The entire Ultim class
Although there is some riffifi within the Ultim 32/23 Class, it will be in full force with 8 solo sailors entered. With recent and ever more powerful boats, Francis Joyon's 2018 record of 7 days, 14 hours, 21 minutes and 47 seconds on Idec Sport could fall. Indeed, the race director announced that the first arrivals could reach Guadeloupe in a little over 6 days.
However, as Armel le Cléac'h on Banque Populaire explains "it's the weather that will decide if the record can be broken." Will Gitana, one of the favourites for this edition after the numerous victories it has achieved in the last few races, continue its momentum? Charles Caudrelier answers: "I gave up solo racing at least 10 years ago. It's a boat I know very well. I've sailed it a lot, but with a crew or two."
Also complete for the Ocean Fifty
The 8 skippers of the Ocean Fifty class will be present on the starting line, including the title holder Armel Tripon. Considering the level of the class, the match is likely to be tight as Erwan Le Roux, president of the class and skipper of Koesio explains: "A boat that is 10 years old can still win. It's hard to name favorites when you see the high level of the class. The Pro Sailing Tour has allowed us to sail a lot, and therefore increase the skills of the sailors, and the machines."
A range of brand new IMOCA boats
There will be 37 IMOCA boats taking part in this edition of the Route du Rhum 2022, and many eyes will be on this class. 7 new boats will be able to test themselves in transatlantic races for the first time. Not to mention the changes of mountings for others, and the newcomers who are coming to rub shoulders with the experts.
If some of them recognize that they will not have the same chances as others, like Guirec Soudée, who will participate in his first race on an IMOCA daggerboard, the most experienced among them want to steal the show from Charlie Dalin on Apivia, unchallenged in the last races, who will participate in his first Route du Rhum, and last on his current boat He explains: "It is an honor and a pride to have this status of favorite. The Route du Rhum is a goal in itself for Apivia. I'm looking forward to the start of my first Route du Rhum. We have further optimized the boat and improved things." This will also be an opportunity for Paul Meilhat to make his return to the circuit, with a solid project and a new boat, Biotherm, to put his winning title on the line.
The largest number of participants in Class40
Year after year, the Class40 is gaining members. Professionals and amateurs alike find each other and the level is high. It is within this class that we will find the youngest skipper of the fleet, Martin Louchard who will make his first Route du Rhum at only 20 years old. It will also be a first for Amélie Grassi on La Boulangère Bio, a performer in the Mini Class, but also for Kéni Piperol and her Captain Alternance, whose mentor is none other than Lalou Roucayrol, or Aurélien Ducroz and Crosscall, who has gone from the ski slopes to the salt water of the sea.
The class tenors will also be in the game, like Yoann Richomme sponsored by Paprec Arkéa, winner in 2018, and who is returning to Class40 while waiting for the construction of his IMOCA. Ian Lipinski on Crédit Mutuel, is also announced as a favorite, as he launches the construction of a new Class40 or Luke Berry and Lamotte âeuros Module Création, at the controls of a new boat. The match looks to be close, as explained by the latter: "I've been in Class40 for five years and I'm back with a new boat. I'm clearly playing the performance game. It's a great field and the level is high as we saw in the race last week."
Amateurs in search of sea spray in Rhum Mono
As Willy Bissainte explained on Tradysion Gwadloup, "The Rhum Mono Class allows amateurs to sail the Route du Rhum without a large budget . So there are 14 solo sailors who will be setting sail, some of whom are not so amateurish as Jean-Pierre Dick who is doing his "back to his roots and reconnect with his passion for being at sea." It's a bit the same for Catherine Chabaud, who gave up ocean racing 20 years ago. She explains "In 2018, my husband did the Route du Rhum on the Cigare Rouge. For this edition he let me take his place because I miss the sea while I talk about it every day. In 1998, I could not do the tour of Guadeloupe because I had dismasted. I'm going to race with favorites like Jean-Pierre Dick, but also against competitors who are on the water more often than me. But I still have a sporting ambition."
Regulars and the return of great sailors in the Rhum Multi
In the Rhum Multi Class, there will be 16 solo sailors, including some of the great names in sailing: Halvard Mabire on GDD, Roland Jourdain with We Explore, who has built a catamaran nearly 20 meters long, partly made of flax fiber, Marc Guillemot and his Metarom MG5, and Philippe Poupon, who will be sailing on the trimaran that won the Route du Rhum in 1990 with Florence Arthaud. A friend, he has come to pay tribute to her.
We will also find Charlie Capelle and his trimaran Acapella âeuros La Chaine de l'Espoir, who, at 67 years old, is participating in his 6th e edition on his boat. He explains: This is my 6 e edition on the same boat, and the 7 e edition for my boat. It's an addiction, but above all a passion. Out of 6 race starts, I haven't finished them all, so I hope that will be the case this year.
