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Between thunderstorms, rough seas, violent winds, and unexpected calms, the six fleets are racing in very different conditions. As the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe enters its second week the Atlantic seems as determined as ever to make every mile a battle.  

In the Ultim class the race may be won but after the dream come true win of Tom Laperche, Thomas Coville and Louis Burton are still battling for second place.


With only a few hours left until the finish,  they are only separated by fifty miles, heading into a potentially tricky final lap of Basse Terre to the finish line where they are expected late this morning local time, maybe around 1700hrs UTC.


In the Ocean Fifty class, Pierre Quiroga and Thibaut Vauchel-Camus are right back in the match at  just 50 miles behind the leader, Basile Bourgnon. Their race is wide open again!


And with 1550 nautical miles to the finish for the top Class40s, Guillaume Pirouelle, Achille Nebout, and Pierre Leboucher are back within six miles of each other. After the rough weather, it’s now a period of calm—before the next depression arrives.


Benoît Sineau was rescued safe and sound last night by Jules Bonnier, who was diverted to assist him



Burton makes a move, Coville holds the advantageTom Laperche has arrived in Pointe-à-Pitre, but the podium for the ocean giants is far from complete. With about 90 miles to go, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) holds a lead of roughly fifty miles over Louis Burton (Armand Thiery). But in these changeable conditions anything can happen. In Ultim world fifty miles is five miles in a lesser machine.  In the waters around Guadeloupe, a lead can melt away as quickly as an ice cube in the hot sun. And the swashbuckling sailor from Saint-Malo, Louis Burton, whose seemingly high risk, high octane approach very nearly won him the 2020-21 Vendée Globe, is pushing to the end. While the current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy opted to pass between Anguilla and Saint Kitts and Nevis, Burton chose the more westerly route. "Thomas is very strong, and he has a fast boat. We’ve been battling it out for days. He’s managed to pull ahead a bit, so I need to avoid falling into the role of a mere follower. We figured we’d try passing to the windward side of the islands, hoping he might run into less favorable conditions. That’s what flair is all about: taking a chance!"

Burton, skipper of Armand Thiery says he expects to arrive this afternoon (UTC time), and just like his rival Coville—hasn't lost his flair for the dramatic. "I spent a fantastic final night weaving through thunderstorms. The sky was magnificent—filled with stars, shooting stars, and the islands themselves." They too will be upwind to the finish but  Basse-Terre has traps aplenty and could easily turn a comfortable lead into a head to head scrap. "Even the weather models can’t quite pin down what’s happening. How much time will we lose there? It’s an exhilarating experience from the inside. And until the finish line is crossed, nothing is over!"


Ocean Fifty A few days ago, Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) seemed to have made a break which for all the world looked decisive.  Leading the Ocean Fifty fleet since the day after the start, Monday November 2nd, he had built up a 130-mile cushion. But a tropical depression has reshuffled the deck. Pierre Quiroga (Wewise) and Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires En Peloton by Delanchy) have closed the gap, now sitting just 50 miles behind him—setting the stage for a fiercely contested finish

 Quiroga reports. "We might have pushed things a bit too far. All night long, we were sailing straight into the swell, amidst lightning flashes—punishing both the boat and ourselves. I think we saw nearly 55 knots."

With his J2 headsail out of commission, the skipper of Wewise has had to make do with a reduced sail plan, yet he hasn't eased off the throttle. "We’ve pushed ourselves right into the red, this is such a genuine athletic effort. It’s a pleasure to have such high-caliber rivals to play against."


And among these rivals on the same stretch of Atlantic there is an imposter, Corentin Horeau (MACSF), who is leading the IMOCA class by some 215 miles is currently sailing neck-and-neck with the front-running 50-foot trimarans. It’s an unlikely—yet delightful—cohabitation for Quiroga who is not from Brittany but from the Mediterranean. "It’s just so funny having him right alongside!" We even ended up on a video call for five minutes after I called him by mistake while taking a nap. These are rare moments of pleasure during this race.”  Horeau from La Trinité isn’t holding back his enjoyment either, to ...while keeping this confrontation in perspective. "I find myself watching their trajectories, comparing our tacks and our speeds." He is very aware that, in such highly unstable weather, the multihulls more than IMOCA monohulls struggle to reach their full potential—a nuance that in no way diminishes his satisfaction. "A little self-satisfaction feels good!"


A real battle is being contested among the 60-foot monohulls. "I hadn't been looking too much at what was happening behind me until now, but I am getting anxious again." Such attention to what is going on is understandable especially after the major scare he had the day before, when his fore hatch cover was torn off. "It was a total disaster. I came close to having to retire. But everything’s sorted now!"


Behind him the battle for second and third is as intense as ever as second placed German skipper Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) is now 28 miles ahead of third placed Franco Brit Sam Goodchild (MACIF Sante Prevoyance), the pair just negotiating the unpredictable, unsettled winds and seas closer to the centre of the stalled tropical storm.




Further north of the tropical depression, Anne-Claire Le Berre (Upwind by Merconcept)—along with Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin – Lamotte) and Laurent Bourgues (La French Fab)—is facing a completely different, tougher situation. "It’s like a war zone out here! The waves are very short, and we can’t speed up; if we do, we risk slamming into the wave ahead and being catapulted. I don’t think anyone wants that today." Said Anne-Claire who is fighting her own race within the race. "There’s a second race happening inside the main one. We’ve been challenging each other from the very start. The main thing now is just to get out of this area!"


After the "washing machine," it’s time for "pause mode."

The leading Class40s are getting some respite, finally. After two days of being slammed around violently, they now find themselves stuck in a high-pressure ridge—the sea remains quite unsettled, but there’s barely enough wind to fill their sails. Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo), Achille Nebout (Amarris), and Pierre Leboucher (Institut Imagine) are all within six miles of one another. "There’s absolutely no wind, but the sea is still very unsettled. I’m about to lose my mind!" says Pirouelle. "It’s completely overcast, everything’s trimmed on, and nothing’s happening. I’d really like to get out of here and start making some progress." The sailor from Normandy has used this forced pause to repair some structural damage on the bow of his boat—an hour and a half of fixing in a the damp, humid air was not pleasant.


Djemila Tassin (Djemila Sailing – Belgium Ocean Racing) has regained enough composure to look at things other than her instruments. As the first skipper of a Class40 with a pointed bow, the Belgian sailor has certainly been put through the wringer. "I think these are the toughest conditions I’ve ever faced while sailing solo. You stay on edge the whole time until it finally stops, because every single minute you’re wondering what might break next." But the pressure eventually eased, making way for much more pleasant experiences—starting with an encounter that clearly delighted her: "I saw my first flying fish! For me, that marks the entry into tropical latitudes. We’re leaving the cold seas behind!" Sargassum seaweed has also made an appearance—though that has been met with far less enthusiasm!


Pam back on it In Horta, Ireland’s Pamela Lee (#Empowher) is also smiling again. After replacing her batteries, the Irish sailor headed back out to sea yesterday around 2100hrs UTC  feeling relieved and grateful to everyone who made her re-start possible, not least the team from Lazartigue. "It was an incredible team effort. Everyone rallied around my boat; I’m deeply touched by such solidarity." The schedule left her very little wiggle room: "Deciding to set off at that moment wasn't easy, as a rough night is ahead. But otherwise, I would have had to wait until Monday." Barely six and a half hours later, the port in the Azores welcomed another competitor—this time, an IMOCA sailor. Forced to divert due to a back injury, Italian Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei) reached Faial this Sunday at around 0330hrs UTC.

In both "Rhum" divisions it remains a battle. Among the monohulls, the 200 vintage IMOCA of Kieran Le Borgne (Armor-Lux – Le Finistère Assurance) is in the lead, ahead of Patrick Isoard (Groupe Cogedis pour Enfants Du Mékong) and Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad). In the Vintage multihull category, Damien Seguin (Arkea – Handicap International) remains ahead of Éric Péron (French Touche – Oceania Hôtels). With intermittent winds and persistent weather disturbances, the journey to Guadeloupe is far from straightforward


Romain’s Roscoff Restart For Romain Pilliard (Use It Again), the primary goal was to get back into "race mode"—a milestone reached at 9:30 a.m. today. One week after his collision with the IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur, skippered by Violette Dorange, Pilliard departed from Roscoff, where a team of four composite-material specialists had been working to repair his trimaran. The repairs were made possible thanks to the solidarity of many supporters and a crowdfunding campaign. He is now back on his way, continuing his third attempt at the race. However, the most heartening news from the last few hours has nothing to do with the standings: yesterday, after Benoît Sineau (Ekinox-Rhétores) triggered his distress beacon at 2:30 p.m., Jules Bonnier (Plastic Odyssey) was diverted by Race Control. By 8:45 p.m., he had successfully rescued his fellow competitor, who was safe and sound.


So Tom Laperche has claimed the big overall victory on this 13th edition. The gaps are narrowing, nerves are being severely tested but in general ambitions remain undiminished. From this point on, the hardest part may not be gaining miles—but rather avoiding giving any away to the others.

3 hours ago
7 min read

Between thunderstorms, rough seas, violent winds, and unexpected calms, the six fleets are racing in very different conditions. As the Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe enters its second week the Atlantic seems as determined as ever to make every mile a battle.  

In the Ultim class the race may be won but after the dream come true win of Tom Laperche, Thomas Coville and Louis Burton are still battling for second place.


With only a few hours left until the finish,  they are only separated by fifty miles, heading into a potentially tricky final lap of Basse Terre to the finish line where they are expected late this morning local time, maybe around 1700hrs UTC.


In the Ocean Fifty class, Pierre Quiroga and Thibaut Vauchel-Camus are right back in the match at  just 50 miles behind the leader, Basile Bourgnon. Their race is wide open again!


And with 1550 nautical miles to the finish for the top Class40s, Guillaume Pirouelle, Achille Nebout, and Pierre Leboucher are back within six miles of each other. After the rough weather, it’s now a period of calm—before the next depression arrives.


Benoît Sineau was rescued safe and sound last night by Jules Bonnier, who was diverted to assist him



Burton makes a move, Coville holds the advantageTom Laperche has arrived in Pointe-à-Pitre, but the podium for the ocean giants is far from complete. With about 90 miles to go, Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) holds a lead of roughly fifty miles over Louis Burton (Armand Thiery). But in these changeable conditions anything can happen. In Ultim world fifty miles is five miles in a lesser machine.  In the waters around Guadeloupe, a lead can melt away as quickly as an ice cube in the hot sun. And the swashbuckling sailor from Saint-Malo, Louis Burton, whose seemingly high risk, high octane approach very nearly won him the 2020-21 Vendée Globe, is pushing to the end. While the current holder of the Jules Verne Trophy opted to pass between Anguilla and Saint Kitts and Nevis, Burton chose the more westerly route. "Thomas is very strong, and he has a fast boat. We’ve been battling it out for days. He’s managed to pull ahead a bit, so I need to avoid falling into the role of a mere follower. We figured we’d try passing to the windward side of the islands, hoping he might run into less favorable conditions. That’s what flair is all about: taking a chance!"

Burton, skipper of Armand Thiery says he expects to arrive this afternoon (UTC time), and just like his rival Coville—hasn't lost his flair for the dramatic. "I spent a fantastic final night weaving through thunderstorms. The sky was magnificent—filled with stars, shooting stars, and the islands themselves." They too will be upwind to the finish but  Basse-Terre has traps aplenty and could easily turn a comfortable lead into a head to head scrap. "Even the weather models can’t quite pin down what’s happening. How much time will we lose there? It’s an exhilarating experience from the inside. And until the finish line is crossed, nothing is over!"


Ocean Fifty A few days ago, Basile Bourgnon (Edenred) seemed to have made a break which for all the world looked decisive.  Leading the Ocean Fifty fleet since the day after the start, Monday November 2nd, he had built up a 130-mile cushion. But a tropical depression has reshuffled the deck. Pierre Quiroga (Wewise) and Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires En Peloton by Delanchy) have closed the gap, now sitting just 50 miles behind him—setting the stage for a fiercely contested finish

 Quiroga reports. "We might have pushed things a bit too far. All night long, we were sailing straight into the swell, amidst lightning flashes—punishing both the boat and ourselves. I think we saw nearly 55 knots."

With his J2 headsail out of commission, the skipper of Wewise has had to make do with a reduced sail plan, yet he hasn't eased off the throttle. "We’ve pushed ourselves right into the red, this is such a genuine athletic effort. It’s a pleasure to have such high-caliber rivals to play against."


And among these rivals on the same stretch of Atlantic there is an imposter, Corentin Horeau (MACSF), who is leading the IMOCA class by some 215 miles is currently sailing neck-and-neck with the front-running 50-foot trimarans. It’s an unlikely—yet delightful—cohabitation for Quiroga who is not from Brittany but from the Mediterranean. "It’s just so funny having him right alongside!" We even ended up on a video call for five minutes after I called him by mistake while taking a nap. These are rare moments of pleasure during this race.”  Horeau from La Trinité isn’t holding back his enjoyment either, to ...while keeping this confrontation in perspective. "I find myself watching their trajectories, comparing our tacks and our speeds." He is very aware that, in such highly unstable weather, the multihulls more than IMOCA monohulls struggle to reach their full potential—a nuance that in no way diminishes his satisfaction. "A little self-satisfaction feels good!"


A real battle is being contested among the 60-foot monohulls. "I hadn't been looking too much at what was happening behind me until now, but I am getting anxious again." Such attention to what is going on is understandable especially after the major scare he had the day before, when his fore hatch cover was torn off. "It was a total disaster. I came close to having to retire. But everything’s sorted now!"


Behind him the battle for second and third is as intense as ever as second placed German skipper Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) is now 28 miles ahead of third placed Franco Brit Sam Goodchild (MACIF Sante Prevoyance), the pair just negotiating the unpredictable, unsettled winds and seas closer to the centre of the stalled tropical storm.




Further north of the tropical depression, Anne-Claire Le Berre (Upwind by Merconcept)—along with Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin – Lamotte) and Laurent Bourgues (La French Fab)—is facing a completely different, tougher situation. "It’s like a war zone out here! The waves are very short, and we can’t speed up; if we do, we risk slamming into the wave ahead and being catapulted. I don’t think anyone wants that today." Said Anne-Claire who is fighting her own race within the race. "There’s a second race happening inside the main one. We’ve been challenging each other from the very start. The main thing now is just to get out of this area!"


After the "washing machine," it’s time for "pause mode."

The leading Class40s are getting some respite, finally. After two days of being slammed around violently, they now find themselves stuck in a high-pressure ridge—the sea remains quite unsettled, but there’s barely enough wind to fill their sails. Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo), Achille Nebout (Amarris), and Pierre Leboucher (Institut Imagine) are all within six miles of one another. "There’s absolutely no wind, but the sea is still very unsettled. I’m about to lose my mind!" says Pirouelle. "It’s completely overcast, everything’s trimmed on, and nothing’s happening. I’d really like to get out of here and start making some progress." The sailor from Normandy has used this forced pause to repair some structural damage on the bow of his boat—an hour and a half of fixing in a the damp, humid air was not pleasant.


Djemila Tassin (Djemila Sailing – Belgium Ocean Racing) has regained enough composure to look at things other than her instruments. As the first skipper of a Class40 with a pointed bow, the Belgian sailor has certainly been put through the wringer. "I think these are the toughest conditions I’ve ever faced while sailing solo. You stay on edge the whole time until it finally stops, because every single minute you’re wondering what might break next." But the pressure eventually eased, making way for much more pleasant experiences—starting with an encounter that clearly delighted her: "I saw my first flying fish! For me, that marks the entry into tropical latitudes. We’re leaving the cold seas behind!" Sargassum seaweed has also made an appearance—though that has been met with far less enthusiasm!


Pam back on it In Horta, Ireland’s Pamela Lee (#Empowher) is also smiling again. After replacing her batteries, the Irish sailor headed back out to sea yesterday around 2100hrs UTC  feeling relieved and grateful to everyone who made her re-start possible, not least the team from Lazartigue. "It was an incredible team effort. Everyone rallied around my boat; I’m deeply touched by such solidarity." The schedule left her very little wiggle room: "Deciding to set off at that moment wasn't easy, as a rough night is ahead. But otherwise, I would have had to wait until Monday." Barely six and a half hours later, the port in the Azores welcomed another competitor—this time, an IMOCA sailor. Forced to divert due to a back injury, Italian Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei) reached Faial this Sunday at around 0330hrs UTC.

In both "Rhum" divisions it remains a battle. Among the monohulls, the 200 vintage IMOCA of Kieran Le Borgne (Armor-Lux – Le Finistère Assurance) is in the lead, ahead of Patrick Isoard (Groupe Cogedis pour Enfants Du Mékong) and Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad). In the Vintage multihull category, Damien Seguin (Arkea – Handicap International) remains ahead of Éric Péron (French Touche – Oceania Hôtels). With intermittent winds and persistent weather disturbances, the journey to Guadeloupe is far from straightforward


Romain’s Roscoff Restart For Romain Pilliard (Use It Again), the primary goal was to get back into "race mode"—a milestone reached at 9:30 a.m. today. One week after his collision with the IMOCA Initiatives-Cœur, skippered by Violette Dorange, Pilliard departed from Roscoff, where a team of four composite-material specialists had been working to repair his trimaran. The repairs were made possible thanks to the solidarity of many supporters and a crowdfunding campaign. He is now back on his way, continuing his third attempt at the race. However, the most heartening news from the last few hours has nothing to do with the standings: yesterday, after Benoît Sineau (Ekinox-Rhétores) triggered his distress beacon at 2:30 p.m., Jules Bonnier (Plastic Odyssey) was diverted by Race Control. By 8:45 p.m., he had successfully rescued his fellow competitor, who was safe and sound.


So Tom Laperche has claimed the big overall victory on this 13th edition. The gaps are narrowing, nerves are being severely tested but in general ambitions remain undiminished. From this point on, the hardest part may not be gaining miles—but rather avoiding giving any away to the others.

 
 
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