Sophie Faguet Sets Sights on Globe 40 After La Route du Rhum Campaign
With exactly 32 days remaining before the start of the 2026 Route du Rhum, French skipper Sophie Faguet is dedicating the vast majority of her preparation to the legendary single-handed transatlantic race from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe. Yet even as the grueling solo venture occupies 99 percent of her current focus, the remaining one percent is already locked onto a major milestone on the horizon: a pre-registration for the third edition of the Globe 40, the round-the-world race with stopovers in Class40 yachts, set to cast off in September 2028.
Balancing Transatlantic Pressures and Global Ambitions
Faguet heads into the Saint-Malo start representing Défi Solidaire avec Ellye et L’Arche, carrying both competitive athletic goals and a prominent charitable mission.
For Faguet, the ambition to sail around the world has matured over several years within the professional offshore racing circuit. By turning her focus toward the Class40 ecosystem, she found a structured pathway that balances high-level competition with manageable campaign economics.
Why the Globe 40 Fits the Class40 Circuit
Unlike the solitary, nonstop extremes of the Vendée Globe, the Globe 40 offers a course format characterized by stages and sailed in double-handed crews. That structure fundamentally changes the nature of the challenge, creating a professional environment that aligns closely with Faguet’s career experience and preferred style of offshore racing.
Recent editions of the round-the-world event demonstrated the growing scale and competitiveness of the Class40 fleet, featuring modern boat designs and familiar skippers who compete on the circuit throughout the annual calendar. That familiarity on the water reinforced Faguet’s decision to commit early to the 2028 starting line, viewing a seven-month global voyage as an ideal fit for her capabilities.
Immediate Focus on the Route du Rhum
Before preparations for 2028 accelerate, the immediate priority remains the 2026 Route du Rhum. Faguet’s campaign with Défi Solidaire avec Ellye et L’Arche serves as the central proving ground for her navigation and boat management under extreme pressure.
As the countdown in Saint-Malo enters its final month, technical teams are finalizing rudder checks, sail inventories, and routing software configurations. Sailing the cold waters of the northern Atlantic before dropping south toward Guadeloupe will provide critical data that feeds directly into the long-term planning for her subsequent global campaign.
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