After a picture-perfect start in bright autumn sunshine and light, favourable winds off Saint Malo, many of the pre-race favourites are leading the 115-boat Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe fleet. The solo ocean sprint covers 3542 nautical miles to Guadeloupe.
The start was much tamer than previous editions, with winds of eight to 11 knots from the northeast. The pleasant weather attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators, particularly at Cape Fréhel, the only passing mark just 16 nautical miles after the start.
Following 13 days of festivities, skippers from six classes—ranging from the 32m Ultims to vintage 11m trimarans—were eager to switch into race mode, tackling what promises to be a fast yet complex race.
At Cape Fréhel, Tom Laperche on SVR Lazartigue secured a narrow lead over Armel Le Cléac’h on Banque Populaire XI. British-born, French-based Sam Goodchild on MACIF Santé Prévoyance also made an impressive start, leading by 1.3 nautical miles over Italian Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei).
Goodchild, known for excelling in upwind conditions, proved to be slightly quicker in the downwind conditions, despite Beccaria’s boat being a previous winner in 2022.
In third place was Violette Dorange, a young talent from the last Vendée Globe, who started smoothly on her optimised boat. Germany’s Boris Herrmann on Malizia 4 and Francesca Clapcich in 11th on Hour Racing also made strong starts.
Standout favourite Guillaume Priouelle (Sogestran Seafrigo) took early control of the 49-strong Class40, with Quentin Le Nabour in second, about half a mile behind.
The brand new Gitana 18 initially struggled with its sizeable appendages but improved as winds picked up, reaching impressive speeds. However, the boat faced challenges during transitions, making it essential for skipper Charles Caudrelier to manage its speed effectively.
As the course shifts by 30 degrees post-Fréhel, skippers will navigate toward the Isles of Scilly, with winds expected to strengthen overnight. The leaders will benefit first from these conditions, with a significant course change anticipated near the Fastnet Rock.
The strategic decisions made by skippers as the wind shifts will be crucial for the remainder of the race, particularly as they navigate a narrow corridor between two high-pressure systems dominating the North Atlantic.
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