After opening applications a few weeks ago, OC Sport Pen Duick, the owning and organizing company, is today launching a new countdown by revealing the start date of the next edition of the most legendary solo transatlantic race.

In one year, on Sunday, November 1, 2026, the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe will set sail from Saint-Malo, bound for Pointe-à-Pitre. One hundred and seventeen sailors — joined by a few wild cards — will take to the ocean, each hoping to etch their name in the race’s history or to intertwine the magic and legend of this extraordinary event with their own personal journeys.
With one year to go before the start of this exceptional sporting rendezvous, Alpina takes on the honor of Official Timekeeper, counting down the days, hours, minutes, and seconds.

Grand départ: November 1, 2026

The news was eagerly awaited, it’s now official. On Sunday, November 1 at 1:02 p.m., 117 solo skippers, potentially joined by a few wild cards, will set off on the Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe. Ultim, IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, Class40, Vintage Multi, and Vintage Mono: all will share a single starting line, each facing their destiny on a one-of-a-kind course.

From Brittany to Guadeloupe, from Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre, they will take part in the most intense of ocean sprints, the legendary race that, for 47 years, has brought together the very best of offshore sailing. They will enter the legend and help keep the magic of the Rhum alive.

The start village opens October 20

Before the thrill of the start, other emotions will be shared between sailors and the public when the race village opens on Tuesday, October 20. To kick things off in style, part of the fleet will parade into Saint-Malo, a symbol of the diversity and richness of this race. Boats from every class, from the Ultims to the Class40s, including IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, and Vintage Multi and Mono,  will bring the quays to life and fill the corsair city with energy throughout the village days.

Once the boats enter the basins, the beating heart of the fleet will come fully alive for 13 days, to the rhythm of festivities organized by the race team, the city of Saint-Malo, the Guadeloupe region, and the Brittany region — a reflection of the strong bond between the corsair city and the Caribbean shores.

Breton and Guadeloupean atmosphere, tradition and modernity, memories and discovery will all come together during this vibrant prelude to the grand departure.

The promise of a festive, popular gathering

The race village, completely free of charge, will once again cover nearly 70,000 m² along the quays, just as in 2022, and will feature several new additions — including a brand-new space, “Terre de Départ” (Land of Departure). This area will showcase the richness, craftsmanship, and identity of the Breton region, adding to the festive atmosphere and unique character of the race village.

Combining enthusiasm, public emotion, and a true popular spirit, this two-week celebration in Saint-Malo will offer an experience at the crossroads of sport and spectacle, reaching its climax over the weekend of October 30 to November 1.

Even before the starting cannon fires, the Saint-Malo locks will come alive to offer the public a unique spectacle — a true Route du Rhum ritual — a moment of shared emotion between sailors and spectators in a joyful, festive atmosphere.

Grandstands, entertainment, and collective excitement will make this passage an unforgettable memory for everyone.

 

Source: Service presse Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe