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A two-time champion will not be at the starting line in Saint-Malo
Erwan Le Roux will not attempt to win a third Route du Rhum in the Ocean Fifty class. The skipper of the Plastic Odyssey Fifty officially announced his withdrawal on October 8, 2026, after several months of searching for financial partners. His team was unable to secure the funding deemed necessary to enter the trimaran in the solo transatlantic race.
This announcement brings to an end a particularly important racing project for the La Rochelle-based sailor. Having won in 2014 and again in 2022, he had planned for this edition to be his final appearance in the Route du Rhum in the 50-foot (15.24-meter) trimaran category.
The decision to withdraw is all the more striking given that the boat had been rebuilt after capsizing during the 2025 Transat Café L'Or. Launched again in April 2026, it was intended to allow Erwan Le Roux to continue his racing program under the Plastic Odyssey Fifty banner.
The capsizing in October 2025 threw the preparations into disarray
The difficulties faced by Erwan Le Roux can be traced back, in particular, to the night of October 25?26, 2025. A few hours after the start of the Transat Café L'Or, the trimaran Koesio capsized north of Guernsey, while being sailed as a double-handed crew by Erwan Le Roux and Audrey Ogereau.
The accident didn't affect just Koesio. Three Ocean Fifties capsized during that first night of racing, raising questions about the conditions faced by these fast multihulls and their safety margin in rough seas.
After its crew was evacuated, the Koesio drifted toward the coast of Guernsey. The trimaran eventually ran aground on a sandbar in Lihou Bay. A salvage operation was then carried out to secure the vessel before it was returned to the mainland. This reconstruction project took place less than a year before the Route du Rhum.
A rebuilt Ocean Fifty, but the budget is still incomplete
On April 16, 2026, the trimaran was launched back into the water in La Rochelle. On this occasion, Koesio was renamed Plastic Odyssey Fifty, after the organization dedicated to fighting plastic pollution. Erwan Le Roux also became an ambassador for the organization.
In June 2026, the team reported that Koesio?s support had helped secure half of the annual budget. The partner, which has been working alongside the skipper since 2021, thus continued to support the project despite the boat?s name change.
One last Route du Rhum in the Ocean Fifty class that won't take place
The expedition holds special significance for Erwan Le Roux from a sporting perspective.
In 2022, aboard Koesio, the sailor won his second Route du Rhum in the Ocean Fifty class after a particularly close finish against Quentin Vlamynck, skipper of Arkema. After 10 days, 21 hours, 35 minutes, and 52 seconds of racing, he crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre with a lead of just 18 minutes and 13 seconds over his closest competitor.
The 2028 Vendée Globe as a New Goal
The cancellation of the Route du Rhum project does not mean the end of Erwan Le Roux?s ocean-crossing ambitions. The skipper has announced that he now intends to focus his efforts on two goals: developing an offshore racing team in La Rochelle and seeking the partners needed to compete in the 2028 Vendée Globe.
After years of competing on multihulls, Erwan Le Roux is expected to prepare for a campaign in the IMOCA class?the 60-foot monohulls used for the solo, nonstop round-the-world race.
The two class rules call for different approaches to navigation. The Ocean Fifty class, in particular, emphasizes the speed of trimarans and requires constant attention to their stability. The IMOCA class faces different challenges related to its monohull design, its behavior at sea, and the duration of a round-the-world race.
At this stage, the Vendée Globe project remains a stated ambition. No boat, budget, racing schedule, or title sponsorship has been announced.
In addition to his goal of sailing around the world, Erwan Le Roux hopes to establish an offshore racing organization in La Rochelle. The idea is to use his experience to benefit other sailors, with a particular focus on passing on skills and fostering a sustainable approach to performance.
