Ever since Mike Birch and his nimble 39ft trimaran Olympus Photo overhauled the 69ft monohull Kriter in the dying seconds of the first Route du Rhum in 1978, the four-yearly transatlantic has seen fortunes falter over these final few miles. Every skipper approaching this year’s finish did so looking over their shoulder, knowing that even a seemingly secure advantage could melt away in the sticky heat of a windless calm.
This time, it was Pip Hare who was ensnared. Coming into Guadeloupe in 10th she put in some final gybes to put Medallia into a controlling position, only to park up under the cliffs, drifting at 2 knots while Romain Attanasio and Sébastien Marsset sailed past.
LEGENDARY CHALLENGE
But first, you have to get to Guadaloupe. Besides its finish, the Route du Rhum’s legend is based on two other factors.
First is the unique strength, depth, and variety in the fleet. This year’s record entry of 138 boats represented an incredible showcase of offshore sailing. No fewer than 38 IMOCA 60s – by our calculations, the largest ever gathering in the class’s history. The Ultime fleet included eight leviathan-scale trimarans, there were 55 Class 40s and eight Ocean 50s, while the ‘Rhum’ classes featured some of the most storied boats and skippers in sailing.
The second factor is the race’s reputation as a demolition derby. After leaving the protection of St Malo’s deceptively protected harbours, the skippers are immediately faced with the Bay of Biscay at its November worst – rolling depressions, vicious sea states and strong headwinds. Entire fleets have been decimated in the early days of this transatlantic classic.
Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Yachting World.
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Denne historien er fra January 2023-utgaven av Yachting World.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
wallywind 110 launches
The first example of Wally Yacht's new wallywind performance cruising range launched this summer, during the iconic Italian brand's 30th anniversary year - and in time for its debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
Irish skipper wins Figaro
Irish solo skipper Tom Dolan took a historic victory in this year's La Solitaire du Figaro Paprec, winning the solo multistage offshore race overall only the third non-French competitor ever to do so.
Youth AC puts on a show
Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli's team won the UniCredit Youth America's Cup after a highly absorbing series comprising 12 international teams racing the one-design AC40s off Barcelona.
ATLANTIC BEYOND
SAILING THE SECOND EXPLORATION 60 ON A WEST-TO-EAST ATLANTIC CROSSING WAS IDEAL FOR A RIGOROUS TEST OF GARCIA'S NEW NOWHERE YOU CAN'T GO FLAGSHIP
UNCONTROLLED
HELPLESSLY APPROACHING AN UNINHABITED ISLAND IN THE GALAPAGOS WITHOUT ENGINE OR ELECTRONICS, JON VAN TAMELEN FEARED BEING IMMINENTLY SHIPWRECKED
SECRET ISLAND
BEYOND THE FORBIDDING ENTRY RULES OF TAIWAN IS A CULTURE RICH IN SEAFARING HISTORY AND STUNNING LANDSCAPES, FINDS CAMERON DUECK
LAND OF THE BIRDS
SKIP NOVAK DESCRIBES THE PERILS, CHALLENGES AND JOYS OF A CRITICAL EXPEDITION VOAYGE TO SURVEY SOUTH GEORGIA'S ENDANGERED WANDERING ALBATROSS
FIRST STEPS TO BLUEWATER
YOU CAN GET INTO WORLD CRUISING FROM A STANDING START AND EXPERIENCE THINGS NO OTHER TRAVELLERS DO. CATHERINE LAWSON AND DAVID BRISTOW TALK TO FOUR COUPLES WHO PROVE IT
HARD CHOICES
IN AN EXCLUSIVE EXTRACT FROM HER NEW BOOK, PIP HARE REVEALS WHAT DROVE HER ON WHILE RACING THROUGH THE SOUTHERN OCEAN IN THE 2020 VENDÉE GLOBE.
INTO BATTLE
COULD THIS BE THE MOST COMPETITIVE VENDÉE GLOBE EVER? HELEN FRETTER FINDS OUT WHAT THE SKIPPERS WILL BE FACING.