Video Interview with Loick Peyron in which he discusses his experience in the Route du Rhum

Route du Rhum update, Anne Caseneuve closes in on the finish line easily leading the Rhum class

Route du Rhum veteran Anne Caseneuve has a lead of 650nm over her nearest competitors in the Rhum classification on her 52' trimaran ANEO.  With about 80nm to go she will soon move into the fluky wind shadow of the island of Guadaloupe:

You can follow the progress of the competitors on the excellent tracker which is here:

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s02_corporate/s02p08_cartographie.php

Route du Rhum update, Multi50 podium complete

A number of updates on the Route du Rhum website with Erwan Le Roux taking first in the class on FenetreA Cardinal:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=896

Lalou Roucayrol came in second on the Multi50 Arkema:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=916

Gilles Lamire on Rennes Metropole St Malo Agglomeration came in third with the Multi50 Actual of Yves Le Blevec nipping at his heels. 

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=942

Yves Le Blevec was forced to make a technical stop in Cascais to repair his wind sensor instruments which left him playing catch up for the rest of the race:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=943

Route du Rhum, Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII powering along with Loick at the helm

Route du Rhum update, A good article with more details by Loick Peyron on his race winning effort on Banque Populaire VII

From the following article on the Route du Rhum website:

http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=757

Thirty two years after the first of his seven attempts, French ocean racing star Loick Peyron won the mythical Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe this Monday morning (TU) when he crossed the finish line of the solo race from Saint-Malo France to Pointe-a-Pitre at 04:08:32 TU/05:08:32 CET/00:08:32 local

The lone skipper of the 31.5m (103ft) Ultime trimaran Maxi Solo Banque Populaire VII completed the 3542 miles course in 7d 15h 8m 32s.

His elapsed time is a new outright record for the course passage which was first raced in 1982, breaking the 2006 reference time set by Lionel Lemonchois (7 days 17 hours and 9 mInutes) by 2hrs 10mins 34secs.

Peyron sailed the 3524 NMs theoretical course at an average of 19.34kts. In reality he sailed 4199NM at an average of 22.93kts.

Looking relaxed and on good form physically, Peyron acknowledged, pledging to be back in four years time on the little yellow boat:

read more here


Passage de la ligne d'arrivée du maxitrimaran... by routedurhum

Route du Rhum, Loick Peyron victorious on Banque Populaire VII and sets new record time.

guadeloupe 1ere en direct sur le net by guadeloupe1ere

Route du Rhum update, Loick Peyron on track for new record on BPVII closely fought battle in the Multi50's

Loick Peyron on BPVII is approaching the finish with about 39nm to go and it appears he will improve on the outright record time for the race.  Yann Guichard is in second place on Spindrift 2 and well behind (over 200nm now).  Sebastian Josse has moved up into third place with Lionel Lemonchois dropping back to fourth.

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s02_corporate/s02p08_cartographie.php

In the Multi50's Erwan Le Roux on FenetreA Cardinal is holding off Lalou Roucayrol on Arkema who is in second place for now but it's close.  Third place is held by Gilles Lamire on Rennes Metropole St Malo Agglomeration.

In the Rhum class Anne Caseneuve on the trimaran ANEO has moved into the lead and extending away the canting keel monohull being skippered by Andrea Mura Vento Di Sardegna.

Route du Rhum update, Loick still ahead of the pack in the Ultimes

Loick Peyron (BPVII) still has a solid lead over Yann Guichard (Spindrift2) in the Ultimes.  Lionel Lemonchois has consolidated his position in third. 

In the Multi50's Lalou Roucayrol on Arkema has been overtaken by Erwan Le Roux on FenetreA Cardinal with Gilles Lamire on Rennes Metropole St Malo Agglomeration moving into third, Yves Le Blevec on Actual well behind after the technical stop at Cascais.

In the Rhum class Anne Caseneuve on the trimaran ANEO has closed the gap a little on Andrea Mura on Vento di Sardegna.

tracker:

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s02_corporate/s02p08_cartographie.php

and an impressive video from Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 sailing at about 35 knots.


35 noeuds à bord de Prince de Bretagne, ça... by routedurhum

Route du Rhum update, Loick Peyron in the lead on Banque Populaire VII and retirements Sodebo Ultime and Multi50 Maitre Jacques

Currently Loick Peyron on Banque Populaire VII is leading the field in the Route du Rhum. 

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s02_corporate/s02p08_cartographie.php

Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultime has been forced to retire after suffering float and main hull damage after a collision with a cargo ship.  Skipper is uninjured and coaxing the boat to the Port of Roscoff:

a rough bing translate of the article here:

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=448

Sunday, November 2 at 11: 30 pm, the Cross has informed the direction of the Route du Rhum race - Destination Guadeloupe than Sodebo Ultim' had collided with a cargo ship and its skipper was unharmed. The trimaran was almost out of the rail and sailed under 3 reefs and ORC, progressing at a speed of 15/18 knots in Active grains by 30 knots of wind Southwest.
In the clash, the trimaran has lost forward of the starboard float until the link arm. The central hull seems to have been also damaged at the front. Sodebo Ultim' is headed for the port of Roscoff, crosswind, under reduced sail, supported on the port float. Currently forward in a dozen nodes. In approaching the coast of Brittany, the wind will ease and the sea is mellowing. Its technical team which was on standby in Brest will travel at night to Roscoff where the trimaran is expected in the morning.

More bad news with the Multi50 Maitre Jacques being forced to retire with starboard float damage:

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s03_actualites/s03p02_detail_actualite.php?actu=446

rough bing translate below:

To 11 pm this Sunday, the starboard float of Maître Jacques broke. He then was in 4th position of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, in the category of Multi 50. Loïc Féquet was about to wrap the tip of Brittany, and was sailing near the coast. It is not in danger, there is no risk of Dismasting, but the boat is not operating.

A tug of the SNSM comes from sailing to tow it to the nearest port, it should be on area about 2 o'clock in the morning.

Loïc Féquet, skipper of the Multi 50 master Jacques: "there were 25-28 knots and seas, but I wasn't to attack, on the contrary! I was under two ris staysail. I hit nothing. It broke exactly at the same place as last year *, but this time, the float is brand new... »

The master Jacques skipper has secured his boat. It is only 7 miles (13 km) sides and derivative at two knots approximately to the North. Loïc is inside his boat while awaiting relief.

Route du Rhum departs into rough conditions

The Route du Rhum is underway with competitors being faced with tough conditions for the first 48 hours at least.  The Ultimes are likely to sail through the worst of the conditions far more quickly than the rest of the fleet and reach more favourable conditions to the South.

The tracker is active on the Route du Rhum website:

http://www.routedurhum.com/fr/s02_corporate/s02p08_cartographie.php

A highlights video of the start is here:


Le départ de la Route du Rhum - Destination... by routedurhum

Gitana Team release downloadable magazine on Gitana's involvement in the Route du Rhum and the upcoming race

This is the English version in .pdf format:

http://www.gitana-team.com/_content/documents/2014_magazine_en.pdf

Spindrift Racing update, Yann Guichard and Spindrift 2 maxi trimaran in St Malo awaiting start of the Route du Rhum

From the following press release on the Spindrift Racing website:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2014/10/francais-yann-guichard-et-spindrift-2-dans-les-starting-blocks-a-saint-malo/
- The maxi-trimaran Spindrift 2 arrived in Saint-Malo this morning, docking at the Gare Maritime.
- Yann Guichard feels in great shape and is ready to go.
- Information about Spindrift racing’s activities in the race village.
- How to follow Yann Guichard and Spindrift 2 during the race.

Never in the race’s 36-year history have there been so many competitors and so many huge trimarans. The 10th edition of the most famous single-handed transatlantic yacht race is already rewriting the record books. A record 91 sailors were in Saint-Malo this Friday for the opening of the official village, in the shadow of the city walls. As happens every year, large crowds will line the docks of the Breton city for the race start on Sunday, November 2nd. Perhaps the record 2 million visitors in 2010 will also be broken. What we can say for certain is that, at 40 metres long, Spindrift 2 will be the largest boat ever to compete in the race. You might think the skipper, Yann Guichard, was crazy, but the 40-year-old has every confidence in the preparations made by his team to make the maxi-trimaran competitive when raced by a single yachstman. Yann is driven by his competitive spirit, and is all set to do battle.

read more here

Route du Rhum 2014: Video updates from Yann Guichard of Spindrift Racing and Lalou Roucayrol of Team Lalou

The Route du Rhum is set to start in 10 days and Yann Guichard who will be racing on the maxi trimaran Spindrift 2 and Lalou Roucayrol who is racing the Multi50 class trimaran Arkema have posted some video updates (with English subtitles):

Matthew Sheahan of Yachting World steps aboard maxi trimaran Spindrift 2

Sidney Gavignet completes solo qualification for Route du Rhum on the Multi70 Musandam/Oman Sail

From the following article on BYMnews:

http://bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=137740

Sidney Gavignet, French skipper of the Sultanate of Oman’s flagship Musandam-Oman Sail, completed the single-handed 1,000 nautical mile Route du Rhum qualifier over the weekend marking the start of his race to prepare for one of the biggest challenges of his career and providing a new benchmark for Oman Sail's Omani sailors to aspire to.

With the fully-crewed racing season behind him, including the epic sprint around Great Britain and Ireland with a 50% Omani crew for the first time, obliterating the record set by a boat almost twice the size, and setting a new one at 3 days 3 hours 32 minutes and 36 seconds, Sidney Gavignet is now fully focussed on preparations for November's Route du Rhum.

“It is back to school for me,” he said on Sunday morning in Lorient after four and a half days at sea alone. “I was lucky with my first solo experience, the conditions were favourable which is a very good way to start and I was happy to get four and a half days of experience in one hit as it is unlikely to be possible again during my training,” he said.

read more here

Loick Peyron steps in to skipper maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII in the Route du Rhum

From the following press release (in French) on the Banque Populaire Sailing website:

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/LOICK-PEYRON-REMPLACERA-ARMEL-LE-CLEAC-H-POUR-LA-ROUTE-DU-RHUM-10167.html#suite

The rough bing translate is below:

LOÏCK PEYRON WILL REPLACE ARMEL LE CLÉAC ' H FOR THE ROUTE DU RHUM
Thursday, September 04, 2014 - 09 h 15
Armel Le Cléac ' h, skipper of the Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII, severely wounded in the hand and forced to forfeit for the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2014, will be replaced, the time of this race, Loïck Peyron. People's Bank, in perfect harmony with its skipper, naturally turned to the browser from La Baule, a great connoisseur of multihulls which won the Jules Verne trophy aboard the Maxi Bank popular V in 2012.

Loïck Peyron, quickly seduced by this opportunity, took time to reflect before agreeing to this challenge. Navigation test aboard the Maxi Trimaran with the Team Banque Populaire allowed him to judge the intrinsic frame and, it is excited by this great challenge posed by participation in the Route du Rhum in the final category, that it will align at the start of the most famous of the transatlantic with the trimaran wearing the colours of the Bank of the sail.

Armel Le Cléac ' h, which control perfectly its support, will accompany Loïck Peyron in his preparation for him deliver all his experience gained in 4 transatlantic and 2 records carried out aboard the Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII.
At the same time, in agreement with Banque Populaire, which he retains all his confidence, it will focus during this period forced ashore on the construction of the new monohull Banque Populaire for the Vendée Globe 2016-2017.

Yann Guichard successful in solo qualification run from Horta in the Azores to La Trinite sur Mer for the Route du Rhum

From the following press release from the Spindrift Racing team:

http://www.spindrift-racing.com/2014/09/40-metres-en-solo-episode-21-yann-guichard-and-spindrift-2-successfully-qualified-for-the-route-du-rhum/

« Solo sailing a trimaran the size of Spindrift 2 requires complete physical commitment, » says Yann Guichard, who recently sailed from the Azores to La Trinité-sur-Mer, alone at the helm of the world’s largest racing multihull. With two months to go before the start of the Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe, the skipper arrived late Monday afternoon and appeared positive and satisfied with his single-handed sail. His arrival fulfils the compulsory qualification required for the event.

Since Spindrift 2 was launched in 2008, nobody has had the audacity to sail this maxi-trimaran single-handed. The 40 metres long Spindrift 2 was designed to be raced by crews and holds several respective major ocean-sailing records. Spindrift racing thought long and hard about taking part in the Route du Rhum, adapting the trimaran especially for this epic race which will commence on November 2nd this year. The cockpit has been redesigned for use by a single-handed sailor, with the commands placed suitably within reach. Meanwhile, the surface area of the sails has been reduced by around 20% and an ingenious autopilot system has been fitted. The trimaran has not been reduced in size, however, and Spindrift 2 remains by far the largest boat taking part in the 10th edition of the most iconic of transatlantic races.

read more and see the video here

Yann Guichard departing Hortas on his Route du Rhum qualification, photo E Allaire

Armel le Cleac'h seriously injures hand and will be unable to compete in the upcoming Route du Rhum on maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII

From the following press release (in French) by the Banque Populaire team:

 

http://www.voile.banquepopulaire.fr/Armel-Le-Cleac-h/ARMEL-LE-CLEAC-H-FORFAIT-POUR-LA-ROUTE-DU-RHUM-10133.html

 

The rough bing translate is below:

Tuesday, August 26, 2014 - 4:30 pm

Armel Le Cléac ' h, skipper of the Maxi Solo Bank Populaire VII, was an opportunity for the 10th

edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe November 2. It was unfortunately injured severely to the right hand, which prevented him from taking the start and forced him to forfeit.

Victim of an accident, Armel is seriously wounded in the right hand. Consulted doctors have issued a negative opinion to its participation in the next Route du Rhum. The skipper of the Bank of the sail will use the coming months to recover and be able to browse again with all his faculties as soon as the water of the new monohull Banque Populaire.

This accident does not call into question the presence of Banque Populaire on the starting line of the 10th edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe November 2. Indeed, the Bank of the sail, with the help of Armel, makes every effort to quickly designate a skipper for this test.
Armel Le Cléac ' h, skipper of the Maxi Bank Populaire VII:

"It's a terrible disappointment to have had this accident. We were well prepared for this Route du Rhum, I felt ready for this challenge, but it is like that... Now, let's focus on healing so I find all my abilities and that I am ready for the program with the new monohull Banque Populaire which will be put in the water. This will be my new goal for the coming months. »

 

Banque Populaire VII © Yvan Zedda

 

Lionel Lemonchois takes Prince de Bretagne Maxi 80 trimaran on qualification run for the Route du Rhum

From the following article (in French) on the Prince de Bretagne Maxi80 website:

http://www.voile.princedebretagne.com/fr/actualites/418/en-route-pour-la-qualif.html

and the rough bing translate is below:

Lionel is preparing to make the 1000 miles of course required for its qualification to the Route du Rhum. Because, if he had widely traveled that distance during his record attempt of the Mauritian at the beginning of the year, the boat has since, underwent some changes. He notably welcomed a new mast and the skipper wanted to do things in the rules of the art.

"Ca is part of the regulation and it is perfect for my preparation. Four days at sea, solo, to work to the best boat, it was some time it pleased me, I'm happy to leave. This is the real recovery! I'll first do 400 miles to the West to reach a first Waypoint, then take due north to go turn the Fastnet before descending on Saint - Quay Portrieux. I have an appointment with producers Prince of Brittany for the multi50 trophy and the feast of the Coco de Paimpol ", explains Lionel."

Weather, conditions will be fairly quiet to start (15-20 knots) and increase a little bit on the second half of the course (20-25 knots). "I will evolve to the close the first two days, then it's downwind in a nice wind." Since the Mauritian, this is my first solo release, I can practice maneuvers, but also on the "side": routing, shipments of photos..."

Arrival in Saint-Quay Portrieux around Thursday noon.

Maxi trimaran Banque Populaire VII back in Lorient and hauled out

After a successful delivery from New York by Armel le Cleac'h and Gildas Morvan Banque Populaire VII has been derigged and hauled out.  The tech team will now check the boat over carefully and prepare it for the upcoming Route du Rhum.