An overview of the 115 solo skippers set to line up Sunday 1st November at 13:02hrs off Saint-Malo in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026.
Among the Ultim class, technical teams have been working tirelessly in recent months to ensure maximum reliability for their maxi-trimarans, every team has implemented major technical modifications.
But the big unknown is the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (Gitana 18). Since its launch eight months ago, Charles Caudrelier has not yet taken the chance to properly test his boat against his competitors. In early September, however, he completed his solo qualification, a round trip to the north of Ireland that took over 48 hours.
The mood remains one of caution. “It’s still a gamble and a major challenge, as no one has ever managed to develop a boat like this in such a short time,” Charles explained. “During the last edition, I said that I might be the weak link. Today, it’s the opposite—I have the experience, but the boat still lacks miles at sea.”
In the Ocean Fifty class, making predictions is always a tricky business. Favorite, would be Basile Bourgnon (Edenred). However, the competition promises to be fierce, with the experienced Thibault Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton by Delanchy) facing off against a new wave of talent, including Pierre Quiroga (Wewise), Baptiste Hulin (Viabilis Oceans), and Léonard Legrand (Sodebo).
In the IMOCA Franco-Brit Sam Goodchild has never finished lower than third place since joining Macif in 2025, but he has yet to finish the Route du Rhum. He won the 1000 Race last spring and has claimed victory twice at the Défi Azimut. But he was beaten in his most recent transatlantic outing – finishing 3rd in the Transat Café L’Or and second in the Vendée Arctique.
The dark horses likely to feature . . . Italy’s Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), winner of the Vendée Arctique, Italian American Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing) runner-up on the Transat Café Lor with Will Harris, and Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner), winner of the Rolex Fastnet Race.
Also Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil – Air Caraïbes) and Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) looked very strong during The Ocean Race Atlantic last month. And Jérémie Beyou competing aboard a proven IMOCA which has undergone a complete bow redesign following an unprecedented refit project.
In Class40 two sailors stand out: Corentin Douguet (SNSM, Faites un don!) and Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran – Seafrigo). Beyond this duo, there are more than a dozen others capable of battling at the front of the fleet. Alexis Loison (Groupe Réel), a recent winner of the 40 Malouine, along with Pep Costa (VSF Sports) runner-up in the Normandy Channel Race and Fabien Delahaye (Legallais) who finished 3rd in the Trin’40, are poised to strike.
Vintage Multi. The ORMAs and the rest of the field. Exceptionally spectacular trimarans that enjoyed their golden age during the Route du Rhum between 1994 and 1998, will once again be at the starting line.
Four of them are competing: Francis Joyon (Océans), Damien Seguin (Arkéa-Handicap International), Éric Péron (French Touch Oceans Club), and Gilles Lamiré (Groupe GCA). Like the Ocean Fifty trimarans, they could all potentially finish in under ten days. In addition to the ORMAs, ten other skippers will set off in smaller vessels.
Vintage Mono. The great Unknown. Thirteen entrants in this category will vie for victory. According to Sydney Gavignet (Le Cigare rouge), “there is one clear favorite: Patrick Isoard (Groupe Cogedis pour enfants du Mékong), who notably won The Transat CIC in 2024. He’s highly experienced, knows his boat inside out, and has the best preparation.”
While Tanguy Caradec (Eurvad), Wilfrid Clerton (Echo-Mer) and Kieran Le Borgne, who is sailing a boat that won the Vendée Globe twice (Armor Lux – Le Finistère Assurance) will also be strong contenders for the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2026.
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