A record number of participants
The start of the Route du Rhum 2022 will be given from the Pointe du Grouin in Saint-Malo at 13:02. On the starting line will be gathered the largest number of skippers in the history of the race. They are 138 sailors to participate in this 12 e edition, divided in the 6 main classes of the event. Among them, professionals, but also amateurs who will live the dream of their life, mainly in the Rhum Mono and Rhum Multi classes, but also in Class40.
Among the competitors, there will be 7 women, in the IMOCA, Class40 and Rhum Mono classes, but also 14 different nationalities, that is to say 20% of foreigners. Proof of the ever-growing internationalization of ocean racing.
A larger village and parades closer to the public
An exceptional edition, an exceptional device! The race village located on the quays of Saint-Malo will open its doors with free access on October 25 for a duration of 13 days, one day more than the previous edition. For the occasion, it has been enlarged by more than 2 m. It covers an area of 75,000 m2. For the first time, the Ultims will be present in the heart of the village in the Vauban and Duguay-Trouin basins.
Another novelty, parades will be organized from October 25 to 28 so that the public can admire these dreamy ocean racing machines up close.
- october 25 at 4 p.m.: Ocean Fifty
- october 26 at 4 p.m.: IMOCA
- october 28 at 9 a.m.: Class40
- october 29 at 09 : Multi and Mono Rum
Francis Le Goff, race director, states: "To sail the boats as close to St. Malo as possible, the skippers will sail up the St. Malo channel and through the lock under sail."
Staggered platform departures
The start will be given on November 6, but the first boats will leave the docks two days before, until the day of departure:
- november 4 from 2:08 pm: Ultims
- november 5 from 07:39: Rhum Class + IMOCA + Ocean Fifty
- november 6 from 06h: Class40
From the Pointe de Grouin, the day of the departure, the fleet will join the Cap Fréhel before taking the open sea. At the arrival in Guadeloupe, they will cross the buoy of Basse-Terre before going around the island to reach Gosier.
