This Sunday, November 4, at 14 p.m., 123 boats will start the Route du Rhum in Saint-Malo towards Pointe-à-Pitre. This is a record for the most famous single-handed transatlantic race which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
• Six categories at the start
The skippers will be divided into 6 different categories in monohulls and multihulls, from Ultim to Rum Mono via Multi50, Rhum Multi, Imoca and Class 40. But this year “we expect a Rhum motorway in six. days ”proclaims loudly Mathieu Sarrot in charge of the organization of the race. Four years ago, the winner of the event, Loïck Peyron, smashed the crossing record on his Ultim “Banque Populaire VII” in 4 days, 7 hours and 15 minutes. This time, weather permitting, we could go down to 8 days.
• Outstanding boats!
Six ultimates, trimarans of a new generation capable of flying thanks to their foils, will be the stars of the event: at the helm François Gabart, Armel Le Cléac'h winner of the last Vendée Globe, Thomas Coville, Sébastien Josse and Françis Joyon. “Finding all the Ultim on the starting line, sailing for the first time all together in the race, it's going to be a magical encounter and a great fight on the water” summarizes the Finistère Armel Le Cléac'h.
• A new challenge for Peyron
In 1978, the Canadian Mike Birch won the first Route du Rhum in 23 days, 6 hours and 59 minutes on his little trimaran “Olympus”. 40 years later, Loïck Peyron will attempt a personal challenge, the navigator will go to sea with “Happy”, a twin boat to that of Mike Birch.
• Eight Guadeloupe skippers entered in the race
Eight Guadeloupe sailors will take part in the competition: Luc Coquelin, Willy Bissainte, Rodolphe Sépho, Dominique Rivard, David Ducosson, Thibautlt Vauchel Camus, Damien Seguin and Carl Chipotel.
Luc Coquelin is the most caped of this fleet and the only one who will operate on a boat made in Guadeloupe. Carl Chipotel will participate in the race for the first time.
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