Route du Rhum - Yann Guichard and Spindrift 2 in the starting blocks

by Spindrift Racing on 25 Oct 2014 Never in the Route du Rhum’s 36-year history have there been so many competitors and so many huge trimarans. The 10th edition of the most famous single-handed transatlantic yacht race is already rewriting the record books. A record 91 sailors were in Saint-Malo this Friday for the opening of the official village, in the shadow of the city walls.

As happens every year, large crowds will line the docks of the Breton city for the race start on Sunday, November 2nd. Perhaps the record two million visitors in 2010 will also be broken. What we can say for certain is that, at 40 metres long, Spindrift 2 will be the largest boat ever to compete in the race. You might think the skipper, Yann Guichard, was crazy, but the 40-year-old has every confidence in the preparations made by his team to make the maxi-trimaran competitive when raced by a single yachstman. Yann is driven by his competitive spirit, and is all set to do battle.

'We have just sailed Spindrift 2 from La Trinité-sur-Mer to Saint-Malo with some members of the technical and sailing team,' explains Yann, who leads a 30-strong team of people with Dona Bertarelli. 'Not everybody could be aboard, but it was still lovely to share this moment with them and enjoy the boat together before the race. Our arrival in Saint-Malo is a symbolic moment. It feels like we have already achieved our first success. Before a race, I like to spend time with my family and to study the weather with my routers. I like to be surrounded by people, even though I gradually start moving into my bubble. The Route du Rhum is such a magical event that everybody wants to talk to the skippers. It is all part of the fun, but you must not overdo things. You have to save all your energy for the start of the race.'

Yann Guichard has been sailing since he was 10 years old. He has started hundreds of races in different types of boats, including the Optimist class, the 420, the Tornado in which he finished at a fourth place at the Sydney Games in 2000 and the AC45 on the America’s Cup World Series. He has also completed several transatlantic crossings in multihulls, both in races – notably the Transat Jacques Vabre with Marc Guillemot, Fred Le Peutrec and Lionel Lemonchois – and in record attempts, breaking the North Atlantic Record twice, first with Bruno Peyron, then with Franck Cammas, and breaking the Discovery Route record last year as skipper of Spindrift 2 alongside Dona and the crew. Yann is no rookie in the Route du Rhum's Ultimate Class. In 2010, he took fourth place at the helm of the trimaran Gitana 11 in its 70 ft modified version.

This wealth of experience in a career spent aboard sundry multihulls, floating between the expanses of water and air, has given Yann the confidence he needs to compete single-handed in the Route du Rhum at the helm of the world's largest racing trimaran, which can carry as much as 800 square metres of sail! 'Before a race I feel calm but ready, and that is how I feel today,' he explains. 'The stakes are high, which puts you under pressure. Of course I cannot be sure whether I will make it. You never can when you attempt something for the first time. As a team we have prepared exactly as planned, and with a week to go before the race I know I have made the right choice by competing in the Route du Rhum with Spindrift 2.'

Experts and spectators are trying to predict what will happen in the Ultimate Class, which has eight contenders this year, including three boats that are more than 30 m long. 'Physically, I am in great shape. I have been working on my fitness, and I realise how important it is every time I set sail,' explains Yann. 'I continue to train to work on skills, but I feel strong, which is vital for my confidence. Once the weather forecast becomes clearer and we draw up our strategy for the first few days of racing, I will be ready to go. I know my opponents and I know the limits of solo racing on a boat as powerful as Spindrift 2, but if I have a good race with no technical or strategic errors I know I have a chance. That is why I am so excited about this race!'

From October 24th to November 2nd, you can visit the Spindrift racing stand in the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe village on Saint-Malo's waterfront. A host of activities will take place throughout the week-long festival. Spindrift racing hopes to share its passion for sailing with as many people as possible as it prepares for this adventure. Find us in Hall 8, Espace 8001.

Simulator: Equipped with a grinder winch and a bicycle (similar to the one Yann will use on Spindrift 2), the simulator lets you test the two sail-mounting systems to see which requires most effort. This will help you understand why the maxi-trimaran will be fitted with both a winch and a bicycle during the Route du Rhum.

Kids: Exciting quizzes and colouring activities for children every day from 3-4 pm.

'Draw Me Spindrift 2' Competition For Kids: Yann will choose his favourite drawing and take it with him during the race. Children can put their drawings in a box at our stand.

Autographs: Yann will be signing autographs at the Spindrift racing stand on Thursday, October 30th from 5:30 to 6:00 pm.

Goodies: Every day we will be have goodies available, including lip balm sticks, Swiss chocolates, sweets, balloons, flags, stickers, posters, postcards and activity books. Come Spindrift Racing