17 monohulls over 39 feet long
This is the first time that monohulls that do not fit into either Class 40 or IMOCA class have had their own category. The Mono Rum are monohulls with a length greater than or equal to 39 feet. 17 participants are registered in this new category and will have their own ranking, allowing them to separate these 17 frames from 40 to 60 feet and built from 1976 to 2009.
And indeed, even if there is no longer any doubt about the ability of the monohulls to win the race in real time on this 3,542 mile course between France and Guadeloupe, there will be a match in the Rhum Mono class. Because, the units are varied in terms of size, design, performance, behaviour, and even comfort.
Nils Boyer - Funeral Choice ©Clément Delarue
For example, we will find Éric Bellion's 21-metre schooner (As a single man), alongside Opium 39 by Jean-Luc Bizien-Jaglin (Transports Groussard). This class will also welcome the youngest competitor in the race - Nils Boyer (Le Choix Funéraire), 24 years old - sailing alongside the oldest, Bob Escoffier (Kriter V-Socomore-Quéguiner), who at 70 years old has 4 participations in the race.
Also participating will be four 50 feet, including Vento di Sardegna, by Italian Andrea Mura, winner in 2010 and second in 2014 aboard the same Open 50. The others will be led by Éric Jail (La Voix de l'Océan), Nils Boyer and the multirecidivist Willy Bissainte (C' La Guadeloupe).
The schooner as one man ©Bateaux.com
Different ambitions
If a part of a dream lives in the participants of the Rhum class, the ambitions are different for everyone. Some wear the colours of an association ( The project As One Man for example), a company where former ocean racing stars wish to sail.
But all of them want to join the other side of the Atlantic, a challenge for some boats that are 40 years old.
Stars of the Route du Rhum
For the 40th anniversary of the Route du Rhum, the Classe Rhum Mono will welcome 3 "540" who have marked their time:
- Kriter V which was beaten by 98 seconds on arrival in Guadeloupe during the first edition in 1978 after 23 days 7 hours 1 minute;
- Kriter VIII led a second time by Wilfrid Clerton and with whom Michel Malinovski lost again to the multihull armada in 1982 after 19 days 16 hours 15 minutes
- The "360" Red cigar "https://media.bateaux.com/bateaux/29142/route-du-rhum-skippers-classe-rhum-mono-2.jpg"https://media.bateaux.com/bateaux/29142/route-du-rhum-skippers-classe-rhum-mono-3.jpg""359"540"https://media.bateaux.com/bateaux/29142/route-du-rhum-skippers-classe-rhum-mono-4.jpg"360">
Sébastien Destremeau (Alcatraz IT FaceOcean) ©DR
List of participants in the Rum Mono class
- Éric Bellion (Commeunseulhomme) 21-metre schooner on plans Olivier van Meer
- Willy Bissainte (C'La Guadeloupe) Open 50 on Berret-Racoupeau plans
- Jean-Luc Bizien-Jaglin (Transports Groussard) Opium 39 on Marc Lombard plans
- Nils Boyer (Le Choix Funéraire) Open 50 on plans of the Finot Group
- Wilfrid Clerton (Cap au Cap Location-SOS Children's Villages) ex-Kriter VIII on Mauric plans
- Luc Coquelin (Rotary-La Mer pour Tous) Open 50 on Mortain-Mavrikios plans
- Sébastien Destremeau (Alcatraz IT FaceOcean) IMOCA 60 on plans of the Finot Group
- Dominique Dubois (Ghéo) 17-metre sloop on Berret-Racoupeau plans
- Bob Escoffier (Kriter V-Socomore-Quéguiner) ex-Kriter V on Mauric plans
- Sidney Gavignet (Café Joyeux) Open 52 on Finot-Conq designs
- Éric Jail (La Voix de l'Océan) Open 50 on plans Éric Baranger
- Laurent Jubert (L'espace du Souffle) 14-metre schooner on carpenter plans
- Olivier Leroux (Art Immobilier Construction) Pogo 12.5 on Finot-Conq plans
- Nicolas Magnan (SOS GASP) 14-metre sloop on Gilles Vaton plans
- Andrea Mura (Vento di Sardegna) Open 50 on Felci plans
- Jean-Marie Patier (Formatives Network) IMOCA 60 on Harlé plans
- Christophe Souchaud (Rum Solidaire-Cap Handi) First 40.7
