- 6 hours ago
- 4 min read
He is the overall winner of the last edition, the first to break the 7-day barrier (6 days and 19 hours), and the one who has held the race record ever since. Charles Caudrelier (Edmond de Rothschild) has a very strong connection with the most famous of transatlantic races. It captivated the child he was and shaped the skipper he has become. Four years after his victory, Charles is back with a new, particularly innovative boat, Gitana 18, which will be making its transatlantic debut. An interview with a fulfilled sailor, happy with his current challenge and still just as enthusiastic about participating in this legendary race.
#1 What is your connection with the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe?
It's my favorite race, the one I've always wanted to do, the one that sparked my passion for sailing. It was thanks to the Route du Rhum that I had my epiphany, my strong desire to take up this sport. I have an image in my head that always comes back with the same precision: Laurent Bourgnon rounding Cap Fréhel, the central hull lifting off, the float in the air… For a long time, it seemed completely unattainable to me. That was the year Florence Arthaud won (1990). These are my earliest memories of the Route du Rhum, which I watched on TV in my parents' living room.
#2 Do you realize that you are now part of this story?
I don't know if people can truly grasp it. Of course, I see the trophy, I see that my name is associated with the previous edition, that some people are admiring. But I never thought it could happen to me. And paradoxically, I have very vivid memories of the previous edition. The finish was fabulous, the start too; those are images that will stay with me forever.
"This year is a completely new challenge."
#3 Four years later, the challenge is different with this new boat launched at the beginning of the year…
Yes, it's not the same dynamic anymore. In the previous edition, my competitors considered me the favorite and my boat the benchmark. I was well-prepared, we were convinced it was the best boat, and we felt we could win. This year, it's a completely new challenge. I have a brand-new boat that's a formidable weapon, but my preparation is very short before a race like the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe.
#4 Will it be difficult to compete with the others?
We need to be careful. We know it takes two to three years to make these boats reliable, time that some of our competitors have already taken, and naturally, that gives them a head start. My boat is very innovative, more complex than its predecessor, which requires a very detailed understanding of all the systems, the settings… Every sail brings us closer to the full potential of our boat. We're approaching the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe with confidence, seeing it as the ideal opportunity to optimize our boat and build for the future.
#5 What is your view on the competition?
In terms of performance, the field is very evenly matched. I think Banque Populaire (Armel Le Cléac'h) and Tom Laperche (SVR-Lzartigue) have a slight edge over the others in the battle for victory. Their boats are reliable and very high-performing. And above all, Armel has nothing left to prove in solo sailing, and Tom is a winning machine… It could be a great race! Then again, we mustn't underestimate Thomas Coville (Sodebo), who holds the crewed round-the-world record, and Anthony Marchand (Actual), who sails on my old boat. We'll also have to keep an eye on Louis Burton (Armand Thiery) and Alexia Barrier (Idec Sport CIC), who contribute to the large number of us competing in the Ultim class.
"I was involved from start to finish in the creation of this boat."
#6 The new Edmond de Rothschild is generating a lot of interest. What are its main innovations?
The appendages are completely innovative; we're experimenting with a system that doesn't exist anywhere else in the world. The foils are no longer L-shaped as before, but Y-shaped, like those used in the America's Cup. The rudders are U-shaped, which is entirely new for an Ultim. Furthermore, we have an "intelligent" autopilot specifically developed for this boat. These innovations take time to perfect, but we're working on them with enthusiasm as a team.
#7 You "flew" for the first time last May after installing the famous foils…
Our foils are truly the finishing touch on Gitana 18. We pushed the design to its limits. They are highly technical components, unprecedented at this scale, and with all the systems that entails. They arrived later than expected, we won't deny it, but we haven't wasted any time since the launch. Everything is so new and different on board, beyond the appendages that everyone's talking about, that the period without foils allowed us to proceed step by step, without rushing things, whether it was getting to grips with the spreader mast, the electric rudder, or the autopilot.
#8 More generally, do you enjoy this process?
Yes, it's fascinating! It's the first time I've been involved from start to finish in the development of this boat. I'm in close contact with the engineers, I've contributed my ideas, and we're working every day to improve the boat. I've known it inside and out for several months now! I'm convinced it will perform well in the future. And for my part, I'm still discovering things, learning… It's a very exciting time.
