The ULTIMATE
Estimated race time: 6 to 7 days
First arrivals expected around November 10, 2018
In the game of speed, they are the big winners of the Route du Rhum 2018 ! With their giant dimensions - 32 m long and 23 m wide - and their foils that allow them to fly, the Ultimates will be the first to reach Guadeloupe. Their speeds will be impressive since they are capable of reaching 45 knots of speed in 13/14 knots of wind!
In 2014, Loïck Peyron completed his crossing with a new reference time of 7 d 15 h 8' 32".
In 2018, with an average speed of 30 knots, the Ultimates should cross the Atlantic in less than 7 days. And if the weather conditions were extremely favorable, they could even drop the record to 6 days!
The MULTI50
Estimated race time: 8 to 10 days
First arrivals expected around November 12, 2018
These trimarans, 15 m long and 15 m wide, have the highest power-to-weight ratio in the fleet. Five of the six boats in the fleet are equipped with foils, and they are now capable of averaging 500 miles in 24 hours! The foils have boosted the speed of the boats by about 20% when reaching, with regular peaks of over 35 knots.
On a course of 3,543 nautical miles, if we do a quick calculation, it gives a race time of about 8 days. And indeed, the Multi50s should reach Pointe-à-Pitre shortly after the Ultimes, with a race time of 8 to 10 days. A gain of at least one day on the reference time of 11 days 5 hours and 13 minutes.
MULTI RUM CLASS
Estimated time: 16 days
First arrivals expected around November 20, 2018
New this year, the Rhum class has been divided in two: on one side the monohulls and on the other the multihulls. A decision of the race organization to accommodate a maximum of participants and to offer a specific ranking to each of the two categories.
Just like the Mono Rhum Class, there is a wide variety of multihulls in this class, from old Mulit50s to cruising catamarans. They are 21 solo sailors ready to beat the record held by Anne Caseneuve since the last edition: 17 days 07 hours 06 minutes and 03 seconds. Reference time set in 2014 on his 50-foot trimaran.
And this year again, his trimaran (Air Antilles-Caseneuve Maxi Catamaran) will start again with David Ducosson on board. But the competition will be tough against Pierre Antoine (Olmix) on the ex-Crêpes Whaou ! at the origin of the Multi50 class in 2002.
