For the 13th time in its history, the corsair city is preparing to host one of the world's most iconic races. For several months, all the teams and services of the city and the Saint-Malo Agglomeration have been working tirelessly. Meanwhile, the Saint-Malo skippers are eagerly anticipating the event. Soon, Saint-Malo will be decked out in its finest attire to experience the rhythm of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe.
In the heart of summer and its sweltering heat, it's difficult to relive the excitement of the start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. Yet, for all offshore racing enthusiasts and the general public alike, it's enough to rekindle the memories. To plunge back into the heart of that dense and diverse crowd, full of families and joyful spirits, winding its way between the pontoons. To listen closely for the whistling of the rigging and the echoes of the village coming to life. To observe all the teams' hands working diligently around the boats. To catch the skippers' gaze, that mixture of excitement and apprehension. Then to let oneself be carried away by the joyful atmosphere, the festive spirit that radiates through the cobbled streets until late into the night…
“To truly grasp the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, you have to come and stroll around the docks, see the kilometers dedicated to the race, and immerse yourself in the joyful and festive atmosphere,” recalls Baptiste Hulin (Viabilis Océans, Ocean Fifty). He himself remembers wandering through the village with his parents. “It was at night, the Friday before the start. There were these enormous boats that made you dream, the difficulty of imagining that solo skippers would be crossing the Atlantic on board… It’s as if there’s a touch of magic surrounding the event.”
"You can feel it getting closer."
The Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe has long since transcended the boundaries of a sporting event. It brings together the most prestigious skippers and knowledgeable amateurs on the boats, as well as thousands of passionate and curious onlookers. Every four years since 1978, the emotion it evokes is palpable. It stirs the hearts of the people of Saint-Malo, inspires children who grow up with it, and sometimes even nurtures the dream of one day lining up at the starting line. "It's always a great moment," confides Luke Berry (Le Rire Médecin Lamotte, Ocean Fifty), a resident of Saint-Malo for nearly ten years. " Saint-Malo is transformed, the locals are always talking about it… It's a bit like the city is preparing for a major festival." “When you grow up in Cancale like me, the Route du Rhum is a matter of the heart,” adds Florian Gueguen (Graine de Courage, Vintage Multi). “It is so mythical that it seems inaccessible when you are a kid.”
In Saint-Malo, even in the summer, the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe is on everyone's mind. "There are the boats training in front of the beaches and then all the discussions," continues Florian. "Everyone's reaction is to say that the four years have gone by quickly!" “The people of Saint-Malo have been eagerly awaiting this race for four years,” smiles Baptiste Hulin. “ The city is already starting to get into the colors of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe… You can feel it getting closer!”
On land, all economic players are hard at work
While the sailors have been working for weeks to ensure everything is ready on board their ships to set sail for Guadeloupe on Sunday, November 1st, preparations are also well underway on land. Hoteliers, restaurateurs, shopkeepers, tourism professionals, and local businesses are also doing everything possible to be ready to welcome the hundreds of thousands of visitors starting October 20th, the opening date of the departure village in Saint-Malo.
The city and the metropolitan area are already ready to go.
Preparations began several months ago. City and Saint-Malo Agglomeration services have been working closely with the organizer, OC Sport Pen Duick. "There has been in-depth reflection to make the event more environmentally friendly, and consequently, we have made improvements to ensure the village is 100% electric," explains Mayor Gilles Lurton. " These are large-scale projects that we will accelerate so they are operational during the Route du Rhum." At the same time, local stakeholders have been working to "engage all segments of the community." "We are committed to ensuring that even those most isolated and furthest removed from the event can participate," explains the mayor. To achieve this, the symbols representing the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe are fully integrated into the organized events. This was the case, for example, at the Games Festival held in priority neighborhoods, where the mascot, Tymal, was present. The Trophy has also begun a tour of the towns and villages of the Saint-Malo Agglomeration, where residents can meet it at their town halls. You can also view the mascot and trophy's tour directly on this interactive map: https://www.routedurhum.com/carte-tournee
"Let the party not stop in the village!"
One of the new features of this 2026 edition is the shared commitment between local authorities and the organizer to further enhance the program of events outside the race village, in order to showcase the surrounding areas and extend the experience. It was therefore decided to launch the first Off Festival of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe to prolong the event into the streets, neighborhoods, and towns of the greater Saint-Malo area. Activities, meet-and-greets, exhibitions, and cultural events will offer a different way to experience the Rhum, transforming the entire walled city into a playground and a celebration. The ambition is simple: that the public not only come to see the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, but that they can experience it throughout Saint-Malo.
“We are now entering the operational phase ,” explains Gilles Lurton. Security meetings are being held with the prefecture, and others are being held to finalize the complete pre-race schedule. The setup of the facilities will begin on September 14th.
Staying focused, despite the emotion of a home start
For the skippers, however, it's crucial not to get carried away by the excitement, whether they're rookies like Baptiste Hulin or seasoned veterans like Louis Burton (Ultim Armand Thiery/Ultim). Despite the demands of family and friends and sponsors, any distractions are forbidden in order to have maximum energy at the start. Finding this balance isn't so easy, especially for the skippers from Saint-Malo. "We all have friends and family members who come to see us," smiles Luke Berry. "But we have to be careful to stay disciplined and not go out too much: it's very energy-draining and can be problematic before the intense energy expenditure of the race."
“You have to manage that aspect carefully in the final days,” continues Florian Gueguen. “Personally, I’m more worried about the start, the crowds, the boats side by side, the pressure…” Four years ago, while competing in the Class40, Florian, so focused on doing well, missed the starting line. The apprehension surrounding the grand departure is commensurate with the event: when the boats set off, hundreds of thousands of people will be lining the coast. Spectators who have come to offer enthusiastic support, to say a final goodbye, and to capture their own little moment in history.