Route du Rhum 2026: Calm Start, Early Drama and a Tricky Atlantic

Sunshine, flat seas and a gentle following breeze. The Route du Rhum 2026 couldn't have started in more benign conditions. But it didn’t last long. For the fleet of 115 boats in six classes the 6km start line saw a single mass start. And as the gun was fired the world's biggest single-handed transatlantic race was underway off Saint-Malo in spectacular style. But within hours, the first setbacks were beginning to emerge. A collision, a dismasting, serious technical problems and a dramatic rescue would all feature in the opening 48 hours. Meanwhile, the racing was already heating up. The giant Ultim trimarans were stretching their legs, the IMOCA fleet was developing into a fascinating contest and the Class40s were proving just how closely matched they could be. And then there was the weather. With an unusually complicated Atlantic pattern and the traditional route to Guadeloupe looking far from straightforward, this could be a very different Route du Rhum. CHAPTERS 00:00 – Route du Rhum 2026: A Calm Before the Storm 01:12 – 115 Boats, One Start, and Early Drama 02:40 – The Race Takes a Dramatic Turn 03:02 – Violette Dorange and Romain Pilliard Collide 05:19 – Class40 Drama and the Ultim Leaders 07:06 – Foil Damage Threatens Anthony Marchand’s Race 08:08 – High-Speed Racing and Fierce Competition 09:45 – Rescues, Retirements and an Uncertain Atlantic