01 November 2026
Saint Malo
The alarm sounds at 04:45 in Guernsey, but rather than sailing, this time all I needed to do, along with fellow yacht crew, family and 500 others from Guernsey was board Brittany Ferries Voyager and watch the sunrise over Sark. Today’s destination was St Malo, for a day trip to catch the start of the of the solo transatlantic race, Route Du Rum. Held every 4 years, this race has become a cultural phenomenon with a estimated 1.5 million people attending the race village in Saint Malo in the two weeks prior to the race start and millions more following the race and the solo skippers race from just north of St Malo to Guadeloupe, a course of 3,542 miles.
As the Voyager slowed to negotiate it’s way into Saint Malo, we were lucky enough to be surrounded by the last of the 115 strong fleet leaving Saint Malo basin via the lock. The most impressive of which were the giant 100ft ULTIM trimarans, which only fit in locks with a few feet to spare. Recently launched Gitana 18, skippered by Charles Caudrelier would be on her maiden race, and slipped across our stern, with her sleek aeronautical form looking even more futuristic than the previous generation ULTIMS, such as around the world record holder Sodebo Ultim 3.
With an unusual north-easterly breeze of 10-15 knots, a high pressure system sat over the UK was spoiling us with uncharacteristic clear blue skies in November. We had just a a few hours to explore the race village, and scout out the best vantage points from the walled city before the race was due to start.
The race village was vast, and although all the competitors had left the dock, it was still heaving with visitors. Large screens were broadcasting footage from the fleet as they geared up for the start, and we found ourselves a good position to view the start inside the beer tent, with a special edition, tropical Route du Rhum beers in hand. The atmosphere built as the clock counted down and a cheer erupted as the race began at 13:02. As the fleet headed west we walked the walls around the city, watching the ULTIMs disappear over the horizon and a line of white spinnakers flown from the Class 40s tail behind them.
An excursion to witness the start of the greatest solo transatlantic race.