For the Record

 

Charles Caudrelier streaks, foil borne, across the Atlantic, aboard the ULTIM 'Edmond de Rothschild' (also known as 'Gitana 17).' Setting a new course record of six days, nineteen hours and forty seven minutes.

Throughout October 2022 a mighty fleet had assembled, before the city walls, in the Breton corsair stronghold of St Malo. For the 'Route du Rhum Destination Guadeloupe.' A solo dash, from one side of the ocean to the other, in winter. Multis and monos. Old and new. One hundred and thirty eight craft. Intent on a win.

Trimarans have dominated, since the very first edition, in 1978. Then, the pioneering Mike Birch made history aboard his radical, sunburst yellow, twelve metre tri, 'Olympus Photo.' Beating Michel Malinovsky's, twenty metre mono, 'Kriter V,' to down the victor's rum punch. Dawn herald to the day of multihull offshore speed record supremacy.

First mono home, this year, was Thomas Ruyant's IMOCA 60, 'Linked Out.' Five full days behind Caudrelier. Ruyant had inexorably reeled in arch rival Charlie Dalin, aboard Apivia, who took an early lead. Only to lose it amid the labyrinthine calms and shifts of the Doldrums. Dalin and Ruyant, and their respective craft, both salt-seasoned veterans of the last Vendee Globe race.

Jeremie Beyou’s IMOCA ‘Charal 2,’ was not far behind. Freshly launched, and yet to be fully worked up, the boat is the brainchild of Sam Manuard's fertile imagination. Sporting a moderate interpretation of his trademark scow bow, combined with a revolutionary rudder design. The blades are heavily splayed, to promote level flight. Circumventing the IMOCA class ban on the use of rudder 'T' foils. Thinking which is unique (for now) within the fleet (as was Manuard’s scow bow, for ‘L’Ocitaine en Provence,’ in the last Vendée Globe).

First home, of the Class 40's, was Yoann Richomme. Who played the proverbial cat, to many a mid fleet IMOCA’s pigeon. Aboard his small(er) and simple(r) craft. (No foils, daggerboards, rotating masts or deck spreaders; carbon sail count capped to two). 

He follows in the giant slaying, foot steps of Mike Birch.  The free thinking ocean spirit who ushered in a high speed era of ,wave skimming, offshore innovation. Ripping up the rule book, of received nautical wisdom. Born 1.11.1931, died 26.10.2022.

Picture Credits

ULTIM Edmond de Rothschild courtesy of Agence France-Presse (AFP)

ULTIMs in St Malo courtesy of Eloi Stichelbaut

Mike Birch aboard Olympus Photo courtesy of Christian Fevrier

Thomas Ruyant aboard Linked Out courtesy of  Pierre Bouras

Sam Manuard's creative Charal design courtesy of  Elodie Allaire

Yoann Richomme romps to Class 40 victory courtesy of  Vincent Olivaud

Mike Birch helms Fujifilm, in 1999, courtesy of Nicholas le Corre Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images