138 solo sailors take on the Atlantic Ocean!
The twelfth edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe started in great conditions at 1415hrs CET off Saint Malo this afternoon Wednesday 9th November. Ary Chalus (President of the Guadeloupe Region) and Gilles Lurton (Mayor of Saint-Malo) made the start signal off the Grouin headland.
The 138 monohulls and multihulls divided into 6 classes and categories set off towards Cape Fréhel in exceptional weather conditions: 15-20 knots of westerly wind, fine to rough seas, generous sunshine. A magical and grandiose spectacle for an already historic edition in terms of the number of participants.
On a line 3.5 miles long (6.4 km), the image of 138 boats (8 Ultim 32/23, 8 Ocean Fifty, 38 IMOCA, 55 Class40 and 29 Rhum) in full acceleration will remain in the memories of all the enthusiasts of the famous solo transatlantic race. A unique spectacle bringing together the best skippers in the world, boats at the cutting edge of technology, historic boats in a magnificent setting. Ocean racing in all its splendour....
With this headwind, right on the axis of Cape Fréhel, the solo sailors set off upwind and were quickly forced to tack to the compulsory CIC Cape Fréhel gate, which the Ultim 32/23 should reach 1 hour and 15 minutes after the start, followed by the Ocean Fifty 30 minutes later, then the IMOCA boats, the Rhum Mono and Multi boats and finally the Class40s, 4 hours later.
The 12th Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe is underway, heading for a 3,542 mile sprint!
Relive the start here 👇
Teams info
The Transat CIC: a spectacular start!
Brittany turned on its best Spring sailing weather – sunshine, puffy cumulus clouds and a decent 10-15kts of Westerly wind – to send the 48 strong Transat CIC fleet on its way from Lorient towards New York for the start …
•••Charlie Dalin: Raring to go on his first solo The Transat CIC
It’s good to see Charlie Dalin back where he belongs, at the helm of his almost brand new Guillaume Verdier IMOCA, Macif Santé Prévoyance, ready to take on the north Atlantic in The Transat CIC.
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