Route Du Rhum 2010

In 1976 a series of huge boats entered into the Transat (ex. OSTAR), including Alain Colas in his 234ft monohull, Club Mediteranée, pushing the organisers to put a maximum length restriction in place for future events. This restriction knocked out a large part of the European continental fleet and incensed the French, pushing them to create an alternative - the Route du Rhum.

38 boats entered the first race in 1978 - a storm lashed, highly eventful race which was finally won by only 98 seconds after 23 days - a publicists dream!

Ten years after the much derided Transat decision to limit the size of competing boats , the organisers of the Route du Rhum bowed to the inevitable. The monster they had created had started to destroy itself - it had become too expensive to compete. The dream of a no-holds barred race had run its course but had produced a superb new single-handed race which now complemented rather than conflicted with the Transat.

The race has a fantastic history and remains one of the largest and more avidly followed races in sailing.