Please select your home edition
Edition
Vaikobi 2024 December

Roland Jourdain first Multi 50 in the Route du Rhum on Outremer We Explore

by Grand Large Yachting - Outremer 25 Nov 2022 22:18 PST
Outremer / We Explore - Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe © Robin Christol

Following an epic race across the Atlantic, Roland Jourdain, racing an Outremer multihull, beat off his rivals to cross first the 12th edition of the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe in the Rhum Multi Class. This is the third time that he has crossed the finish first in the legendary race following victories in 2006 and 2010.

Bilou, onboard 'We Explore', crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre on Friday 25th November 2022 at 15:06 (local time) having completed the race from Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre in 16 days, 5 hours, and 51 minutes after sailing 4,163 nautical miles at an average speed of 10.68 knots.

Upon arrival and inspections, Roland Jourdain was given a statutory time penalty of 90 minutes for a broken lead seal on his boat and so therefore falls to second place behind Loïc Escoffier (Lodigroup) who crossed just over 43 minutes after the Outremer 5X. "Loic also got a penalty a few days ago and so it would not have felt right for me to win with a broken seal. It takes nothing away and I am delighted with my race. I was not trying to win and could not have dreamt for a better race. I am pleased for Loic; he deserves with victory." adds a happy Jourdain.

"Today, we are very proud to celebrate with all our partners this superb finish in the Rhum Multi class, made possible by Bilou's talent. This really proves that a boat made of flax fibre works and validates the concept ", says Xavier Desmarest, co-founder of Groupe Grand Large Yachting and President of Outremer. He adds "The construction of this beautiful Outremer 5X We Explore with its fibres was a real technical feat made possible by the talents of all our teams. Seeing her on the starting line in Saint-Malo was already a victory. That the catamaran is in the lead is another! Thank you Bilou for having thrilled us throughout this Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe. Now it's time to continue the story of this boat as a platform for developing an "island of solutions and well done Bilou!"

For this 2022 edition, the Breton sailor was on board an 18-metre long 5X catamaran, made of flax fibre and built in partnership with the Outremer shipyard in La Grande-Motte (Hérault, France). This is the first time that a multihull of this size has incorporated so many biomaterials. An alternative to fibreglass, developed by Kaïros Environnement for over 10 years. By taking part in this event, Roland Jourdain wanted to "show that another way was possible in a race that has always been open to innovation", he declared before the start in Saint-Malo. The sailor from Brittany has succeeded in his aim and has now won the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe for the third time. A feat and great achievement he shares with the whole team of the French shipyard Outremer.

Quick Links:

Outremer: catamaran-outremer.com/actualites/loutremer-de-demain-sera-t-il-en-lin

Web Series - We,Explore: 5 episodes available

https://www.youtube.com/playlist

Related Articles

Registration open for SORC Sailor's Choice Race
This is the first race in the 2025-2026 Islands in the Stream Series The Notice of Race is posted and registration is now open for the 2025 SORC Sailor's Choice Race! This is the first race in the 2025-2026 Islands in the Stream Series. Posted today at 5:17 pm
Switch Class Captivates Foiling Week 2025
Dickinson and Schultheis Edge Out Narrow Victories The Switch Class brought the fireworks to Foiling Week 2025 — and it came down to the wire. After four days of sun, speed, and suspense on Lake Garda, the newest class on the foiling scene delivered a debut to remember. Posted today at 9:20 am
First-ever ORC North American champions crowned
Fox, Zammermoos and Teamwork win at Block Island Race Week 2025 After completing the full schedule of races - 9 in the ORC 1 class and 10 in the ORC 2 and 3 classes - three new ORC North American Champion teams have been crowned on Friday at the Storm Trysail Club's 31st biennial Block Island Race Week. Posted today at 6:11 am
Vaikobi Launches V-DRY-X
The New Standard in Grand Prix Sailing Dry Gear Vaikobi, a global leader in high-performance ocean sports apparel, is proud to unveil V-DRY-X: a breakthrough range of sailing dry gear engineered for Grand Prix racing and coastal yachting. Posted on 27 Jun
Rolex Fastnet Race at 100 – the making of a giant
At present 469 yachts have entered this special edition - a far cry from its humble origins in 1925 One month remains until the 26 July start of the Rolex Fastnet Race, this year celebrating both its centenary as well as that of the club it spawned: the Royal Ocean Racing Club. Posted on 27 Jun
America's Cup: Confidential settlement reached
A confidential settlement reached over five year Cup legal claims. New Zealand website, Newsroom has obtained the confidential settlement reached between the America's Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand and their formerly contracted Event Managers, Mayo & Calder, and others associated with the company. Posted on 27 Jun
Crew dynamics will be decisive in Course des Caps
Just two days to go before the start of the first race of the eagerly-awaited 2025 IMOCA season With just two days to go before the start of the first race of the eagerly-awaited 2025 IMOCA season, all eyes are on Boulogne-Sur-Mer as 11 crews prepare to race around the British Isles in the Course des Caps-Boulogne sur Mer-Banque Populaire du Nord. Posted on 27 Jun
2025 Marion to Bermuda Race concludes
Celebrating the remarkable seamanship and sportsmanship of every team After days of strategic sailing, shifting winds, and open-ocean challenges, the results are in—and we're proud to celebrate the remarkable seamanship and sportsmanship of every team that took part. Posted on 27 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma day 2
Linnea Aurora turns the tables as it gets tight at the top A bigger and better breeze welcomed the racing fleet on the second day of the Superyacht Cup Palma 2025, resulting in full-tilt sailing around the 23nm five-leg racecourse. Posted on 27 Jun
CYCS 2025 Tiedemann Classics Regatta preview
Bringing together some of the most beautiful yachts on the water The Classic Yacht Owners Association's annual Classic Yacht Challenge Series (CYCS) kicks off a summer of stunning northeastern sailing with the 2025 Tiedemann Classics Regatta this weekend. Posted on 27 Jun
Allen Dynamic 40 FooterZhik 2024 DecemberExposure Marine