Algo is partnering with Sébastien Desquesses, who will be participating in the 11th edition of the Route du Rhum. Beyond the values represented by this race, the Route du Rhum is, above all, an event that stands out for its powerful history.
Until the start of the race on November 4, stay connected with Algo through a series of articles dedicated to the Route du Rhum.
In this first article, discover the history of the Route du Rhum
What is the Route du Rhum?
In 1976, Michel Etevenon conceived the idea of a race organized every four years, starting in Saint-Malo and going all the way to Pointe-à-Pitre. The course covers a distance of over 5,600 kilometers.
Taking place solo, the Route du Rhum is a race which presents strong values of courage and self-improvement.
Currently, the Route du Rhum record is held by Loick Peyron since the last edition, in 7 days and 15 hours.
A unique moment where amateurs and professionals can compete.
2018 will be the 11th edition. And of course, 40 years of existence means a lot to tell!
The first edition of the Route du Rhum took place in 1978, and remember that Sebastien Desquesses was only 6 years old at the time!
The first edition will therefore count 38 participants and will see Mike Birsh win after 23 days of racing. The death of Alain Colas will also be one of the major events of this first edition and will be at the origin of Alain Chamfort's title "Manureva".
The number of participants grew steadily, and no fewer than 52 participants competed in the second edition of the Route du Rhum in 1982. Victory went to Marc Pajot, who beat his runner-up, Bruno Peyron, by just a few hours.
1986 saw the victory of Philippe Poupon who dedicated this victory to his friend Loic Caradec, who died during this 3rd edition.
The Route du Rhum is full of surprises and constant innovation!
The first woman to win in the history of the competition was Florence Arthaud, who beat the 31 participants in the race in 1990.
It should be noted that several skippers saw their participation invalidated during the 1990 edition, notably Bruno Peyron and Francis Joyon.
Florence Arthaud will not participate in the 5th edition of the race in 1994, however this year marks a major innovation with two classifications: one for monohulls and one for multihulls.
Moreover, in the general classification the battle between the trimarans and the monohulls is raging since behind the first two are two monohulls!
Laurent Bourgnon also made history by winning the race two editions in a row.
The 20th anniversary of the Route du Rhum offered new surprises, a fierce battle saw Laurent Bourgnon achieve a historic double where the first 4 fought until the end to cross the finish line a few hours apart.
Also worth noting is the victory of a young 22-year-old Englishwoman in a 50-foot monohull; Ellen MacArthur, who would repeat the feat 4 years later in an Imoca monohull.
The 2002 edition will be recognized as the most difficult, with 58 participants but only 3 boats out of 18 entered will see the finish in the 60-foot multihull class.
Partly due to very difficult weather conditions, this high number of abandonments is a record in the history of the Route du Rhum.
The 2006 edition will be one of record breaking, suspenseful and innovative events.
Of the 74 participants who will set off in this edition, it is Laurent Lemonchois who won by smashing the record then held by Laurent Bourgnon by more than 4 days. 2006 will also see the appearance of the 40 class monohulls for the first time.
Franck Cammas won in 2010 and in turn entered the legend of the Route du Rhum, even if he did not beat the record set during the previous edition by Lionel Lemonchois.
91 skippers will set off at the start of the 10th Route du Rhum. After 6 participations and 3 withdrawals (1990, 1994 and 2002), the big winner of the event will be Loick Peyron, setting a new record with a finish in 7 days and 15 hours.
A record all the more extraordinary since he will be a last-minute participant!
2018, the year of Sebastien Desquesses?
Algo strongly believes in the participation of Sebastien Desquesses , our star skipper for this edition.
On board his Class 40, we are ready to write the history of the Route du Rhum with him.
Experience the Route du Rhum with Algo, partner of Sebastien Desquesses.
