CLASS PRESENTATION (2/7).
Next Sunday, November 1st, when the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe gets underway, 115 skippers will set sail, divided into six boat classes.
The Ocean Fifty fleet features fast, light multihulls designed to a ‘box rule’, that is to say to a set of measurements which are common to all. Ten skippers are taking on the challenge this year aboard these 15-meter (50-foot) multihulls. Many of them are genuine contenders for the podium or a top-tier finish. The suspense is heightened by a clash between the most experienced sailors—such as Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton by Delanchy)—and the younger generation, led by Basile Bourgnon (Edenred).
Despite the range of designs and the age of the different boats it seems like at the end of each Ocean 50 transatlantic race, after some ten days at sea, the gaps between the boats are often razor-thin.
In the last edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe in 2022, only 18 minutes separated the winner, Erwan Le Roux, from the runner-up, Quentin Vlamynck. And a year ago, in the Transat Café L’Or, less than thirty minutes separated the top three duos (Baptiste Hulin & Thomas Rouxel, Pierre Quiroga & Gaston Morvan, and Luke Berry & Antoine Joubert)! And so suspense from start to finish is the norm and for sure this race won’t be decided until the finish line is crossed.
“A diversity of profiles and a lot of talent” (Thibaut Vauchel-Camus)
“ The class has rarely been so competitive with such a high level of competition , ” confirms Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) . Like him, Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton by Delanchy) finds “ the field truly fantastic . ” He adds: " There is a diversity of profiles and a lot of talent. Thanks to our competitions in the Grand Prix, everyone knows their boat better and that helps raise the level ."
The result? " There are so many variables to consider that it's almost impossible to make a prediction in this class ," says Anne-Claire Le Berre (Upwind by Merconcept), the first woman to compete in the Ocean Fifty. Erwan Le Draoulec (Lazare X Hellio) emphasizes " the importance of the class rules, which allow for such a competitive fleet ." " We might be the only class where all eleven boats can ultimately reach the podium or aim for a top finish ."
Young skippers who "have a big appetite"
Yet, when discussing the contenders, one name keeps coming up: Basile Bourgnon. " If there were a favorite, it would be him ," believes Erwan Le Draoulec. " Yes, he's the favorite, he won the Drheam Cup, but the competition will be much more open ," asserts Erwan Le Roux, who ultimately isn't starting due to budget constraints, but remains a keen observer of the class. What does Basile, the man most directly involved, think? " It's definitely a race that means a lot to me, it's my dream race, I grew up with it, " he confides , referring to his late father Laurent's victories in 1994 and 1998. " I'm lucky to have a great team, we've had good preparation, but I know that doesn't guarantee anything about what will happen during the race ."
When discussing the fleet, Basile mentions " the arrival in recent years of young sailors with a real hunger for success ." He cites Pierre Quiroga (32 years old, Wewise, winner of the Solitaire du Figaro in 2021), Baptiste Hulin (29 years old, Viabilis, 2nd in the Route des Terres Neuvas), Erwan Le Draoulec (29 years old, Lazare x Hellio), and Léonard Legrand (32 years old, Sodebo Fifty). " We'll see if all these youngsters are too impetuous or too cautious! " says Thibaut Vauchel-Camus with a smile.
Is this Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe shaping up to be a clash of generations? " I don't think it will be a battle between the youngsters and the old guys, but it's certain that we might sail a little differently ," emphasizes Erwan Le Draoulec, who also recalls " having dreamed of seeing Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and Erwan Le Roux in multihulls in the past ."
What if the main rival isn't on another boat but the skipper him or herself? Before withdrawing from defending his title due to budget constraints, Erwan Le Roux had hinted at a few possibilities: The other skippers aren't your competitors, they're your friends. In this race, the real competitor is yourself. It's up to you to make the right decisions at the right time, to be clear-headed, to execute your strategy successfully, and to make as few mistakes as possible . And that's also what will determine, throughout this incredible ocean sprint, the podium and then the rankings in the Ocean Fifty class.