skipper Boris Herrmann (Malizia-Seaexplorer) on his IMOCA and in Class40, the Italian Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Pirelli).

Each in their own way hopes through their adventures to encourage others in their respective countries. “The Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe is a massive event like our Superbowl!” exclaimed the American Alex Mehran (Polka Dot, Class40). Without a doubt, with his tens of millions of followers, Xu Jingkun (China Dream-Haikou), the first Chinese sailor to attempt the adventure, will help many of his fellow citizens to discover the event. “I hope that my project will prove in Australia that anything is possible,” added the Australian Rupert Henry (Eora, Class40). “If we manage to get youngsters interested in copying us, that could just be the start,” declared British sailor Pip Hare (Medallia, IMOCA).

Seven women competing: “We too have some high performance projects”

“Slowly, we’re making progress, but we’re getting there,” stressed Samantha Davies (Initiatives Cœur). “Women are not in the world of sailing just to make up the numbers. We too have high performance projects.” In all, there will be seven women lining up at the start on 6th November. “It’s regrettable, as there are just as many women as men in the sailing schools,” explained Amélie Grassi (La Boulangère Bio).

2022 Route Du Rhum women in Saint Malo; Amelie Grassi, Catherine Chabaud, Femme, Isabelle Joschke, Justine Mettraux, Morgane Ursault-Poupon, Pip Hare and Sam Davies Photo: Alexis Courcoux

It is the IMOCA class that will include the biggest number of women, as alongside Sam Davies, there is also Swiss sailor, Justine Mettraux (TEAMWORK.NET), Britain’s Pip Hare (Medallia) and the Franco-German skipper Isabelle Joschke (MACSF). They would all like to follow in the footsteps of the three women who have won the race: Florence Arthaud (1990), Ellen MacArthur (1998, 50-foot monohull and in 2002 on an IMOCA) and Anne Caseneuve (2014, Class Rhum).

Parades: time for the Rhum Multi and Mono boats

After the Ultim 32/23 and the Ocean Fifty boats on Tuesday and the IMOCAs on Wednesday and Class40 on Friday, it was time for the Rhum Multi and Mono categories to take part in the parade today (Saturday). With large crowds watching them, the 30 skippers in question left the harbour to the delight of the spectators, who were able to admire some of the boats that left their mark on the history of the race: Kriter VIII (Wilfrid Clerton, Cap au Cap Location), the Red Cigar (Catherine Chabaud (Fomatives ESI Business School pour Ocean As Common) and Pierre 1er (Philippe Poupon, Flo).

The Rhum Multi and Mono categories take part in the 'Passage de l'ecluse du Naye des Rhum Multi' at Saint Malo ahead of the 2022 Route Du Rhum race Photo: Alexis Courcoux

Philippe Poupon explained: “I’m pleased to be lining up at the start, as it’s also with a thought for Florence, as we were very close, Géraldine and I. We were rivals, but sometimes sailed together too. Our lives ran parallel. Roland Jourdain also told us about his motivation declaring that this race was “part of his life.”

Ocean Fifty: a race that looks like being very exciting

This will be the finest line-up since the class was founded in 2009. In the Ocean Fifty class, the battle looks like being exciting on more than one level. “I think it’s wide open and everyone has a chance,” explained Sam Goodchild (Leyton). The Ocean Fifty class is thriving with some new projects appearing, but not too many, as that would risk upsetting the balance that currently exists between different generations of boat. At a time when people have to watch how much they spend, these fast 50-foot multihulls represent one of the best purchases for ocean racing in terms of the price to performance ratio.

Class40: happy as a sailor from Saint Malo in the Rhum

Since the village opened, they have enjoyed being on their home turf. Local sailors from Saint-Malo who are competing in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe cannot hide their pleasure. “The event is something you experience from the end of the summer,” explained Florian Gueguen (Dopamine Sailing Team). Geoffrey Mataczynski (Fortissimo) smiled, “We’re a bit like the lads from Les Sables-d’Olonne who compete in the Vendée Globe.” Baptiste Hulin (Rennes / Saint-Malo / Parenthèses de Vies) confirmed, “Here, this is a big thing for everyone. You just have to stroll around Saint-Malo to see that.”

Down on the pontoons: Christenings and smiles

Several boats were officially named today (Saturday). Jules Bonnier was the first one late this morning with his Class40 Nestenn - Entrepreneur pour la planète. “I have always dreamt of taking part in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe and being at the start, so this is a first victory for me.” During the afternoon, Gwen Chapalain’s Rhum Multi, Guyader - Savéol, was also named.

A bit later, it was time for Stan Thuret (Everial, Class40). “My aim is to be in harmony with my boat and with the elements,” he explained earlier this week. “Usually, when you achieve that, you can look forward to some great things.” Maxime Sorel was also clearly excited. Launched last June, his IMOCA V and B – Monbana – Mayenne was officially named by French TV journalist Laurence Ferrari, who is patron of honour of the Vaincre contre la Mucoviscidose association (a cystic fibrosis charity), and young Niels Berger, 18, a patient suffering from cystic fibrosis, who is patron of honour of the boat. “I’m proud to be working with them and highlighting the Vaincre la Mucoviscidose charity with my project,” explained Maxime Sorel. “I really hope to live up to what is required concerning the charity, allowing them to help cure as many patients as possible.”

Staying with the IMOCAs, we should add that Nicolas Rouger arrived late this morning. The skipper of Demain c’est loin had to deal with a technical problem. He said, “When I bought the boat in April, I knew the keel was cracked. I thought the problem could be repaired, but in fact, it wasn’t. We had to build another keel, which was very complicated in terms of the funding.” The keel was finally fitted on Wednesday in the Mer Agitée yard in Port-la-Forêt.

The programme for Sunday: a presentation not to be missed

The countdown is now well underway before the start on 6th November. Excitement is set to build on Sunday as all of the skippers are going to be presented on the main stage between 5 and 7 in the evening. A moment for people to get together and enjoy themselves as the final week before the start begins.

Eight solo skippers will race the upcoming Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in the Ultim class, sailing on the huge multihulls, which are over 30 meters long. The latest innovations and technological advances allow the most recent Ultims to not only to fly but also to stay flying for sustained, long periods. And considering the intensity of the battle between the skippers and their flying machines, it seems likely that the record - held for four years by Francis Joyon (7 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes) – will be broken.

Theirs is, in effect, a battle flying over the water, only their foils scything through the oceans on an incredible sprint, solo across the Atlantic, a confrontation between the fastest and most efficient sailing boats in ocean racing, each 32 meters long and 23 meters wide.

And the big Ultim 32/23 show opens even before the start gun. These giants of the seas will be moored for the first time in the basins in Saint-Malo alongside all of the other participating boats. They will also take part in a big parade, scheduled for Tuesday, October 25, alongside the Ocean Fifty.

The Ultim GITANA, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is racing in the Route du Rhum 2022 Photo: Yann Riou

Open match

From the start, Sunday, November 6, the Ultim32/23 will set the pace for a "match within the match" which promises to be fast and furious. Four years after the duel was narrowly won by Francis Joyon (IDEC) in a close match at the finish up against François Gabart. And this time the game promises to be particularly open between the contenders for the final victory. Charles Caudrelier (48) will compete in his first solo transatlantic race aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, his maxi-trimaran has been carefully tested and made very reliable whilst always delivering convincing results. He won the double-handed Transat Jacques Vabre (November 2021) and also won crewed races this summer (July 2022) and solo during the key warm up race in early October.

The MultiMaxi BP XI will be skippered Armel Le Cléac’h in the Route du Rhum 2022 Photo: Vincent Curutchet 

During the Finistère Atlantique, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild had a long battle with Armel Le Cléac'h on the new Maxi Banque Populaire XI which was second placed only 26 minutes after Caudrelier more than 3,100 miles covered. After two years in build and a launch in April 2021, Armel Le Cléac'h has already completed the equivalent of a world tour, including a 3rd place in the Transat Jacques Vabre (2021). Four years after capsizing on the last Route du Rhum Armel Le Cléac'h is once again one of the favourites for the event.

François Gabart will skipper Ultim SVR-Lazartigue in the Route du Rhum 2022

Among the favourites is François Gabart, who is of course already won the Route du Rhum in the IMOCA in 2014 and was 2nd behind Joyon in the last edition. He races SVR-Lazartigue. Launched in July 2021, 2nd in the Transat Jacques Vabre, Gabart set a new Mediterranean record this summer. He has done his best to fine-tune his boat and himself but has actually not competed in a single-handed race since the last Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe.

Different profiles and different approaches

The defending champion, Francis Joyon, is also back. Aboard a boat, IDEC, a remarkable boat which has won all of the last three editions, (in 2014 under the colors of Banque Populaire and in 2010 with Groupama), veteran Joyon takes up the incredible challenge of taking a second consecutive victory. Only Laurent Bourgnon has succeeded in a multihull before him (1992, 1998). “I know I have a slim chance of winning, even though this is the 17th year for my boat,” smiles Francis Joyon.

The Yves Le Blevec Actual Ultim 3 is racing in the Route du Rhum 2022 Photo: Thierry Martinez

Meantime Thomas Coville is preparing to compete in the legendary transatlantic for the 7th time. The skipper of Sodebo is not lacking in ambition. On the recent 24H Ultim, he won the speed runs and finished 3rd (1h 38 min behind Charles Caudrelier). And Yves Le Blevec (Actual Ultim 3) presents himself with a certain serenity on the starting line. In addition to a classic preparation, he has just done ten days of cycling (140 km daily) in order to perfect his physical condition and his mind.

And aboard the ex-Actual, renamed Mieux, Arthur Le Vaillant steps up to the Ultim 32/23 after racing in Class40 and Ocean Fifty. He wants to complete the race and to enjoy making it to the finish. At 34, Arthur wants to take the opportunity to pass on messages that are close to his heart in terms of respect for the environment. That approach is shared by Romain Pilliard (Use it Again! By Extia) who is promoting the circular economy.

They said

Armel Le Cléac’h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI): “The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe is a mythical race that has made me dream since I was a kid. The Banque Populaire Team has put a lot of effort into designing the Maxi Banque Populaire XI, preparing it, testing it and making it reliable. Since its launch in April 2021, we have covered the equivalent of a world tour. The last two editions of the Route du Rhum have been painful for me (withdrawal in 2014, retirement in 2018) but we know that we have to be persistent, to fight and never give up. In recent months, we have been committed, on each and every sail we have done, taking care of every detail and gaining confidence on board. This will be necessary before tackling the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe while being as well equipped as possible. »

François Gabart (SVR-Lazartigue): “My last solo race was on the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2018. But I had the chance to sail quite a bit solo in previous years on The Transat in 2016 ( winner with MACIF), around the world in 2017 (record in 42 days 16h40'35'') and the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in 2018 (2nd). Despite this experience and these many miles in the Ultim 32/23, it's still a very demanding thing to do. Everything is always changing, you always have to progress and it's exciting. It is a challenge that is both physical and mental and the two are inseparable, it is my vision of the search for excellence and performance. It remains an extraordinary privilege to sail solo on these boats. So you have to take each single-handed sail as a gift and enjoy being able to make a childhood dream come true. »

Yves Le Blevec (Actual Ultim 3): “I grew up with the Route du Rhum. I was 13 during the first edition, and I lived it day by day. It was the first French transatlantic, there was a big fleet at the start and then the finish was completely legendary. The Route du Rhum has become legendary. And participating in it is also a way of entering into this legend. I had the privilege and the pleasure of taking the start twice in the Multi50. Even if I managed to go to the end both times, it remains a big regret because nothing had gone as planned. Today, I'm going there with a boat capable of winning. I'm certainly not the only one, but it's possible: the boat is cut out for it, the team too, me too. Inevitably, this edition takes on a very special flavour."

Boris Herrmann’s offshore sailing team launched their new IMOCA race yacht as scheduled today, Tuesday 19 July in Lorient, Race some 18 months after design began.

Designed by VPLP, Malizia - Seaexplorer was built at Multiplast in nearby Vannes over the past 12 months, using “advanced” engineering technology and craftsmanship. The yacht will get its first big test in the Route du Rhum this November, ahead of the next edition of The Ocean Race in the new year.

“Learning from our experience in the past four years and in particular the Vendée Globe 2020-21, we wanted a boat that can maintain high average speeds even in rough sea conditions,” skipper Herrmann said at today’s launch event.

“Therefore, together with the architects from VPLP, we chose softer and rounder hull lines and a curved bow. We also made the boat even more solid than the previous one and completely redesigned the [ergonomics] and living space.”

Malizia - Seaexplorer carries the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals wheel and its hull features the team’s slogan, “A Race We Must Win - Climate Action Now”, with the aim of creating awareness and inspiring ambitious climate action.

Herrmann will skipper the boat in the Route du Rhum this November across the Atlantic from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe, and his first single-handed regatta since the Vendée Globe.

Then from January, he will join co-skippers Will Harris and Rosalin Kuiper on Malizia - Seaexplorer for the round-the-world challenge of The Ocean Race — another test of the new boat, this time in the rough conditions of the Southern Ocean — with the ultimate goal of the Vendée Globe 2024-25 in sight.

Team Malizia is one of 14 IMOCA teams registered for The Ocean Race, which starts from Alicante in Spain on 15 January.

A notable feature of the new yacht is its mini-laboratory, the Ocean Pack, that will allow the team to continue to collect ocean data such as sea surface CO2 levels in remote regions like the Southern Ocean.

The boat, which sails under the flag of Monaco, will be christened during the Malizia Ocean Festival on 6-7 September in its home port Hamburg, where skipper Boris Herrmann lives and Team Malizia is based.

The 2022 edition of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe sees the legendary solo Transatlantic race reach the age of 44 years old. It is long since established itself as the most popular and well known solo transoceanic race in the world. And with 138 solo racers signed up to compete in the Autumn of this year this edition looks set to add another exciting volume in the colourful history of a race which has been run every four years since 1978.

On Sunday November 6 the huge fleet will set off from Saint-Malo on the 3,542 nautical miles passage to Guadeloupe. The initial registration limit was set at 120 skippers but, since July 2021 when they opened, such has been the demand for entries that a further 18 wild card entries have been accepted. The 2022 edition is already a record-breaker.

In France on the back of the massive success of the last Vendée Globe La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe has already been described as ‘the’ major sports event of 2022 and this huge, record entry firmly endorses this assertion. Since 1978’s inaugural edition when there were 38 entries never have there been so many entries. With 149 applications in total the organisers will allocate those 18 wild cards before the end of April.

The organisers and the city have worked hard and smart over recent months to find pragmatic, practical solutions to accommodate as many skippers, boats and teams as possible bearing and to maintain the broad mix of competitors at approximately half professional and half semi-pro or amateurs. And as usual, the leading lights of world solo ocean racing will start on the very same start line as the adventurers and amateurs, all with their courses set for Guadeloupe.

Fans, headliners and defending champions

The lineup will certainly included defending champions such as Francis Joyon (Idec Sport) in the Ultime fleet, Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) in the IMOCA, Armel Tripon (Les P'tits Doudous) in the Ocean Fifty and Yoann Richomme (Paprec – Arkea) is back to defend his Class40 title.

Meanwhile, until the wild cards are actually allocated the number of contenders in each class are not known apart from the Ocean Fiftys which will have eight skippers competing.

The 138 competitors selected to make up the 2022 field will still have to complete all the formalities imposed by the Notice of Race (qualification course, participation in the other races of the season, rules and measurement checks for new boats, etc.) to fully validate their presence on the race pontoons in Saint-Malo from October 25.

Hervé Favre, President of OC Sport Pen Duick : “ We are pleased to announce this initial list of 120 solo sailors who have made it into La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe the major event of their season and for some the dream of a lifetime. For an organisation like us we are really proud that the race has got more and more appealing and interesting each edition for 44 years. The list that we are making official today responds perfectly to what was written in the notice of race last summer. But the number of applications received in recent months has prompted us to look for a solution to welcome even more sailors and allow them to take part in the most famous of the solo transatlantic races, while respecting our commitment to bring everyone into the basins in Saint-Malo. We are going to open up to 18 additional competitors by granting them wild cards and thus increase the number of registered entries to 138, a record figure for a solo race which would make the event a little more historic ”.

*OC Sport Pen Duick has until the end of April 2022 to decide on the admission of giant trimarans within a class (such as the Ocean Fifty, the Imoca and the Class40) or a category (such as the Rhum Multi and Mono Rhums).

Paul Meilhat’s IMOCA victory in the Route du Rhum over the weekend is all the sweeter as he achieved it in the same boat he’d feared lost on an earlier transatlantic crossing almost three years ago.

The French yachtsman had been airlifted off SMA on 15 December 2015 and the 60-footer SMA was abandoned in the Azores — though it drifted towards Ireland in the following weeks and was eventually recovered some 100 miles off the coast and berthed in Crookhaven.

“It’s amazing to think that our efforts three years ago to recover that boat against pretty tough odds have now resulted in the boat and Paul winning the Route du Rhum,” says Kinsale-linked offshore specialist Marcus Hutchinson, who was Paul’s project manager for the first three years of his IMOCA campaign.

Paul Meilhat (SMA) Route du Rhum's winner Photo: Alexis Courcoux

“He was a successful Figaro sailor when he turned to the IMOCA scene then and is now clearly in the top flight there, too,” Marcus adds.

Despite that serious incident in 2015, which left Paul with a fractured pelvis, Marcus said the Frenchman only grew with confidence over the years he was in charge of the project.

That was most obvious when, before a keel ram failure forced retirement in January last year, Paul sailed his way into third place in the Vendée Globe without the foils and newer boat technology employed by the rest of the field since his boat, in the hands of Francois Gabard, previously won that circumnavigation challenge.

Later in the year, Paul secured second in the Transat Jacques Vabre, again putting his foiling competitors to shame. It was at this time that his boat’s sponsor SMA decided to withdraw from offshore racing, meaning the most recent 12 months would be the last under their livery.

It’s quite the capper on that relationship that Paul has sailed SMA to victory in the Route du Rhum, says Marcus.

“I’m very happy for the team. I’m no longer a part of that group, but it is a small world and we see each other almost every day. Paul’s boat captain, for example, is a lodger in my house.”

Looking closer to home, Marcus sees the achievements of people like Paul Meilhat as an inspiration for Irish sailors with offshore ambitions, particularly with a new Olympic class on the cards for Paris in 2024.

“Irish offshore sailing is pretty well placed to step up to the next level and prepare to be competitive in 2024,” he says. “The kind of boat that will be used for that regatta is not really relevant to understanding and improving at the top end of offshore racing.

“The racing circuit in France, with the super competitive Figaro circuit in particular, is the place to be if you have any ambitions. Joan Mulloy and Tom Dolan are currently fundraising in Ireland for next year’s Figaro circuit and potentially an Irish stopover for that race, too.”

Marcus adds that 50 Figaro Beneteau 3s have already been sold and will be released in January.

“I have two of them in my academy. These are the platforms to train on. Anyone who has ambitions for 2024 should start to consider getting involved in this type of racing.”

French solo skipper Paul Meilhat at the helm of SMA was crowned the unexpected winner of the IMOCA class in the 2018 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe solo transatlantic race today from Saint Malo in Brittany to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe.

The 36-year-old French yachtsman from Lorient took the race win after benefitting from a 24-hour time penalty imposed on British sailor Alex Thomson who crossed the finish line first on Friday morning on Hugo Boss while holding a margin over Meilhat of more than 140 nautical miles.

However, the British sailor who had led the race almost from the start on November 4th, was penalised for using his engine to extricate himself from a rocky headland some 70 miles from the finish line of the 3,542-mile single-handed race which is staged every four years.

When Paris-born Meilhat crossed the finish line himself at 20:23:18 local time (01:23:18CET today) after enduring some frustrating calms on the west side of the Basse Terre island, he had been at sea for 12 days, 11 hours 23 minutes. More importantly he was some 11 hours and 48 minutes inside the British skipper’s total elapsed time, that included the 24-hour penalty.

This is the biggest career win for Meilhat who started in sailing in Laser and 49er dinghies and has previously won the Transat AG2R La Mondiale double-handed transatlantic race alongside Gwénolé Gahinet. He retired from the last Vendée Globe in 2016 while in third place in the southern Pacific and a year before that had to be rescued from his boat in mid-Atlantic after suffering serious rib and pelvic injures during a storm.

This win in the 11th edition of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe comes at a timely moment, underlining Meilhat’s class just as his four-year relationship with SMA comes to an end as the French insurance company withdraws from sailing. It is a bitter irony that he will leave Guadeloupe with neither a boat nor a sponsor for the next Vendée Globe solo round-the-world race for which he would undoubtedly be a favourite, given the right machinery.

An emotional Meilhat told the French and international media assembled on the victory pontoon: “This is my first big win, I wanted to sail a good race as a reward for all the support I have had. This is payback. Before the start I knew what I could do and what I am capable of. And I wanted to profit from the course, to feel like I am moving forwards.”

Meilhat paid a warm tribute to Thomson whose error – failing to wake-up before Hugo Boss sailed into a rocky cliff under auto-pilot - handed him his first transatlantic solo race win. “I can’t believe this has happened,” he said. “Alex’s mishap leaves us chilled because we were all attacking so hard, like mad things. When we put ourselves in situations of extreme fatigue mistakes can be expensive. And in this case for the sake of 100 metres it could have been so much worse. I am just happy he is OK and the damage to his boat is not too bad.”

“I'm a big fan of Alex,” he added. “He's sailing incredible races with the choices he makes, his speed, his style and he's a great guy. What you need to remember is the talent he has. You have to absolutely remember what he did on the racecourse. He is the extraordinary character, whether he won or not. It's really good to have guys like that with us on starting lines."



Then Meilhat returned to his own future. "In 2019, ideally, I want to continue to progress towards my goal of being at the start of the Vendée Globe 2020. I am open to any proposal! Build a new boat, modify this one, everything is possible!"

Meilhat can take considerable satisfaction in having won this race with an IMOCA boat which is not a foiler, that is to say it has conventional straight daggerboards. Keeping two of France’s most experienced, talented solo racers behind him is no mean feat.

Yann Eliès who finished in second place behind him just over two hours later on UCAR-Saint-Michel and 2004 Vendée Globe-winner Vincent Riou, who is on course to be the next finisher on PRB, pressed Meilhat all the way across the Atlantic.

Indeed Eliès was fighting until the very last few miles to get past Meilhat as they sailed slowly along the west side of Basse Terre island which is blanketed from the easterly trade winds by the 1500-metre La Soufriere volcano.

From being 20 miles behind, Eliès was at one point less than three miles adrift. But it was not to be for Eliès who desperately wanted to win for the same reasons as Meilhat. He too is looking for a major sponsor to help him build a new boat for the Vendée Globe and will also lose the use of his current one as it is already sold.

"I am going back to Paris early, the time trial for the next Vendée begins with Paul,” Eliès explained. “We are in the same situation, we need sponsors. After this race, I hope that we both get that for 2020."

Reflecting on the race, Eliès said: “I'm broken. The IMOCA demands a lot of crazy energy. You have to manage your time, your sleep, your strategy, your mind and your physical effort. These are dozens of tasks to negotiate a day, which make it difficult.

“This Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe has been amazing. The first days, I thought I could forget the podium! I was in an area without wind on Monday 5th, I saw Paul and Vincent escape. When I pulled myself out, I was 80nm behind.”

“Alex Thomson executed his race masterfully,” he added. “To make a mistake is part of the game. He showed that he was the boss.”