Route du Rhum - Analysis time

by Leslie Greenhalgh on 22 Nov 2014 As the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe prepares to round off proceedings with the official prize-giving in Pointe-à-Pitre, the skippers competing in the IMOCA Ocean Masters World Championship are enjoying a well-earned rest before each of them heads off over the horizon on their future ventures. For some this race will be the final curtain call, for others a springboard onto other projects, but for one and all the Route du Rhum has been intense, fierce and also fantastic. The crown will once again go to François Gabart who, over the past four years of his IMOCA career, has been the man of firsts in his solo exploits: Transat B to B, Vendée Globe and Route du Rhum.

This 10th edition of the Route du Rhum has lived up to our expectations as spectators. The start of the race was both bracing and demanding, where man and gear were really put to the test. What followed was a complicated transition between the Azores and Portugal, before gradually dropping down onto the tradewind route, where the rhythm was just as strong as ever. The latter is evidenced by the brand new outright monohull record for the event, despite the difficult conditions.

For some, breakage threw a spanner in the works and we obviously spare a thought for Bertrand de Broc (Votre Nom autour du Monde), who was forced to retire after just two days of racing, and Vincent Riou (PRB), of whom we expected great things from his battle with François Gabart. Vincent was the only IMOCA skipper to have opted to make the switch to the new class measurement. To be able to gauge the effects of this new arrangement would have provided a number of lessons for the future…

Their analysis of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe

François Gabart (MACIF) / First in 12 days, four hours 38 mn 55 sec: The most striking memory: 'The final tack before Guadeloupe. I savoured it but at the same time I felt sad to be leaving the boat and I cast my mind forward to four years’ time when I’ll return on a multihull…'

Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'If they’d told me how things would pan out four years ago, I wouldn’t have believed them. I was looking for a challenge and that’s what I got. Added to that, I’ve always said that the first time you do things is always something special.'

Jérémie Beyou: (Maître CoQ) / Second in 12 days 12 hours 11 mn and 18 sec: The most striking memory: 'The night following the passage around the Azores. I’d caught up with François and we were embroiled in a heated exchange in a strong wind of 30 knots, making headway downwind under large spinnaker. It was lively.'

Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'Pretty much yes. I thought it would be very full-on physically. I was expecting a great battle with François and Vincent and it never crossed my mind that Vincent would retire. To my mind there weren’t any big discrepancies between the boats. I hope the same will be true once we’ve all adopted the new class measurement. In this Route du Rhum, there was only one retirement due to material damage, which is good. We mustn’t exceed this quota for the upcoming races.'

Marc Guillemot (Safran) / Third in 13 days, one hour 59 mn and 20 sec: The most striking memory: 'The start of the race required a great deal of energy and close attention. We had to extricate ourselves from the English Channel with winds of over 35 knots in the gusts and reduced visibility. We got straight down to business. We had to be really incisive to tack at the right point and ensure we made some good sail changes. I loved it.'

Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'No race can be in line with what you expect at the start. I was simply expecting a tough test and that’s how the race panned out. This edition was one of the most intense events I’ve participated in since my career began. It was tough and comprehensive, which is exactly what makes sailing such a rich sport.'

Armel Tripon (For Humble Heroes) / Fourth in 13 days 14 hours 4mn and 4sec:

The most striking memory: 'The start with the hordes of boats around us and Cape Fréhel with the crowds swarming along the cliff edge to bid you farewell and wish you well. At the start, you think you know the people who call out to you on the boats accompanying you and then you realise that no, they are there for us all and for the magic of the race. At that point you realise how lucky you are to be there and you try to take in lots of images as you’re powering along so that you capture the special atmosphere.'

Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'I was expecting a hard race and a mighty battle; I’d readied myself for it. However, I hadn’t figured on the stress generated by these boats, the constant noise, the sound of the keel bearings whining and the hull slamming and bouncing off the waves. The sonic aggression wore me out; I wasn’t prepared for that.'

Louis Burton (Bureau Vallée) / Fifth in 14 days, one hour 33 mn and 44 sec:

The most striking memory: 'It was the first time I’d sailed a southern course in the tradewinds on an IMOCA. It’s really exhilarating to be able to sail these long surfs under spinnaker in the sunshine.'

Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'Totally: a meaty weather system at the start, surfs in the tradewinds and an almighty battle in IMOCA. On a personal level, I’m happy with my result. I thought I’d come sixth or seventh. This fifth place is perfect. This Rhum was essentially a great opportunity to complete a major solo race on this boat.'

Alessandro Di Benedetto (Team Plastique) / Sixth in 16 days 11 hours 4mn and 30 sec:

The most striking memory: 'Managing to effect repairs mid-ocean to the rudder attachment, which had pulled out, and completing the race without making a stopover. Resisting Tanguy’s comeback by keeping the masthead spinnaker aloft despite the faulty automatic pilots was also a major.'

Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'Yes, I was expecting a really intense race and that’s what happened. It was great. I was racing flat out, in harmony with the boat.'

Tanguy de Lamotte (Initiatives Cœur) / Seventh in 16 days 15 hours 28 mn and 13 sec:

The most striking memory: 'Exiting the Iroise Sea at 20 knots after managing to repair my rudder damage in Brest with my shore crew. Being able to set sail again was really comforting and it was the result of everyone’s teamwork.'
Did this Route du Rhum live up to your expectations?: 'I clearly wasn’t able to satisfy the sporting objectives I’d set myself. However, my aims for saving the children have been far exceeded, as 20 children will be able to receive new hearts. I also got a chance to discover my boat with a view to the Vendée Globe: the sensations are different, but I really enjoyed Ocean IMOCA