Route du Rhum

Route du Rhum
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Name	Route du Rhum
Established	1978
Frequency	Quadrennial
Start	Saint-Malo
Finish	Pointe-à-Pitre
Distance	~3,542 nmi
Class	Multiple monohull and multihull classes

Route du Rhum The Route du Rhum is a solo transatlantic yacht race between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre that attracts professional skippers, amateur sailors, and naval architects from across Europe, North America, South America, and Africa. Founded in the late 20th century, the event has become a showcase for innovations in sailing design, offshore racing strategy, and endurance of individuals such as skippers emerging from clubs like Yacht Club de France and federations including the Fédération Française de Voile. The race links historic ports and maritime traditions embodied by cities such as Saint-Malo, Guadeloupe, Brest, Le Havre, and draws attention from media outlets like L'Équipe and broadcasters such as France Télévisions.

History

The inaugural race was organized by entrepreneur Michel Etevenon and promoter Olivier de Kersauson in the late 1970s, inspired by the transatlantic narratives of sailors like Éric Tabarly, Bernard Moitessier, and Ellen MacArthur. Early editions featured skippers from clubs including Royal Ocean Racing Club and teams supported by yards such as Beneteau and Jeantot Marine. Over time, the Route du Rhum intersected with developments at regattas like the Transat Jacques Vabre, Vendée Globe, and the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, while involving naval architects from firms such as Marc Lombard, Olivier de Kersauson (as skipper and organizer), and entities like VPLP. The race evolved through eras marked by advances in materials from carbon fiber innovators and ocean engineering labs associated with universities like École Centrale de Nantes and research institutions such as IFREMER.

Race Format and Course

The solo, non-stop course departs from Saint-Malo on the northwestern coast of Brittany and finishes in Pointe-à-Pitre on the island of Guadeloupe, crossing the Bay of Biscay, passing south of the Azores High influence, and navigating trade winds toward the Caribbean Sea. Competitors must manage routing influenced by meteorological services such as Météo-France, private routers like PredictWind, and weather models used by teams at firms like Météo Consult. The event has partnerships with maritime authorities including Affaires maritimes and safety overseen by organizations like Cross Gris-Nez and SNSM. The race direction applies International Sailing Federation rules formerly known as ISAF and now World Sailing for enforcement and arbitration.

Classes and Boats

Editions are contested in multiple classes that have included prototypes and production boats: Ultime multihulls, IMOCA 60 monohulls, Multi 50 multihulls, Class40 monohulls, and various historical categories aligned with builders such as Multiplast, Cookson, Wauquiez, and Hakes Marine. Naval architects and design offices like VPLP Design, Van Peteghem Lauriot-Prévost, Groupe Finot, and Farr Yacht Design have influenced hull shapes, daggerboards, and foiling systems seen in modern editions. Sailmakers including North Sails, Elvström Sails, and Incidences Voiles supply rigs optimized by teams associated with sponsors such as Banque Populaire, Crédit Agricole, La Banque Postale, K Line, and consortia led by shipping firms like CMA CGM.

Notable Competitors and Winners

Winners and participants form a roll call of offshore legends: Loïck Peyron, Michel Desjoyeaux, François Gabart, Ellen MacArthur, Yannick Bestaven, Olivier de Kersauson, Thierry Dubois, Jean-Luc Van Den Heede, Florence Arthaud, Marc Guillemot, Didier Munduteguy, Bertrand de Broc, Sébastien Josse, Armel Le Cléac'h, Jean-Pierre Dick, Morgan Lagravière, Thomas Coville, and Alex Thomson. The race has also highlighted sailors from nations such as United Kingdom, Spain, Portugal, Italy, United States, Canada, Brazil, and South Africa, and has been a proving ground for skippers transitioning to events like the Vendée Globe and Transat Bakerly.

Records and Notable Editions

Record attempts have produced landmark performances: course records set by François Gabart and Loïck Peyron in high-performance multihulls and by Armel Le Cléac'h in monohulls reflect advances similar to breakthroughs seen in events like the Transpacific Yacht Race. Notable editions include years marked by severe weather in the Bay of Biscay and tactical battles influenced by systems studied at institutes like Météo-France and designers from Multiplast. Editions that featured tragic losses, dramatic rescues coordinated with Cross Corsen and SNSM, and technological milestones such as adoption of foiling hulls echo turning points comparable to those in races like the Route of the Caribbean and Clipper Round the World Yacht Race.

Organization and Sponsorship

The event is organized by a committee based in Saint-Malo collaborating with municipal authorities like the Mairie de Saint-Malo, regional councils of Brittany and Guadeloupe, and national sports bodies such as Ministère des Sports. Commercial partners and title sponsors over the years have included banks, shipping lines, and industrial groups like Banque Populaire, La Poste, Cofidis, Groupe Atlantic, and media partners such as TF1 and Ouest-France. Logistics and safety coordination draw on maritime rescue services including SNSM, customs authorities like Direction générale des Douanes et Droits indirects, and international cooperation with agencies such as IMO-linked structures.

Category:Offshore yacht races