An increasingly professional class
With 55 participants, the Class40 is the most represented in the Route du Rhum. It must be said that year after year, it attracts many enthusiasts. The boats are of a reasonable size, 12 meters, with strict rules, and therefore require smaller operating budgets. If it attracts its share of amateurs, it has become more professional and many skippers see it as a springboard to the IMOCA class.
A springboard to the IMOCA
In 2006, for the first participation of the class in the Route du Rhum, they were 25 to take the start. In 2010, Thomas Ruyant won ahead of Nicolas Troussel and in 2018, it was Yoann Richomme who won. While the first two have now joined the IMOCA class, the last one is currently building a 60-foot monohull for the 2024 Vendée Globe.
The beautiful part of the round noses
In spite of the rules, the designers can give free rein to their inspiration. For example, for the last four years, the scow has been on the rise in Class40. The latest plans, whatever the architect, are in this direction with their rounded nose. The architect Sam Manuard confided to us that this shape of bow was no longer debated as to its performance .
A good batch of favorites
Although Yoann Richomme aboard Paprec Arkéa is counting on the performance of his Lombard firm's Lift 2, he knows that the competition is tough: " We'll try to do the same, but I won't be given the win easily. There are a lot of competitors. It's complicated and that's why we like it. It's a great challenge to put your title back on the line. "
Indeed, the pre-season races have shown the high level of Class40, and the favorites are numerous: Ian Lipinski on Crédit Mutuel, winner in 2019 of the Transat Jacques-Vabre and the CIC Normandy Channel Race in 2022, Xavier Macaire, on SNEF Group amélie Grassi on La Boulangère Bio, Luke Berry on his brand new Lamotte Module Création, Axel Trehin on Project Rescue Ocean, Simon Koster on Banque du Leman or Ambrogio Beccaria on Allagrande Pirelli.
A winner in scow?
If the winner is not yet known and we have to wait for the arrival in Pointe-à-Pitre to find out, for Sam Manuard, it will necessarily be a scow: "The level is really high! We reach impressive levels of commitment and preparation! Today, it's difficult to be ahead in Class40 you have to hang on. With an increasing number of scow the classic boats no longer have a chance of winning
