Late afternoon on the eve of Tuesday’s opening of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe race village, seven of the eight Ultim-class trimarans have passed through the locks before mooring in St. Malo’s Vauban Basin. The passage of the 23m wide multihulls through the sea locks always appears to be to be miracle of precision, and the spectacle was a treat for hundreds spectators who enjoyed the warm sunshine and thankfully gentle breezes. It was an exciting preview ahead of tomorrow’s opening of the race village starting thirteen highly anticipated days of festivities.
“Daddy, where are the boats?” “They’re coming!” This typical exchange was overheard this Monday at midday on the bridge over the Naye lock. A father, holding his son in his arms, stood on the sidewalk, straining to catch a glimpse of the ocean going giants. The hundreds of curious onlookers gathered near the locks had to find a vantage point to catch a glimpse of the Ultim trimarans as they arrived, one by one. But the spectacle was well worth it. “We’re arriving in Saint-Malo—get ready!” shouted solo skipper Guirec Soudée from on board his Liamm. He shouted out to the crowd with a smile: his Ultim was the first to pass through without a hitch.
Valuable experiences from four years ago
“I have to admit, I was a bit nervous about coming in,” confessed Alexia Barrier (aboard IDEC Sport-CIC), who came through just after Guirec. A sense of apprehension was also palpable among the technical teams; movements were delicate and gazes were intensely focused, given just how narrow the lock is. “You couldn’t even fit a Twingo (ndlr a tiny, small car) through there!” Guirec Soudée remarked with a laugh. "Navigating a lock is never simple, but here, you also have cargo ships and fishing boats coming in," explains race director Francis Le Goff, who is overseeing the maneuvers. "What makes it particularly challenging in this case, however, is the sheer size of the Ultim trimarans."
For most teams, the experience gained during the previous edition of the Route du Rhum is invaluable. "It’s a rather delicate maneuver—one we haven’t performed in four years—so it’s crucial to stay extremely focused," notes Armel Le Cléac’h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI). Each team has crew members stationed on rigid-inflatable boats (Zodiacs), as well as others positioned along both sides of the lock walls and on each of the vessel’s hulls. Everyone coordinates via walkie-talkies, while the sailors at the helm maintain an even higher level of concentration. For instance, there were seven people aboard ‘Sodebo Ultim 3’, including Thomas Coville and boat captain François Duguet. Alongside the skippers, spectators could spot familiar faces such as Franck Cammas aboard ‘SVR Lazartigue’, Sébastien Josse on ‘Maxi Banque Populaire XI’, and Benjamin Dutreux on ‘Liamm’.
A symbolic moment
Louis Burton (Armand Thiery)—a native of Saint-Malo—was, of course, already settled within the Saint-Malo docks. This initial passage through the locks concluded with the arrival of Tom Laperche (SVR Lazartigue) and Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond de Rothschild).
Despite the difficulty of the task and the intense focus required, there was undoubtedly a touch of emotion among the skippers. They are all well aware that the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe is a legendary race, and that passing through these locks serves as a symbolic milestone—one that speaks volumes. Each skipper is now leaving behind the intensive preparation phase, embarking on a new chapter with their sights set on the start on Sunday, November 1st.
Everyone is taking the time to enjoy the moment; Alexia Barrier, for instance, breaks into a few dance steps with a smile on her face. Guirec Soudée grins, remarking, "If someone had told me four years ago that I’d be here in an Ultim, I wouldn’t have believed it!" Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4) is also all smiles: "It’s fantastic to be here." As the bridge was raised to decant them into waiting docks, the crowd broke into a warm applause for each of the skippers. Tomorrow, it will be the turn of the Ocean Fifty, Vintage Multi, and IMOCA classes to make their entrance.
The public will be able to join in the excitement as well, with the event village opening at 12:00 PM. For both the skippers and the visitors, one thing is certain: the start of this week marks the beginning of the festivities—and the start of an incredible adventure.