SKIPPERS' REVELATION, PART 3: The Locals

Sailors as a link between two territories

They are from Saint-Malo. They are from Guadeloupe. They are sometimes called “Saint-Malo natives.” All of them are the living link between Saint-Malo and Guadeloupe, and the Route du Rhum is in their DNA. Natives of the starting or finishing port, the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, more than any other, is their race, the one they wouldn't give up for anything. Twenty skippers will carry within them the salt of the port of departure or the sunshine of the port of arrival. Twenty skippers whose race will be experienced by an entire city, an island, and its inhabitants, driven by unparalleled enthusiasm.

Sailors from Saint-Malo, rum ingrained in their bodies and hearts

They grew up with the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, coming as children to the docks to admire the boats, crowding at Pointe du Grouin or Cap Fréhel to bid a final farewell to the sailors before they set sail. In 2026, they will be the ones to inspire the young people of Saint-Malo who, one day, will in turn do everything they can to "do the Rhum!" Luke Berry, Jules Bonnier, Gilles Lamiré, Baptiste Hulin, Louis Burton, Maxime Sorel, Emmanuel Hamez, and Florian Guéguen have already competed in at least one Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. But in 2026, they proudly return to "their" race, the one that, as true Saint-Malo sailors, whether born there or adopted by the town, they wouldn't miss for the world. Alongside them in harbors they know better than anyone, other local solo sailors will savor their first sip of rum... perhaps the best one yet. This will be the case for Quentin Le Nabour, Christophe Bachmann or even Yohann Bertrand.

Seven Guadeloupean heroes

The arrival of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in Pointe-à-Pitre is always a highlight, a moment of celebration. But what can be said when it's the arrival of a local boy? Then the entire island's heart beats to the rhythm of the Atlantic, whatever the time of day or night. For this 2026 edition, seven Guadeloupean heroes will be showcasing their roots, the waters of their childhood . From Damien Seguin, returning to the ORMA class at the helm of Loïck Peyron's legendary Fujicolor, to Keni Piperol, and including David Ducosson, Ulysse Pozzoli, Yannick Rebuffat, Rodolphe Sepho, and Fabien Biron, all will be competing for a home finish.

Finally, as if to symbolize it, Thibault Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton), a prominent figure in the Ocean Fifty class, readily describes himself as "Saint-Malo native." Between a childhood in Guadeloupe and a life built in Saint-Malo, the sailor has chosen not to choose, but to return again and again to the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe.