/ 
A northeast wind of 8 to 13 knots at the start
With three days to go before the start of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, the weather forecast is becoming clearer. According to METEO CONSULT, the wind is expected to blow from the northeast at 8 to 13 knots on Sunday afternoon, with gusts reaching 18 to 22 knots.
The sea is expected to be relatively calm, with waves around 50 centimeters high in the starting area. The sky is expected to alternate between sunny spells and cloudy periods, with a temperature of around 14 °C.
Competitors could therefore benefit from enough wind to make good progress without having to endure the grueling conditions of a start in heavy weather. However, these forecasts are still subject to change between now and Sunday.
A smooth start?good news for offshore racing
For the 115 solo sailors, this scenario is quite favorable. The first few hours of a transatlantic race are always tricky: you have to leave the starting area, navigate around other boats, tune your boat, and start planning your rest periods.
With calm seas and moderate winds, the maneuvers should be less strenuous and the mechanical stress should be more limited.
This is also good news for offshore racing as a whole. A spectacular start in 30-knot winds may make for great footage, but it also increases the risk of damage and early withdrawals. Seeing competitors forced to return to port after just a few hours does nothing to enhance the sporting quality of a transatlantic race.
On the contrary, a calmer start allows the skippers to ease into the race gradually and put their tactical choices to the test. The spectacle doesn't depend solely on the height of the waves.
Conditions that could intensify as we exit the English Channel
The calm weather forecast off the coast of Saint-Malo does not mean that the competitors will cross the Atlantic under the same conditions.
As they head west across the English Channel, boats may encounter a more sustained northeasterly wind of around 15 knots, increasing to nearly 20 knots as they approach the Celtic Sea. The swell could also reach 1.5 to 2 meters in the most exposed areas.
Thanks to their speed, the Ultim boats are likely to be the first affected by this change. The IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, and Class40 boats will encounter the various weather systems at their own pace.
The start of the 2026 Route du Rhum may not be the most visually spectacular. But for the sailors, beginning a transatlantic race without immediately facing severe weather is a welcome prospect. And for offshore racing, seeing as many competitors as possible get the chance to showcase their athletic potential is far better news than a string of breakdowns right from the first few miles.
