The 115 solo sailors left the mainland on Sunday to start the 13th edition of La Route du Rhum, in an atmosphere charged with emotion.
In the early morning of Sunday, November 1, 2026, the quays of Saint-Malo watched the silhouettes of the 115 solo sailors head off to challenge the Atlantic. Before joining the starting line offshore, the skippers lived through their final moments on dry land, a time imbued with particular intensity.
Thomas Coville, at the helm of Sodebo, was spotted with red-rimmed eyes, letting the emotion show that inhabited the champion before embarking on this new crossing. Beside him, young Basile Bourgnon, skipper of Edenred, chose to draw courage from his mother's arms, reminding us that behind the top-level athlete always lies a human being seeking comfort before the unknown.
These images, broadcast on video from the Malouin harbor, captured the very essence of this unique maritime rendezvous. La Route du Rhum, now in its 13th edition, is not merely a race: it is a ritual, a temporary separation from the known world. Each skipper carries within them a mix of excitement and apprehension, visible in those prolonged embraces and those final exchanged glances.
The cannon shot rang out at 1:02 PM, releasing the competitors toward their destination. But before cutting through the waves, all took the time to greet their loved ones, as if to etch in their memory the strength needed to face the weeks of solitude at sea. Saint-Malo, guardian of sailors, once again played host to these poignant farewells that make this race far more than a simple competition.
Thomas Coville, at the helm of Sodebo, was spotted with red-rimmed eyes, letting the emotion show that inhabited the champion before embarking on this new crossing. Beside him, young Basile Bourgnon, skipper of Edenred, chose to draw courage from his mother's arms, reminding us that behind the top-level athlete always lies a human being seeking comfort before the unknown.
These images, broadcast on video from the Malouin harbor, captured the very essence of this unique maritime rendezvous. La Route du Rhum, now in its 13th edition, is not merely a race: it is a ritual, a temporary separation from the known world. Each skipper carries within them a mix of excitement and apprehension, visible in those prolonged embraces and those final exchanged glances.
The cannon shot rang out at 1:02 PM, releasing the competitors toward their destination. But before cutting through the waves, all took the time to greet their loved ones, as if to etch in their memory the strength needed to face the weeks of solitude at sea. Saint-Malo, guardian of sailors, once again played host to these poignant farewells that make this race far more than a simple competition.
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Source: Ouest-France