Route du Rhum Day 3: Tactical Decisions and Weather Transitions Ahead

Ultim trimarans face weather transitions and technical setbacks

The high-speed sprint of the Route du Rhum has shifted from a contest of pure velocity to a complex game of maritime chess. As the ocean giants of the Ultim class move southwesterly toward Guadeloupe, the sailors are no longer just fighting the clock; they are fighting unpredictable weather models and mechanical failures. According to reports from Route du Rhum, the initial phase of headlong speed is giving way to a period defined by shifting winds and difficult tactical decisions.

The stakes for these solo racers are immense, involving not just the pursuit of a trophy but the preservation of multimillion-dollar vessels in increasingly unstable sea states. While some skippers are finding rhythm in new breezes, others are seeing their races stalled by equipment damage or the need for emergency technical rendezvous.

Armel Le Cléac’h holds lead despite 65-mile gap

Armel Le Cléac’h is maintaining his position at the front of the Ultim fleet, even as Tom Laperche of SVR Lazartigue sets a blistering pace. As reported by Sail-World, Le Cléac’h sits just over 65 miles behind his younger rival this afternoon. However, the veteran skipper remains unconcerned by the deficit.

The conditions are becoming increasingly turbulent. Le Cléac’h noted that wind speeds have reached between 30 and 35 knots, accompanied by a sea state described as “a bit all over the place.” In the specialized world of Ultim trimarans, where massive hulls slice through heavy swells, a gap of 30 to 50 miles can be erased with startling speed once the right wind profile is found.

Instagram

“One thing is certain: it won’t be a straight line to Guadeloupe. There are still transitions to navigate, shifting winds, and potentially moments where we’ll have to slow down significantly. Up until now, it’s mostly been about pure speed—what lies ahead is far less certain.”

The pursuit remains tight. Thomas Coville, sailing Sodebo Ultim 3, trails in third by approximately 150 miles. Meanwhile, Louis Burton is making significant progress on his first Ultim race. Sailing the 2015-launched Armand Thiery—the same vessel where Francois Gabart set a solo mark of 42 days in 2017—Burton is currently only about forty miles behind the leaders.

Technical damage forces pauses in the race

The relentless pace of the race has exacted a physical toll on the boats. The competitive momentum has been interrupted for several key sailors due to structural and mechanical issues.

Charles Caudrelier: The course record holder is seeing his race progress slowed on the new Gitana 18 following reports of foil damage this morning.
Anthony Marchand: After suffering damage to his main rudder, Marchand is positioned about 40 miles offshore of Galway and is expected to rendezvous with a technical team in western Ireland.
Pierre Quiroga: The skipper of Wewise reported a mistake in sail configuration that resulted in his gennaker going overboard, forcing him to ease off the throttle to recover.

IMOCA leaders weigh northern versus southern routes

In the IMOCA class, the race has entered a critical decision-making phase. Having negotiated a wide ridge of light winds, the leaders are now facing a fork in the road: stay in the current northerly wind corridor or head west to find more reliable weather.

Corentin Horeau, sailing MACSF, has held the lead since this morning by choosing a straight course. This contrasts with Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prevoyance) and Ambrogio Beccaria (Allagrande Mapei), who both elected to make a 30-mile hitch to the north to avoid being caught too far south. Goodchild reported that the winds coming out of Ireland have been “very, very shifty,” making sail adjustments a constant struggle.

The tactical divide is creating a potential “rich get richer” scenario. British IMOCA skipper Will Harris observed that the current positioning is vital; those in the top five who are already in the new breeze are likely to extend their leads, while those trailing may find it increasingly difficult to catch up. A 10-to-20-mile gap could rapidly balloon into a 50-to-60-mile separation depending on how these weather transitions play out.

Class 40 and Figaro tactical battles

The tactical intensity is not limited to the largest boats. In the Ocean Fifty class, the racing has been described by Pierre Quiroga as “Figaro mode,” characterized by extremely tight, tactical sailing. Basile Bourgnon (Edendred) has successfully broken into the new northerly breeze, gaining seven knots of speed over second-placed Baptiste Hulin (Viablis Oceans).

Route du Rhum: Ultim, Imoca, Class 40… we explain the race

In the Class 40 category, Luca Rosetti is holding a narrow lead on Macaferri Futura. While his northerly route appears strong, he is facing significant uncertainty regarding a low-pressure system approaching the Azores. Rosetti is attempting to balance aggressive racing with boat preservation, noting that the divergence in weather models—specifically between GFS and European models—makes his optimal strategy unclear.

Route du Rhum Day 3: Tactical Decisions and Weather Transitions Ahead — Photo: sail-world.com

The Vintage fleets have also seen significant drama. The Vintage Multi fleet has lost its leader, Francis Joyon, who was rescued onto a ship last night after his vessel capsized yesterday afternoon. Following this incident, Damien Seguin (Arkea Handicap International) now leads Eric Peron (French Touch – Oceania Hotels) by 11 miles in the remaining ORMA trimaran competition.

As the fleet moves toward the Atlantic, the transition from pure speed to strategic survival is complete. The winners will likely be those who can best interpret the shifting weather models and manage the inevitable mechanical stresses of the open ocean.