One hundred and fifteen sailors crossed the starting line off Saint-Malo on November 1, 2026, heading into the Atlantic Ocean under calm skies for the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum. The solo transatlantic race began at 13:02 local time as the fleet threaded along the Breton coastline toward a mandatory passing gate 16 miles away at Cap Fréhel, where a dense crowd was gathered to see them depart.
Tom Laperche and Ultim Flotilla Lead Out of Saint-Brieuc Bay
Two hours after the starting cannon, Tom Laperche held the lead aboard the Ultim trimaran SVR-Lazartigue as the fleet cleared the Baie de Saint-Brieuc. Armel Le Cléac’h followed closely behind aboard Maxi Banque Populaire XI, with Anthony Marchand in the trimaran Actual.
“That’s it, we’re off for the Route du Rhum! Quite a few maneuvers to get to Fréhel. The wind has dropped a bit but it’s going to strengthen soon, heading for the Channel exit,” Le Cléac’h said in a video transmitted from his boat.
Early Penalties and Cautious Navigation Define the Opening Hours
Despite light winds hovering near 10 knots that contrasted sharply with the image of this race which has taken place every four years since 1978, three entries received time penalties for starting infractions. In the Vintage Multi division, David Ducosson incurred a five-hour penalty aboard Trilogik for failing to respect his designated starting zone. Christophe Rateau on Gustave Roussy and Marco Guerra on Imagin’Act-Socomec received identical five-hour penalties after crossing the starting line prematurely.
November 1st and the Route Du Rhum is off and running! Follow it one of the greatest sailing events on earth! Departed St. Malo this morning! pic.twitter.com/nTBLdGmuAE
Defending champion Charles Caudrelier adopted a conservative strategy aboard his newly unveiled maxi-trimaran, positioning himself at the rear of the smaller Ocean Fifty multi-hull fleet to navigate a compact group of competitors safely.
Record Crowds Visit the Saint-Malo Race Village
Prior to the departure, more than one million visitors toured the race village since October 20, according to figures released by event organizers. Anthony Marchand reflected on the atmosphere before leaving the dock, stating that the two weeks spent interacting with the public were exceptional before shifting focus to the upcoming solo journey.
“Those two weeks of the village were great. I really like these sharing phases before race starts. Now it’s good, it’s time to go and find our solo bubble,” Marchand said.
Fleet Categories and Expected Crossing Times
The 115 competitors span six distinct boat classes, ranging from small monocoques that participated in the first edition to cutting-edge flying multihulls. The giant Ultim trimarans, capable of exceeding speeds of 90 kilometers per hour on the water, are projected to complete the voyage in six days. Conversely, the slowest participating sailboats are expected to take nearly a month to finish the transatlantic crossing.
Sam Goodchild Takes the Early Imoca Advantage
Behind the leading multihulls, 22 entries in the Imoca monocoque class—the 18-meter boats of the Vendée Globe—competed to test their capabilities two years ahead of a new solo nonstop round-the-world race. Sam Goodchild took control of the Imoca fleet after rounding Cap Fréhel aboard the winning vessel from the 2024–2025 Vendée Globe, racing under the Macif banner. Italy’s Ambrogio Beccaria on Allagrande Mapei and Corentin Horeau on MACSF trailed the leader. Navigators estimate the Imoca crossing will take approximately 10 days.
Initiatives Coeur Diverts to Roscoff Following Collision
Hours after the start, race officials reported a collision involving the Imoca monocoque Initiatives Coeur. Violette Dorange, the youngest competitor from the last Vendée Globe, collided with Romain Pilliard’s trimaran Use it Again near the Île de Bréhat. Dorange’s team announced at 20:45 local time that the impact damaged the starboard foil of Initiatives Coeur, forcing the vessel to make an unscheduled stop in Roscoff, Finistère. Both skippers emerged uninjured, though both boats sustained damage requiring repairs.
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