An exceptional lineup for the most challenging edition in history!
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- 8 min read
Charles Caudrelier, Armel Le Cléac'h, Thomas Coville, Jérémie Beyou, Elodie Bonafous, Francis Joyon, Jean Le Cam… The most talented skippers on the planet have all gathered at the starting line for a legendary race, the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, which will begin on Sunday, November 1st . A total of 118 sailors, both amateur and professional, will compete in the world's greatest ocean race, an ocean sprint as unpredictable as it is spectacular. All will strive to give their best, pushing the limits a little further, whatever the conditions. Millions of spectators are preparing to celebrate these ocean champions, both at the start in Saint-Malo and at the finish in Pointe-à-Pitre. Together, they will contribute to the popular success of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, establishing it as one of the biggest sporting and popular events in France. And in doing so, they will contribute to passionately writing a new chapter in the history of this legendary race.
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER
As of April 16, 2026, 118 skippers are officially registered for the next Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe
There will be 6 in ULTIM, 11 in Ocean Fifty, 26 in IMOCA, 49 in Class40, 13 in Vintage Multi and 13 in Vintage Mono
In the ULTIM class, aboard a new, state-of-the-art boat, Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), the defending champion, will have a tough time against Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue), Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) and Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4).
In IMOCA, Jérémie Beyou (Charal) and Sam Goodchild (Macif Santé Prévoyance) are the favorites, but there are many outsiders, such as the defending champion, Thomas Ruyant (TR Racing), Violette Dorange (Initiatives Coeur), Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes - Quéguiner) or Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing).
Four years after a victory that came down to just 18 minutes, all the Ocean Fifty riders will be present, from the experienced Thibault Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton) to the young Basile Bourgnon (Edenred).
In the Class40, the most represented class, the level of competition has never been higher. More than a dozen skippers could win, including Corentin Douguet (SNSM, Faites un don!), Fabien Delahaye (Legallais) and Ian Lipinski (Crédit Mutuel).
The Vintage Multi series offers a unique blend of legendary boats, renowned skippers, and a thrilling competition in prospect. Six ORMA trimarans will be at the starting line, including those of Francis Joyon (Pour les Océans) and Damien Seguin (ARKEA – Handicap International).
In Vintage Mono, amateurs will rub shoulders with Jean Le Cam (Alégria) or Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad), the son of the late Loic, who passed away during the 1986 edition.
ULTIM. A battle of giants
Four years after Charles Caudrelier's victory (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild), the battle of the giants – these 32-meter-long and 23-meter-wide multihulls – promises to be particularly unpredictable. The defending champion is back in contention but faces numerous unknowns, having had only a few months to get to grips with his new boat, Gitana 18. Meanwhile, Armel Le Cléac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), setting off for the fifth time , dreams of a victory he has never achieved in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. He will have to contend with fierce competition from Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue), who is participating in the race for the first time, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3), fresh from setting a crewed round-the-world record, and Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4), who is sailing with the title-winning boat, the ex-Gitana 17. Also of note is the presence of Louis Burton from Saint-Malo, who will be making his debut in the class aboard the ULTIM Armand Thiery.
Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild):
“The Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe is by far my favorite race, the one I’ve always dreamed of participating in. I remember being in front of my TV when Laurent Bourgnon rounded Cap Fréhel in the lead; it seemed unattainable. It’s still hard to believe that I’m now part of that history with my victory four years ago. This year, the dynamic is different for me with this new boat, as it takes time to fine-tune it. Nevertheless, the fleet is very evenly matched in the ULTIM class; the skippers have gained experience, and the boats have improved in reliability and performance.”
IMOCA. Beyou, Goodchild and outsiders lying in wait
To date, 26 skippers are expected to participate in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in the IMOCA class. And once again, the suspense will be at its peak given the large number of contenders for victory. Thomas Ruyant (TR Racing) will be defending his title, competing in his first transatlantic race aboard a new boat, as will Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil Air Caraïbes). Jérémie Beyou (Charal), third in the last edition and winner of the Transat Café L'Or in the fall, and Sam Goodchild (Macif Santé Prévoyance), winner of the Course des Caps, are considered the frontrunners. But many outsiders are eager to join the fray, including Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes - Quéguiner), Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing), Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), Corentin Horeau (MACSF), and Violette Dorange (Initiatives Coeur). This edition will also mark the debuts in the class of Pierre-Louis Attwell (Resilient), Masa Suzuki (Milai 22), Maël Garnier (DeVenir), and Robin Marais.
Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes - Quéguiner):
“The Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe is a major event thanks to its public recognition and the very high level of competition among the sailors. Naturally, we all think of Florence Arthaud, legendary races, and incredibly close contests… Crossing the Atlantic is no small feat, especially with the challenging conditions we can encounter at the start of the race. In the IMOCA class, the field will be strong with quite a few top-level sailors. There are a lot of high-potential competitors. For my part, I'm still learning while sailing solo. I hope to withstand the pressure and be in the mix!”
OCEAN FIFTY. The new battle of the suspense kings
In these 50-foot (15.24-meter) multihulls, suspense is second nature. Four years ago, only 18 minutes separated first place (Erwan Le Roux) from second (Quentin Vlamynck). The scenario promises to be just as unpredictable four years later in a class where the level of competition continues to rise. Each sailor has their strengths: Thibault Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en peloton) has experience, Pierre Quiroga (Wewise) is constantly improving, and Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) has the energy of youth. Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin Lamotte) from Saint-Malo and the newcomer Léonard Legrand (Sodebo Fifty) will be among the many outsiders in what promises to be a truly explosive race!
Thibault Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Platoon):
“As a kid, I was lucky enough to witness the arrivals in Guadeloupe, seeing the faces of those sailors with their shining eyes is always a festival of emotions. I keep going back because no one has been able to cure my addiction (laughs)! In the Ocean Fifty, we are fortunate to have a fabulous fleet with young sailors, experienced sailors, fiery ones, and above all, very good skippers. There is a diversity of profiles, and our seasons allow us to know the boats inside and out. My motivation? To finish first so I can offer a ti' punch to everyone else!”
CLASS40. A sizable fleet and a fierce competition ahead.
For the first time in eight years, the Class40 will crown a new winner. Two-time defending champion Yoann Richomme, now sailing in the IMOCA class, will not be competing this year. But in this constantly evolving class, the competition is wide open, with so many contenders vying for victory. Third four years ago, Corentin Douguet (SNSM, Faites un don!), who has finished in the top two positions in every race on his new boat, could be considered a favorite. But here too, there are plenty of outsiders: Fabien Delahaye (Legallais), Ian Lipinski (Crédit Mutuel), Achille Nebout (Amarris), Alexis Loison (Réel), William Mathelin Moreaux (Patapain - Les Invincibles), and Axel Tréhin. Following closely behind, the Italian contingent will also be a force to be reckoned with, including Luca Rosetti (Maccaferri Futura), Matteo Sericano (Lucente), and Andrea Fornaro (Influence 2). The Class40 will also be the most represented class in this Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe with 49 boats.
Vincent Riou (Pierreval-GoodPlanet Foundation): “The Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe is the most beautiful of the transatlantic races. Its popularity owes much to its history, but also to the simplicity of the race between Saint-Malo and Guadeloupe—a course that is as straightforward as it is challenging. When you're a Class40 skipper, the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe is our Olympic Games! In the class, there are easily more than ten skippers who can win. The level of performance is particularly high, and the fact that it's a solo race adds an element of competition and increases the suspense. And then, we're also fortunate to be a class open to amateurs, allowing some to live out this dream of participating in the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe.”
VINTAGE MULTI. Renowned skippers and a hell of a match!
Multihulls have always been a part of the history of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. Thanks to the Vintage Multi and Vintage Mono classes, formerly known as the Rhum Multi and Rhum Mono, this history continues in the present. Renowned skippers have dedicated themselves to breathing new life into the ORMA trimarans that have left their mark on offshore racing. This will be the case for Damien Seguin (ARKEA – Handicap International), Francis Joyon (Pour les Oceans), Éric Péron (French Touch Oceans Club), and Gilles Lamiré (Groupe GCA). Furthermore, the selection criteria have been modified, placing particular emphasis on environmental considerations in the design and preparation of the boats. The category also includes modern catamarans that are eco-designed in whole or in part, such as those of Roland Jourdain (We Explore) and Marc Guillemot (Dazeilad).
Damien Seguin (ARKEA – Handicap International): “This is a unique race that has played a significant role in my passion for offshore racing. I grew up in Guadeloupe, I was 10 years old when Florence Arthaud won, and I have many memories of the Route du Rhum. I am very happy to be participating for the 5th time aboard a multihull. The fact that there are so many ORMA boats, boats that have contributed to the legend of the Route du Rhum, is truly fantastic. These are committed boats, fast on the water, beautiful to see, and it's going to be a great competition between us!”
VINTAGE MONO. A collection of beautiful sea stories
In the Vintage Mono class, thirteen boats are expected to be on the starting line. All are dedicated to keeping classic boats alive while striving for performance and pushing their limits. Composed largely of knowledgeable amateurs, the class is a treasure trove of wonderful sailing stories. Three fifty-foot one-design boats will be competing: those of Patrick Isoard (USHIP for Enfants du Mékong), Titouan Pilliard (Use it Again for Youth), and Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad). Tanguy's adventure is rich in symbolism, as he follows in the footsteps of his father, Loïc, who tragically died during the 1986 edition. Wilfried Clerton will be setting off for the third time aboard the legendary Kriter VIII. Keep an eye on Jean Le Cam, who will be competing in the transatlantic race aboard a Swan 59 that he has been passionately restoring for the past four years. Enough to live and follow other adventures which will all contribute to writing the great and small stories of a legendary race.
Jean Le Cam (Alegria): “The first image that comes to mind when I think of the Route du Rhum is Mike Birch and Michel Malinovsky and that finish that propelled the race into legend. I wanted to compete in it by writing a different story aboard boats that are slower, that don't slam into the waves as much. For the past four years, I've been renovating a Swan 59: I've tried to maintain a vintage feel, using wood, while equipping it with modern technology. But I know this race won't be easy. In a class with such diverse boats, it's difficult to predict the outcome. But we're all determined to experience the adventure to the fullest!”
The countdown has begun!
This Thursday, April 16th, at 6:15 pm, the official countdown to the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe begins! A powerful and symbolic moment shared with Alpina, the Official Timekeeper of this new edition. The Swiss watchmaker, which celebrated its 140th anniversary in 2023, has always drawn inspiration from the adventurous spirit of athletes and explorers, like sailors. Alpina's Communications Director, Yasmina Pedrimi, is thrilled at the prospect of " supporting one of the greatest offshore races where mastering time, precision, and reliability are absolute requirements ." Alpina will thus lend its expertise and know-how to this 13th edition, notably through the creation of a collection specially designed for the occasion.
