<p style="text-align: justify;">The Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe is an extension of the summer in the middle of autumn, a good swig of ti-punch before winter. It’s above all months of excitement for all enthusiasts, for a few days of racing, when we live to the rhythm of the placings, addicted to the websites, ‘night owls’ by proxy of a few skippers, as lucky as they are tenacious in pursuing their dream. Taking part in THE transat, the one everyone dreams about. But who are these lucky people who have succeeded in solving the magic equation of boat, budget and early qualification?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/01-catamaran-rhum-2018-bis.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That’s right, there weren’t enough places for everyone for this anniversary edition. The pontoons will have to be pushed back to welcome a record number of participants: 122 boats at the start, including 32 superb multihulls, which will inevitably take line honors at the finish in Guadeloupe. And in this fortieth year, it’s very symbolic that the ‘queen’ of categories is that of the Ultims. Although these boats have recently acquired a very official class, called Ultim 32/23, which as its abstruse name indicates, limits the length (32 m max) and beam (23 m max), among other things, their excessiveness takes us back to the origins of the creation of this race, as a reaction to the excessively strict limits– 56 feet (17 m) - of the historic Ostar, the singlehanded English transat, created in 1960.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/02-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There will be six of them, five big shots and a young wolf, fighting certainly to be the first boat in all categories to tie up their trimaran at Point à Pitre. Giving honor where honor is due, the trimaran which has twice held the title will this time be sailed by Francis Joyon. In fact after having won in green in the colors of Groupama in 2010, in the hands of Franck Cammas, then the blue of Banque Populaire in 2014, with Loïck Peyron, it will arrive on the line at St Malo in Idec red. Equipped with new foils offering a 30% increase in vertical thrust, T-shaped rudders, a new gennaker, and with the return of the mythical bicycle operating the winches with leg power, and extremely careful preparation in the smallest detail, this is the yardstick for this edition. Still just as comfortable singlehanded after a victorious fully-crewed Jules Verne, Francis Joyon is the embodiment of quiet strength. The harder the conditions, the greater the chance of seeing him arrive as winner. Of course his trimaran is not as recent as Macif and Banque Populaire, and doesn’t benefit from the very latest architectural developments, but it has the advantage of being reliable and completely mastered by its skipper, as demonstrated by the completely trouble-free preparation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/03-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Thomas Coville will also not yet be racing on a latest-generation trimaran. As his future mount, designed by a ‘dream team’ trio – VPLP / Banyuls / Fischer – won’t be launched until 2019, he will be setting off aboard his faithful Sodebo to do battle in his sixth Route du Rhum, a race which brought him to fame in 2000, when he replaced the injured Yves Parlier. But the man and the boat are also in perfect harmony; the abnegation and tenacity this talented sailor has displayed – as shown in his 2016 singlehanded round the world record – could put him amongst the action at a stormy beginning of the race, as is often the case in the Bay of Biscay in this autumn period. As was the case in the last two events to date, the two-up Transat Jacques Vabre and the fully-crewed Nice Ultimed. But these races, for various reasons, quickly turned into a mano a mano situation. It’s certain that Thomas would be delighted to add a final line to the record of a boat which has accompanied him over such a slice of his life, against a greater number of competitors. Once the line has been crossed, he will in fact be entrusting the helm to Yves le Blevec. In the meantime, having lost the previous Actual a short distance after Cape Horn less than a year ago during his attempt on the round the world record from east to west, Yves will be absent from this edition.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Three skippers already have latest-generation machines. And they are serious customers! My first is a young applicant who is used to winning all the races he takes part in or all the records he attacks. My second never gives up either, and comes from a brilliantly victorious Vendee Globe. My third has one of the most eclectic records in ocean racing. My whole is very possibly a podium for this anniversary transat and has the name Gabart – Josse – Le Cleac’h, in alphabetical, not forecast order.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/04-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">These are the three ‘enfants terribles’, brought up in the French Figaro school, with latest generation trimarans whose ‘fighter plane’ nickname has never seemed so apt, as the tips of their foils are the last parts still in contact with the liquid element in most conditions. They are capable of incredible averages, as illustrated by the new reference time around the world singlehanded, set at the beginning of this year by the youngest of the three aboard his Macif: 42 days and a bit, at an average speed of 27.2 knots! So if talent, experience, very high level sports preparation and technologies available seem to be very closely matched, what is it that can decide between the three 'enfants terribles' of French sailing? A tiny detail. A slight hesitation. A nano-gramme more or less confidence at the moment of taking a decision or starting a manoeuvre. Will Armel Le Cléac’h really have forgotten his spring capsize, or will the Orma demons have caught up with him? In any case, his preparation has been messed up by it, with the major restoration work on the platform, the construction of a new mast and a late re-launch at the end of summer. Will Sébastien Josse be able to free himself from the weight of the140-year history of the Gitana saga and the Rothschild dynasty, for a first major singlehanded victory? Launched last year, his very innovative Verdier-designed boat has already finished second in a Transat Jacques Vabre whose result was however distorted by a broken foil - like a bird without a wing on these aerial machines. Auspicious, before a first major singlehanded victory? Meanwhile, their direct competitor is following his schedule to the letter. But will the major work carried out on Macif (lightening, aerodynamics, new appendages) to close the little generation gap with its two main competitors, launched more recently, give François Gabart enough confidence? Answer around 11<sup>th</sup> November, 7 short days and a few hours after the start. A third of the time taken 40 years ago… </p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/05-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Finally the last one entered (qualification to be validated as we write these lines) in the Ultim class is a surprise, someone completely unknown to the general public, Romain Pilliard. The young Figaro sailor is carrying an ecological message, advocating the virtues of recycling. He is setting an example himself by re-commissioning Ellen MacArthur’s former trimaran, the Nigel Irens-designed boat with which she took the singlehanded round the world record in 2005. However, barring carnage up ahead, Romain will not be fighting for victory or even for a podium, but we hope he completes his project – we pay tribute to his audaciousness, and are pleased to see new faces and ideas emerging.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Note that although, with six boats on the start line, the Ultim class is less numerous than in the previous edition, it has also succeeded in being homogenous, with five challengers for the final victory who are very difficult to separate. All that remains is for it to become more international, as only French skippers are in the running at the moment, and, although perhaps not in equal numbers, to have at least a certain feminine presence… As the class rules adopted exclude Dona Bertarelli’s Spindrift de facto (too big), that could take some time.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> <img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/06-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>Multi 50</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Multi 50 class is well and truly homogenous. It looks as if the battle will be hard-fought, and all forecasts are quite simply impossible. Without causing a commotion (not enough?) the class is offering a very good budget/performance/visibility compromise and is attracting top-level skippers, as many as the Ultims. French Tech Rennes St Malo won the Rhum in 2010 in the hands of Lionel Lemonchois, and was third in 2014 with Gilles Lamiré, who is setting off aboard it again this year, for his fourth Rhum.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Look, a Mediterranean! Thierry Bouchard, who for a long time was a Class 40 monohull enthusiast, has moved over to trimarans and with the support of Ciela Villages has even launched a brand new VPLP designed boat with foils. Built by the specialists at CDK and with expert advice from Fred Le Peutrec, Thierry has done everything in his power to ensure he is amongst the best. For his third Rhum, as a fierce competitor, with a state of the art boat which he has cured of the teething troubles that obliged him to abandon the last Transat Jaques Vabre, he is inevitably aiming for victory.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Look out – title holder! Erwan Leroux is indulging in a third Rhum in the Multi 50 class, at the helm of his faithful FenêtréA - Mix Buffet, a 2009 boat certainly, but one which has been optimized, which he knows like the back of his hand, and aboard which he has experienced everything…especially victories! Whether singlehanded, two-up or fully crewed, in the Rhum, the Quebec-St Malo, the Route du Café or the Tour de France a la Voile, since 2008 not a year has passed without the winner’s champagne – who can top that?</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/07-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Fourth time lucky? Three Routes du Rhum, three podiums for Lalou Roucayrol, one of the pillars of the Multi 50 class. Once third in a 60-footer, twice second in a Multi 50, the last time being in 2014, when his current trimaran had just come out of the yard. Now that he has it in hand and that it has been made completely reliable, he is inevitably aiming for victory…as are a number of his friends. And all this with no pressure, as Arkema has already announced the launch of a new trimaran in 2020, with the aim of winning at Pointe à Pitre in 2022!</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Brand new and already fast! Thibaut Vauchel-Camus has quickly got the measure of the latest trimaran in the class to be launched (in Dubai!), which thus benefits from the very latest technical and architectural developments, by winning the 2018 Drheam Cup ahead of many of his future autumn competitors. It’s not certain that the weather conditions will be as light, but the skipper of Solidaires en Peloton – ARSEP, who is racing in aid of the fight against multiple sclerosis, will in any case be full of confidence with less than 100 days to go to the start at St Malo.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The Multi 50 spirit suits him so well! He has equipped the trimaran bought from Yves le Blevec with foils, and this has given him wings! Clocked at 38 knots in a Grand Prix, in the lead at the Fastnet during the last Drheam Cup, before getting trapped by flat calm, Armel Tripon is in complete harmony with his Réauté Chocolat. It’s hard not to picture him on the podium at the finish. Impossible, even.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">So good luck to betting aficionados and forecasters; the Multi 50 class is one of the most homogenous, a sign of intelligent rules, but consequently it’s hard to identify a real favorite.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><strong>And finally…the Rhum(s)</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">The third and final class, called Rhum Multi, will make up the majority of the fleet, with 21 entries. It is also the most disparate, but will be even more fascinating to follow, as there will be several races within the race, and even a welcome star, to break the media monopoly of the ‘big boats’! All credit to the oldest boats, and inevitably the editorial team's favorites - we will be following the battle between the Golden Oldies very closely. A trio of yellow trimarans is attracting all the attention. Let’s mention first of all Charlie Capelle aboard his eternal Acapella Soreal and François Corre aboard Friends & Lovers. True heirs of Mike Birch, as they themselves proclaim, they think, breathe, live and dream A’Capelle, the brilliant Walter Greene design which won the first edition. But their double act, which has lasted for several years already, risks being disrupted this time by a troublemaker with a record as long as a day without wind, Loïck Peyron. Four years after a victorious replacement aboard Armel Le Cleac’h’s giant trimaran, the title holder returns with a completely different perspective, that of reliving the legendary Mike Birch’s Route du Rhum on a sister ship of the mythical Olympus. Returning to the simple pleasures of a sailing competition on a trimaran called Happy shows no lack of sense and panache. On the start line, and next to this triumvirate, let’s mention Christophe Bogrand aboard the superb Newick-designed Aile Bleu, which will complete a struggle with a slightly old-fashioned tinge, where the elegance of the lines vies with the skippers’ expertise.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/08-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">In parallel with the Canadian’s followers, some very good trimarans which don’t correspond to the Ultim 32/23 or the Multi 50 classes, promise a nice race, far from the media spotlight, but in the true spirit of the Rhum. And this ‘Destination Guadeloupe’ transat would lose part of its soul if there were not at least one skipper from the French overseas territories at the start. So let’s hope wholeheartedly that David Ducosson finds the budget to re-commission Anne Caseneuve’s former 60-foot trimaran, nicely named Defi An Nou. Smaller, and therefore even more courageous in setting off in St Malo’s crazy autumn, there is Jess, Gilles Buekenhout’s 40-foot foiler, coming directly from New Caledonia to qualify at the Drheam Cup in Cherbourg. He will be faced with two other 40-foot trimarans, the mythical Pir2 foiler in aluminum, built in 1983 by the hands of our friend Etienne Hochedé and Bo Carre, with Gildas Breton at the helm this time. The person who took this same boat to victory in 2006, Pierre Antoine, will be present at the start of his fourth Route du Rhum, but this time on a 50-foot trimaran called Olmix. He’ll have to excel himself, with the very good sailor Alain Delhumeau also on a 50-foot trimaran designed by Erik Lerouge. Built originally for a round the world cruise, the Delhumeau family has gone over it with a fine-toothed comb and boosted it, in their Royan stronghold. A second Route du Rhum on his 49-foot trimaran, this time supported by Resadia, for Pierrick Tollemer: he will certainly be wanting to do better than his very nice eleventh place in 2014. Atypical, through the absence of a forward crossbeam, its long, narrow central nacelle making it look like...a trimaran, Ecole Diagonale pour Citoyens du Monde will however be one of the rare catamarans to face the armada of trimarans in this fleet. At the helm, Jean-François Lilti is also taking another swig of Rhum after already having been slightly unfaithful to his profession of pharmacist. The second catamaran will be sailed by the experienced and discreet fifty-year-old, Erwan Thiboumery – an original wave-piercing boat designed by the American Phil Morisson, popularized under the name Victorinox, now Spirit of Nusa Penida. Franck Sainte Marie will be sailing the venerable and apparently hardwearing Branec IV, ex-Dupon Duran, for the umpteenth transat since its launch in 1990! Already a winner. Fabrice Payen takes the helm of Eric Nigon’s trimaran again. His ‘Team Vent Debout’ is well-named - the skipper, who had his right leg amputated after a motorcycle accident, will be at the start. At the start of the race, at the start of a new life, an example of courage and motivation.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><img src="/sites/default/files/inline-images/09-catamaran-rhum-2018.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Finally, there is a last race within a race, that of the production boats. The architect Christophe Barreau and his accomplice Fred Neuman seem to have made this their specialty, as they have designed all the boats in this unofficial category, which promises to be hard-fought. As the hull length is the guarantee of performance on sailing boats in general and multihulls in particular, the two favorites must be Bertrand de Broc on his TS50 Pampero, and Yann Marilley on his No Limit Yacht, an Outremer 5X revised and boosted, just like a Mercedes prepared for competition by AMG. The first has the advantage of experience, and a record, the second has a good 2 meters more on the waterline, a guarantee of performance but also of stability and safety if the conditions become tough. The same TS vs Outremer contest between Christian Guyader on Guyader Gastronomie and Jean-Pierre Balmes on Solvéo, which you were able to discover in detail in the last edition of Multihulls World. An Atlantic Coast vs Mediterranean duel between experienced sailors – the contest promises to be hard-fought, and it could be refereed by Eric Gamin, a pure amateur, but one who knows his Outremer 49 Liladhoc like the back of his hand, as he has sailed it around the Atlantic with his family.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">That’s the round-up. Have you succeeded in choosing a favorite for each category? No? Don’t worry, neither have we. That can only make this exceptional and already mythical Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe even more interesting. ‘Bon vent’ to them all!</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;"><em>By François Trégouët – Photos: DR</em></p>
