The 2018 Route du Rhum 2018 competitors have suffered some serious depressions. A usual time on our coasts in this month of November, but during which every good sailor usually postpones his departure. Except for the start of a race. This tricky weather has caused a lot of trouble for those who wanted to force the way, while other skippers have played the caution card, preferring to take refuge in the ports.
What about the fleet?
One of our readers has just sent us a very interesting analysis of the Route du Rhum. He reviewed the situation of the boats: those who had to give up, those who make a forced or unforced stopover and finally those who are still on the water towards Guadeloupe.
This analysis is all the more relevant when you look at it class by class. Indeed, we can see that boats in the "professional" categories make far fewer stops than others. Undoubtedly, the boats are better prepared and the skippers more accustomed to arduous sailing. Apart from the ultimate class where half of the fleet has had breakdowns, the IMOCA and especially the Multi50 classes are better suited to cross the Bay of Biscay in winter. In the Rum classes, whether in monohulls or multihulls, many skippers have taken shelter in a port. No doubt that for these boats, the classification is less important than the marine sense.
Who analyses?
This analysis, which is based on figures, is conducted by Thierry Anton. If that name doesn't mean much to you, you should remember the 2013 Mini. At that time, that plumber had run after him and won it on his computer! Competitor on Virtual Regata, he had his hour of glory by wanting to participate 2 years later, no longer virtually, but really. Unfortunately, this sea lover faced the difficulty of finding financing, a difficulty that caused him to postpone the project.
Today, still a plumber, he hopes to build a Mini to make his dream come true one day: to run the Mini. The project progresses slowly, oscillating according to the time and money that Thierry can give him.
