Route du Rhum 2026: The Personal Battles Behind the World's Biggest Solo Race

Two remarkable sailors. Two ambitious campaigns. One of the biggest challenges in offshore racing. The Route du Rhum is no ordinary race. Every four years, the French port of St Malo becomes the centre of the offshore sailing world as huge crowds gather to watch a fleet of solo skippers prepare to race 3,500 miles across the Atlantic to Guadeloupe. But behind the spectacle are the individual stories of the sailors who have spent years working towards this moment. In the first of our PlanetSail Route du Rhum 2026 previews, we catch up with Alexia Barrier and Francesca Clapcich, two impressive offshore racers whose determination, experience and ambition reveal just what it takes to mount a campaign for this legendary event. How have their campaigns developed? What have been the biggest challenges along the way? And how do they see the race ahead? We hear their stories and discover what drives them to take on one of the most demanding races in the sport. Over the coming days we'll be looking at the fleets, the favourites, the technology and the personalities before following the race across the Atlantic in the 2026 Route du Rhumb. CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 00:32 Why the Route du Rhum is such a big deal 02:27 Francesca Clapcich – A remarkable season 05:08 Building momentum towards the Route du Rhum 07:01 The challenge of racing solo across the Atlantic 10:17 Alexia Barrier – From round-the-world record to the Rhum 13:03 Getting to grips with a giant Ultim 16:03 The challenges of competing in the Ultim fleet 18:45 Childhood dreams and future ambitions