Panel discusses Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe 2026

Sailorz, the organizer of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe 2026, invited a group of experts to assess the current state of the race in the Ultim class. The panel included Thomas Rouxel, an expert in trimarans with extensive experience sailing with Thomas Coville, Yann Eliès, race director of the 24H Ultim and coach at the Finistère Course au large center, Pierre-Marie Bourguinat, a writer for the race, and Gaston Morvan, a member of the routing cell of SVR-Lazartigue.

Ultim class sees historic participation

The Ultim class will have eight solo sailors competing, including Alexia Barrier, a 46-year-old woman from Idec Sport CIC, marking a significant milestone as the first woman to compete in the class. However, the race has two divisions, with three sailors starting on older boats, and they are not considered potential podium contenders by the experts.

Charles Caudrelier's new boat faces scrutiny

Charles Caudrelier, the reigning champion, is sailing a new boat, Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, which is competing in its first race in solo sailing. Experts are unsure how to evaluate his chances, as the boat's performance in long races is untested. Yann Eliès notes that the boat's ability to endure the race's demanding conditions is uncertain.

Gitana's potential and challenges

Thomas Rouxel highlights that while Gitana, Caudrelier's boat, is the most advanced and innovative, it has undergone many modifications, raising doubts about its durability over five to seven days. Gaston Morvan describes Gitana as an "X factor," noting that while the boat's team is strong and the initial weather conditions are favorable, the more complex conditions later in the race could be a challenge.

Banque Populaire and SVR-Lazartigue compared

Thomas Rouxel mentions that Banque Populaire and SVR-Lazartigue are very close in performance, making it difficult to distinguish them as favorites. Pierre-Marie Bourguinat states that the race will likely be decided by small details between the two. Yann Eliès notes that Armel Le Cléac’h, 49, is gaining experience on his boat and is determined to win the Route du Rhum.

SVR-Lazartigue's progress and challenges

Gaston Morvan suggests that Banque Populaire might be slightly more reliable, though it has been behind SVR-Lazartigue in recent races. He notes that Tom Laperche's team has been improving, partly due to the involvement of Franck Cammas, who brings significant energy to the project. Morvan believes the boat is sometimes faster than its competitors but must remain intact for six days.

Anthony Marchand's potential

Anthony Marchand, sailing Actual Ultim 3, is considered a podium contender by the experts. Yann Eliès notes that Marchand is gaining confidence in his boat, which previously won the Route du Rhum. Pierre-Marie Bourguinat highlights the support from Pascal Bidégorry, which has helped elevate the team's performance. Thomas Rouxel believes Marchand can compete for a podium if other teams face technical difficulties.

Thomas Coville's legacy and challenges

Thomas Coville, 58, is likely competing in his final Route du Rhum. Experts acknowledge his experience and determination but note a performance gap between his boat and the others. Despite this, his boat's reliability was demonstrated in the Jules Verne race, though modifications to the foils may have affected its reliability. Yann Eliès remains cautious, noting that Coville's performance has been below that of his rivals in recent events.