Route du Rhum: A star-studded line-up and Herrmann’s first solo race on ‘Malizia 4’

The course has remained unchanged since 1978: this year, once again, the Route du Rhum will take its challengers from the Breton port city of Saint-Malo on 1 November, covering 3,542 nautical miles to Pointe-à-Pitre in the French overseas department of Guadeloupe. The route runs from east to west, past the Azores across the Atlantic into the Caribbean Sea.

Route du Rhum: The ‘who’s who’ of offshore sailing at the start

The late-autumn classic of this demanding offshore sport is expected to take place an exciting line-up of participants: 118 boats, with the Class40s making up the largest fleet. The entry list includes 8 Ultim giants, 23 Imocoa solo boats, 49 Class40 skippers and 11 Ocean Fifties. In addition, there are 13 vintage monohulls and 14 vintage multihulls. Almost all the leading names from the French and international offshore sailing scenes will be at the start.

First and foremost is Charles Caudrelier with the new “Gitana 18” is set to make its debut. The eagerly awaited premiere of the latest Ultim giant from the Rothschild racing team is being accompanied by a host of superlatives. For one thing, Charles Caudrelier reigning champion and huge fan the Rhum Route, which, like the Olympic Games, is held only once every four years. At the 12th edition in 2022, he was the first, aboard the Ultim’s predecessor, the “Maxi Edmond de Rothschild” (“Gitana 17”) to become the first to break the seven-day barrier at the 12th edition in 2022, smashing the course record in 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes and 25 seconds.

"The Route du Rhum is the race closest to my heart." Charles Caudrelier

However, whilst speculating on the possibilities offered by the new “Gitana 18”, Caudrelier urged caution with regard to the new build: “It’s a huge challenge after just five or six months of preparation. But it motivates me.” His rivals are the Ultim solo sailors Tom Laperche (“SVR-Lazartigue”), Armel Le Cléac’h (“Maxi Banque Populaire XI”), Thomas Coville (“Sodebo Ultim 3”), Anthony Marchand (“Actual Ultim 4”), Louis Burton (“Ultim Armand Thiery”), Guirec Soudée (“Liamm”) and Alexia Barrier (“Idec Sport – CIC”). The Frenchwoman aims to become the first woman to complete a solo Rhum race in an Ultim.

The first solo transatlantic crossing for “Malizia 4”

The IMOCA class promises plenty of excitement and a whole host of podium contenders, even though, for example, Vendée Globe runner-up Yoann Richomme is still waiting for his new boat and cannot take part this time round. Boris Herrmann, with the new “Malizia 4”, is among the top contenders, as is the Vendée Globe third-place finisher Sébastien Simon, with the even newer Verdier-designed “Groupe Dubreuil – Air Caraïbes”.

The new “DMG Mori Global One” is not taking part in the Route du Rhum. Without the solo race, the Japanese team led by skipper Kojiro Shiraishi is focusing on the start of the Ocean Race round the world, which begins on 17 January in Alicante. Meanwhile, Francesca Clapcich (“11th Hour Racing”) is on course for her first Vendée Globe and is competing in her first major solo race on the Route du Rhum aboard the former “Malizia 3”.

"The Route du Rhum is one of the legendary races in our sport. I’m really looking forward to being back on the starting line." Boris Herrmann

For the six-time round-the-world sailor, who lives in Hamburg and calls Lorient his “second home”, the Route du Rhum also offers another very welcome testing ground for “Malizia 4”, which was not launched until 6 July. She has already passed her first team test with the Ocean Race Atlantic. Boris Herrmann said: “The Route du Rhum will be my first solo race on this boat and will mark a very important step in the run-up to the Vendée Globe, as well as in Team Malizia’s overall racing programme.”

Route du Rhum: let’s hope it’s not a ‘déjà vu’ experience like in 2022

A feeling of déjà vu as in the 2022 Route du Rhum No one on the Malizia team wants that. Back then, ‘Malizia 3’ was the new IMOCA, about as new as ‘Malizia 4’ is now. Four years ago, Boris Herrmann finished only 24th in that newly built boat. The combination of the southern route – which had been deemed too risky and, as for others, had led to light winds – and a problem with the starboard foil case had resulted in that disappointing outcome.

Four years ago, too, the Route du Rhum marked Herrmann’s first solo voyage in a newly built yacht, shortly before the Ocean Race round the world set sail from Alicante. History is repeating itself, but the outcome is set to be different in November at the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum. This time, the new “Malizia 4” has already proven itself in the Ocean Race Atlantic. Although she was slowed down slightly by a collision and damage to the foil system, the Neue was still fast and missed out on a podium place by just five minutes.

The boat will not return to Lorient after crossing the finish line in the upcoming Rhum Challenge. “Malizia 4” will be transported directly from Guadeloupe to Alicante. Training sessions are planned at the starting port for the Ocean Race. Team Malizia’s technical team will also be on site. Almost exactly four years after Malizia’s first participation in the world’s most famous round-the-world team race, Boris Herrmann and his crew are taking on the challenge for the second time.

Thomas Ruyant: the two-time winner has to pull out

One of the sadder stories in the run-up to the Route du Rhum is the case of Thomas Ruyant. The Frenchman was a key partner in the three-way project to build new boats alongside Boris Herrmann’s Team Malizia and Loïc Berrehar’s Team Banque Populaire. Ruyant had his ‘Koch-Rakete’ in the summer was the first of the three skippers to finish, just ahead of Boris Herrmann, but was already without a main sponsor. Then, a week ago, Ruyant officially gave up its search for a new partner for the Route du Rhum.

"I’m absolutely gutted. But the story is far from over.” Thomas Ruyant

In a public statement, Thomas Ruyant had expressed his disappointment, but also expressed his hopes for the future: “I’m absolutely gutted. This race holds a special place in my history. I’ve competed in it and won it twice. As the defending champion, I was naturally desperate to come back and defend that title.” That won’t be happening now, as the search for a partner was unsuccessful.

Thomas Ruyant explained: “We had everything we needed to write a great story: a committed and talented team, a new boat that has impressed us and shown incredible potential right from its very first outings. When I embarked on this project, I knew I’d be racing against the clock, particularly when it came to building the new boat. But the life of an athlete is made up of victories and disappointments. Moments when everything runs like clockwork, and others when you have to accept that things don’t go to plan.”

With best wishes for the rum race

The consequence for the uncompromising sailor: “We have not managed to find a partnership that would have enabled us to compete in Saint-Malo under the right conditions. Today, I have to pull out of this Route du Rhum. But not from what comes next.
The IMOCA racing series continues, with more legendary regattas from 2027 onwards. And the 2028 Vendée Globe is already on the horizon. The ambition is even greater. So is the energy.”

Ruyant sees his withdrawal from the Route du Rhum as a temporary setback, certainly not as a complete withdrawal from IMOCA racing. He said: “I have a tremendous desire to sail, to compete in offshore races and to win. And above all, to continue writing and telling great stories – with a team, a boat and partners who share this ambition. The story is far from over. I wish you all the very best for the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe!”

A preview of the 13th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe: