THE RHUM MAGAZINE. For them, everything will be heightened: the pleasure of being on the starting line, the festive spirit of Saint-Malo, and the certainty of becoming part of a legendary history. The Saint-Malo skippers will inevitably be in the spotlight. This contingent of ten skippers is present in the Ultim class (Louis Burton), the Ocean Fifty class (Luke Berry and Baptiste Hulin), the Vintage Multi class (Gilles Lamiré and Florian Gueguen), the Vintage Mono class (Christophe Bachmann), and especially the Class40 class (Quentin Le Nabour, Jules Bonnier, Emmanuel Hamez, and Yohann Bertrand).
In recent weeks, they've felt the growing excitement surrounding the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe a little more than most. " We can see that the city has gradually embraced the race," Baptiste Hulin (Viabilis Oceans, Ocean Fifty) recently confided. " You can feel that people are talking about it, that they're looking forward to the event, that they're already making plans to follow it." "It's always a big moment; the city transforms, and the event is eagerly awaited by all the residents of Saint-Malo ," continued Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin Lamotte). " We feel the pride and support of the people of Saint-Malo," affirmed Louis Burton (Armand Thierry). " With each Route du Rhum, we feel more than ever like locals! "
A festive spirit "like the festivals of the Southwest"
“ Saint-Malo during the Route du Rhum and outside of it are completely different,” agrees Jules Bonnier (Plastic Odyssey). “There ’s an incredible density of racing boats and a unique atmosphere watching these sailors set off in the dead of winter to cross the Atlantic .” The Class40 skipper speaks of the race as “ an old dream that we patiently nurture.” “At first, participating seems completely unreal, and gradually we get closer to it .” A dream kept alive with each edition, a celebration in its own right.
He remembers, of course, the crowds around the docks and those skippers we admired. " Some of them would come to see us at school, like Franck-Yves Escoffier (winner of the Ocean Fifty in 1998, 2002, and 2006), who was a bit of a local star ." Luke Berry, who arrived in Saint-Malo at the age of nine, recalls "roaming the docks every four years to see all the multihulls, the IMOCAs, and the big names in sailing." Then, as he grew up, " you discover the more festive side, the village, the celebration ." For him, the Route du Rhum is " a sporting event that resembles a music festival ." Jules Bonnier, on the other hand, prefers the comparison with " the festivals of Southwest France ."
Baptiste Hulin also remembers his first visit as a child, when his parents took him to the village one evening. " There was almost a magical quality to it, " he smiles. " It's impressive to see those hundred or so boats in the basins at the foot of the ramparts and those kilometers dedicated to offshore racing," he explains. " It creates an incomparable atmosphere and a unique event ."
During the village visit, "finding the right balance"
Now, these skippers have moved from the sidelines, from spectators to participants. Ten sailors from Saint-Malo, or those who have made Saint-Malo their home, are on the starting line, representing five of the seven competing categories. As the event approaches, the demands on their time and commitments increase, and finding the right balance isn't always easy.
“ I get several requests a day to speak, especially in schools,” says Jules Bonnier. “ I want to share as much as possible, but sometimes I have to decline. Between that and friends who come for the occasion… You mustn’t forget that my primary goal is athletic!” “It’s true that it’s not easy to find the right balance ,” continues Luke Berry. “ We all have a lot of family and friends who come to see us .” He’s competing in the race for the third time and knows from experience, that one must succeed in being rigorous , enjoying oneself without expending too much energy.
"An extraordinary platform for inviting clients"
Before joining the festivities, everyone could see that the race's appeal, at the local level, was a valuable tool for attracting sponsors. " The Route du Rhum is an extraordinary platform for inviting clients and offering a unique experience," Jules Bonnier pointed out. " I have partners who are particularly enthusiastic and committed this season because of the race ."
The same sentiment is echoed by Le Rire Médecin Lamotte, Luke Berry's team. " We're largely supported by companies from Ille-et-Vilaine, Saint-Malo, and Rennes ," explains the skipper. " The proximity, the importance of the race, the size of the village—it all encourages employees to come . " Many will be on the docks during the thirteen days leading up to the start to fully experience the event, especially at an evening organized by the team on the Thursday before departure. Finally, the Saint-Malo skippers have a significant advantage over the other competitors, which they can maintain throughout the entire race village. " It's incredible ," says Jules, amused. " At the end of each day and until the start, you sleep at home. And in terms of logistics and peace of mind, that's priceless! "
The sailors from Saint-Malo at the start of the 2026 Route du Rhum: Louis Burton (Armand Thiery, Ultim), Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin Lamotte, Ocean Fifty), Baptiste Hulin (Viabilis Oceans, Ocean Fifty) , Jules Bonnier (Plastic Odyssey, Class40), Quentin Le Nabour (Bleu Blanc Planète Location, Class40), Emmanuel Hamez (Viranga, Class40), Yohann Bertrand (Yoda, Class40), Gilles Lamiré (Groupe GCA, Vintage Multi), Florian Gueguen (Graine de Courage, Vintage Multi), Christophe Bachmann (Graine de Sable, Vintage Mono)