A Masterful Race
Yachting World|January 2019

Capsizes, Crashes, And An Incredible Finish – This Year’s Route Du Rhum Saw Skill Defeat Technology. Helen Fretter Reports

A Masterful Race

The legend of the Route du Rhum solo transatlantic race is built on hair-raising mid-Atlantic escapades and dramatic denouements.

Leaving St Malo in early November every four years, the fleet plunges into the Bay of Biscay en route to the island of Guadaloupe, and the ride is rarely smooth. Over ten previous runnings there have been spectacular capsizes, tragic losses, and heroes made.

Forty years ago, Mike Birch’s little plywood trimaran Olympus Photo slipped past the leading monohull Kriter V right on the finish line of the very first Route du Rhum. The victory, by a winning margin of 98s, was a true David and Goliath result. It made Canadian skipper Birch a superstar in France (huge crowds still clamoured to see him in St Malo).

Four decades and light years of development later, this year’s Route du Rhum result was once again decided in the final metres.

The 2018 race was expected to be a showcase for latest design, headlined by the brand new foiling Ultimes and latest generation foil-assisted IMOCAs. But a different epic tale was told when the wily Francis Joyon overcame the wunderkinds of the Ultime class on his 12-year-old IDEC, winning with just minutes to go.

In the IMOCAs, Alex Thomson dramatically crashed out after a near-faultless Atlantic crossing to hand victory to Paul Meilhat, who had driven his 2010-designed non-foilingIMOCA so hard he was able to take the win ahead of many newer, technically faster boats. Giants were being slain again.

Technological failures and human error lost the 2018 Route du Rhum, the Ultimes fracturing mid-Atlantic one after another, and Thomson smashing Hugo Boss into cliffs after a smartwatch alarm failed. But for Joyon and Meilhat to be ready in positions to win required faultless seamanship and nerves of steel.

Big tri showdown

Bu hikaye Yachting World dergisinin January 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

Bu hikaye Yachting World dergisinin January 2019 sayısından alınmıştır.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

YACHTING WORLD DERGISINDEN DAHA FAZLA HIKAYETümünü görüntüle
5 EXPERT TIPS BOB BEGGS ON SAILING IN COLD WEATHER
Yachting World

5 EXPERT TIPS BOB BEGGS ON SAILING IN COLD WEATHER

As temperatures drop, Andy Rice gets tips on how to handle the cold from self-confessed Arctic weather fan and winning Clipper Round the World Race skipper Bob Beggs

time-read
3 dak  |
December 2024
SPECIAL REPORT EXTENDED CRUISING IN THE BALTIC
Yachting World

SPECIAL REPORT EXTENDED CRUISING IN THE BALTIC

Sweden offers cruisers a warm welcome for winter - Janneke Kuysters has advice on how to boost your sailing time in the region

time-read
6 dak  |
December 2024
NIKKI HENDERSON
Yachting World

NIKKI HENDERSON

SEARCHING FOR MORE SPEED? BEFORE TINKERING WITH TINY ADJUSTMENTS, MAKE SURE YOU'VE GOT THE BASICS RIGHT THE POWER DRIVING THE BOAT

time-read
3 dak  |
December 2024
MATTHEW SHEAHAN
Yachting World

MATTHEW SHEAHAN

WHAT WILL THE BOATS OF THE 38TH AMERICA'S CUP LOOK LIKE? THAT'S THE $20 MILLION QUESTION IF BRITAIN OR NEW ZEALAND DECIDE TO DEPART FROM THE AC75

time-read
3 dak  |
December 2024
60-knot squalls hit Middle Sea Race
Yachting World

60-knot squalls hit Middle Sea Race

The 45th running of the Mediterranean offshore, the Rolex Middle Sea Race, saw a spectacularly random mix of conditions - even for a race which is famed for its variable weather patterns.

time-read
2 dak  |
December 2024
Italy win first Women's Cup
Yachting World

Italy win first Women's Cup

The first ever Women's America's Cup was won by Luna Rossa Prada Pirelli after a single, twoboat shoot-out final on 12 October.

time-read
2 dak  |
December 2024
'Three-peat' for ETNZ
Yachting World

'Three-peat' for ETNZ

As Defender, Emirates Team New Zealand came into this year's 37th America's Cup as clear favourites. But the Kiwi camp has far more than just the structural advantage of being the ones that wrote the Protocol for the competition, and the originators of the AC75 concept.

time-read
3 dak  |
December 2024
ROOM WITH A VIEW
Yachting World

ROOM WITH A VIEW

SWEDISH DESIGNER GABRIEL HEYMAN POURED A LIFETIME OF IDEAS INTO THIS PILOT SALOON CRUISER, WHICH INCLUDES ARGUABLY THE LARGEST COCKPIT AVAILABLE AT THIS SIZE

time-read
10 dak  |
December 2024
LIVING HISTORY
Yachting World

LIVING HISTORY

THE ICONIC SEASON-CLOSING REGATTA LES VOILES DE SAINT TROPEZ WAS AN IMMERSIVE HISTORY LESSON FOR CROSBIE LORIMER

time-read
8 dak  |
December 2024
CHANGE OF PLAN
Yachting World

CHANGE OF PLAN

LEAVING AUSTRALIA, MARIANNE URTH NEVER PLANNED TO MAKE LANDFALL IN THE ISLANDS OF VANUATU, BUT THE EXPERIENCE WAS MAGICAL

time-read
9 dak  |
December 2024