Two days before the start, Armel Le Cléac'h believes the northern trajectory is emerging as the shortest option for the Ultims heading to Guadeloupe.
On Sunday, November 1, 2026, at 1:02 PM, the start of the Route du Rhum will be given from Saint-Malo. Among the competitors in the Ultim class, Armel Le Cléac'h is preparing to set sail for the fifth time in his career. At 49 years old, the Banque Populaire skipper is among the most serious contenders for the final victory, having been chasing success in this transatlantic race since 2006.
Two days before the deadline, the Breton sailor provided an analysis of the expected weather conditions. According to him, the Ultims should logically take the northern route to reach Pointe-à-Pitre. This trajectory, although more direct, is not always the most obvious due to the depressive weather systems and the tactical choices they impose. But for Le Cléac'h, it presents a decisive advantage: the distance to cover is reduced.
This preference for the northern route is based on a careful reading of weather files and on the experience accumulated during his previous participations. The skipper recalls that the shortest route is not systematically the fastest, but that in the current configuration, it seems the most rational. The crews will nevertheless need to remain attentive to weather developments, as traps remain numerous on this legendary course.
For Armel Le Cléac'h, the stakes are twofold: confirming his status as a favorite and finally inscribing his name in the event's record book. The fifth attempt could be the right one, provided the weather cooperates and the strategic choices prove rewarding. Observers are now waiting to see if the northern route will keep all its promises until the Caribbean.
Two days before the deadline, the Breton sailor provided an analysis of the expected weather conditions. According to him, the Ultims should logically take the northern route to reach Pointe-à-Pitre. This trajectory, although more direct, is not always the most obvious due to the depressive weather systems and the tactical choices they impose. But for Le Cléac'h, it presents a decisive advantage: the distance to cover is reduced.
This preference for the northern route is based on a careful reading of weather files and on the experience accumulated during his previous participations. The skipper recalls that the shortest route is not systematically the fastest, but that in the current configuration, it seems the most rational. The crews will nevertheless need to remain attentive to weather developments, as traps remain numerous on this legendary course.
For Armel Le Cléac'h, the stakes are twofold: confirming his status as a favorite and finally inscribing his name in the event's record book. The fifth attempt could be the right one, provided the weather cooperates and the strategic choices prove rewarding. Observers are now waiting to see if the northern route will keep all its promises until the Caribbean.
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Source: Ouest-France