NINE IMOCA SKIPPERS LINING UP FOR THE ROUTE DU RHUM 20th Oct 2010
The start of the 2010 Route du Rhum will take place at 1202hrs GMT on 31st October. Nine skippers from the IMOCA class are expected to be moor up at the pontoons in Saint-Malo by 22nd October. Among them, several serious contenders hoping to win the race in Pointe-à-Pitre. For what will be the fourth time the 60-foot monohulls have lined up for the Queen of transatlantic races, they are expected once again to be very much in the limelight in this year’s Route du Rhum, a major event in the IMOCA world championship.
The nine skippers registered for the 2010 Route du Rhum are due to arrive in Saint-Malo by noon local time on Friday 22nd October. Nine days later, they will set off from the pontoons in the Breton port between 0645hrs and 0715hrs GMT to head for the start area, with the starting gun being fired at 1202hrs. Once they have left the Cape Fréhel buoy to starboard, they will head for Pointe à Pitre, in Guadeloupe, and attempt to follow in the footsteps of Yves Parlier (winner in 1994), Thomas Coville (1998), Ellen MacArthur (2002) and Roland Jourdain (in 2006).
A top class line-up
The skipper of Veolia Environnement will be aiming to become the first sailor in the IMOCA class to achieve two wins in what is referred to as the Queen of transatlantic races. To ensure that he has every chance of doing that, the race title-holder has chartered the former BT, the boat aboard which Sébastien Josse competed in the last Vendée Globe. But the competition is going to be tough and Bilou will be facing some experienced skippers, who will be equally determined to grab the top spot. Among them, Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia), Vincent Riou (PRB) and Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac-Paprec 3), who will all be doing battle in brand new boats. There will also be some other fearsome competitors to watch closely, like Marc Guillemot (Safran), winner of the last Transat Jacques Vabre and Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air), fourth in the 2006 Rhum. There will be three skippers taking part in this race for the first time: Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas), Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel) and Christopher Pratt (DCNS 1000). With such a line-up, it looks like being a closely fought race and the 2010 Route du Rhum will certainly be an exciting one.
The nine skippers, who will be setting out on the Route du Rhum:
• Arnaud Boissières (Akena Vérandas)
• Armel Le Cléac’h (Brit Air)
• Michel Desjoyeaux (Foncia)
• Kito de Pavant (Groupe Bel)
• Vincent Riou (PRB)
• Marc Guillemot (Safran)
• Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement)
• Jean-Pierre Dick (Virbac Paprec 3)
• Christopher Pratt (DCNS 1000)
Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale
