Saint-Malo's Route du Rhum event saw 115 skippers from 11 countries compete in six categories, with a focus on sustainability and record-breaking sailing.
Saint-Malo hosts historic sailing event
On Sunday, November 1, Saint-Malo launched its largest sailing event in recent history, featuring 115 skippers from 11 nationalities competing in six categories. The Route du Rhum, a prestigious transatlantic race, turned the city into a global sailing hub before the competitors and their boats traveled to Guadeloupe.Event spans two months with diverse participants
The event, which began on October 20 with the opening of the Saint-Malo village, continued until November 20 with the Guadeloupe village. Among the 115 skippers, 11 were women and 45 were new participants, highlighting the growing diversity in the sport.Class40 dominates the fleet
The Class40 category was the most represented, with 49 boats making up 42.6% of the fleet. Other classes included IMOCA with 22 competitors, Vintage Mono and Vintage Multi with 13 each, Ocean Fifty with 10 boats, and Ultim with 8 boats.Race route covers thousands of miles
The race route stretched 3,543 nautical miles, or about 6,560 kilometers, passing through key Atlantic regions such as Madeira, the Azores, the Canary Islands, and the Antilles, with the Cape Verde islands as the southern reference point.Competitors range in age and experience
The average age of the competitors was 43, with skippers ranging from 20-year-old Titouan Pillard to 71-year-old Charlie Capelle. Six former winners, including Thomas Coville and Charles Caudrelier, participated, with Caudrelier aiming to defend his record.Event draws massive global attention
The 2022 edition of the race received extensive media coverage, with 59,139 press mentions and a media valuation of 266 million euros. Over 1.5 million visitors attended the Saint-Malo and Guadeloupe villages, and 5 million people visited the race website.Event includes cultural and environmental initiatives
The 2026 edition emphasized sustainability through three pacts, with Saint-Malo village running entirely on electricity. The event also included cultural activities like the "OFF du Rhum" and the Art Explora festival, featuring 23 artists from 18 countries.Race has grown significantly since its start
The Route du Rhum has expanded from 38 starters in its first edition in 1978 to 115 in 2026. The 2022 results highlighted speed records, with Charles Caudrelier's Ultim winning in 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes, and 25 seconds.
