Route du Rhum 2022: The edition to beat all records!

The Route du Rhum Race, held every 4 years, has always been a major multihull highlight - see our inset tribute to Mike Birch. There are three multihull classes: the Ultims, the Ocean Fifty and the Rhum Multi, with three other classes dedicated to monohulls. As all the competitors cross the start line in Saint-Malo, France, at the same time, it is of course tempting to take the count as they cross the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, having gone around Guadeloupe by the north and west coasts.

Gitana 17 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild covered the great circle course at an average speed of 21.6 knots, but 26.9 knots over the ground… ©Gitana/Eloi Stichelbaut

Published 03/12/2022

By Emmanuel van Deth

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Issue: 187

Published: jan. / feb. 2023

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The 3,542-mile solo race from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe - the finish port is Pointe-à-Pitre – has this time brought together some 138 skippers. This is the first record, in terms of participation, which has imposed a long waiting list. For this 2022 edition, the organizers were keen to organize both the atmosphere ashore and at sea, with new boat parades and passages through the lock at Saint Malo open to the public - and to jubilation! The magic of the Brittany port city was in full swing. The race village began in 2014 and was open for seven days. In 2018, it ran for 12 days, and this year (the 12th edition of the event) it got an extra day. The village saw great success, with 2 million visitors counted on the docks - compared to 1.3 in 2018. Online, success is also impressive: 500,000 users registered on Virtual Regatta - compared to 450,000 last time round, 4 years ago. In short, the land-based machine was well oiled... However, on the water, not everything went as planned, beginning with the start which was postponed by 3 days (the first time this has happened) because of the weather forecast, which would have given extremely difficult conditions as the boats closed the Western Approaches of the English Channel. As a result of this, later conditions were much more favorable to speed: Charles Caudrelier, at the helm of his Ultim Gitana 17 Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, reached Pointe-à-Pitre in 6 days, 19 hours 47 minutes and 25 seconds, breaking the previous record for the event set by Francis Joyon in 2018 of 7 days, 14 hours and 21 minutes. The Ultims’ podium was completed by François Gabart (SVR Lazartigue) and Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) - both of whom also beat the 2018 winning time.
The Ocean Fiftys once again demonstrated the interest in their class - both for its friendly atmosphere and its sporting side: Erwan Leroux, already winner of the Route du Rhum in 2014, managed on board his Koésio to beat Quentin Vlamynck (Arkema), who had led the race almost from start to finish after the capsizing of Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton - ARSEP). Sébastien Rogues (Primonial) completed the podium. Erwan’s time - 10 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes and 52 seconds - was almost a day quicker than the best IMOCA monohull - Thomas Ruyant, on board his LinkedOut, reached Pointe-à-Pitre in 11 days, 17 hours, 26 minutes.
In the Rhum Multi class, Loïc Escoffier (Lodigroup) is taking first place on the podium, followed by Roland Jourdain (We Explore) and Marc Guillemot (Metarom-MG5).

Perils of the Sea A fund launched to save Brieuc Maisonneuve’s catamaran

Our partner Brieuc Maisonneuve, aboard his CMA Ile de France - 60 000 Rebonds, became the victim of one of those perils of the sea on Sunday, November 13 at 8:00 am. At the time he had been leading the Rhum Multi category and had just resumed his route after stopping to provide assistance to Amélie Grassi, whose Class40 had dismasted. In challenging wind and sea conditions, a ...

This article was published in the issue 187. To read the full article, purchase this issue or subscribe from $3/month.