With fewer than 60 days before the start of the 13th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe, everything is gathering pace! For defending champion Charles Caudrelier and the Gitana Team, this is especially true, given that they have a highly innovative maxi-trimaran that was only launched eight months ago. Setting their own pace, the five-arrow badged outfit have chosen to prioritise preparation and technical fine-tuning of the 32-metre giant ahead of September’s head-to-head clashes. The Route du Rhum will therefore be the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild’s first ever major race outing. Charles Caudrelier’s ambition, as he defends his Route du Rhum ‘crown’, is to line up at the start in Saint-Malo at the helm of a competitive giant, capable of matching rivals who are also razor-sharp and eager to test themselves against the best.
The summer of 2026 was an intense and particularly focused one for the Gitana Team and their skipper, who carried out numerous crewed test sails to speed up the development of the newest flying ocean-going multihull, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. Last week, on Tuesday 1 September, Charles Caudrelier cast off aboard Gitana 18, going solo for the first time — a return to an exercise he loves and excels at. The plan was a there-and-back trip north of Ireland, allowing Charles to continue learning the ropes, literally, and get further to grips with Gitana 18. After more than 48 hours at sea and 1,200 miles on the clock, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild returned to its pontoon, with the skipper now holding the qualification required for the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe. With that passport now added to a duly stamped rating certificate, it’s all systems go for the defending champion and his new mount, with fewer than two months to go before the grand départ.
Charles Caudrelier shared insights into the preparations for the upcoming race, indicating that the team is optimistic and focused. He pointed out that the experience gained with the new boat will be crucial, stating that the difference with the 2022 Route du Rhum is experience and status. The Gitana 18, while promising, is still in the development phase, and the team is working hard to ensure the boat is ready for the race.
In preparation for the race, the Gitana Team has opted for an in-water refit in place of training and racing head-to-head. Caudrelier explained that the timing forces certain choices and that they are focusing on gathering as much information as possible before applying necessary improvements. He emphasised that having a fast, reliable boat is more important than extensive training in a boat that isn’t yet performing at its best.
Looking ahead, the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild will resume sailing at the end of September, aiming to test recent modifications and optimisations. While they may not achieve 100% of Gitana 18’s potential by the start of the Route du Rhum, the team is committed to ensuring they are competitive on the start line.
The new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the twenty-eighth boat in this legendary maritime saga, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary soon. The technical specifications reveal that the boat measures 32 metres in length and 23 metres in beam, with an impressive sail area and numerous innovative features designed for optimal performance.
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