The Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe began on November 1 with 115 solo sailors setting out from near Saint-Malo. A collision later that afternoon forced two competitors to divert to Roscoff, interrupting their race.
The fleet started at 1:02 p.m. local time and is bound for Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe. The French Sailing Federation confirmed the number of participants and the departure details in information published ahead of the start. The race is held every four years. French Sailing Federation
Two boats diverted after collision
At about 3:15 p.m., the IMOCA yacht Initiatives-Cœur, sailed by Violette Dorange, collided near Bréhat with the multihull Use It Again, sailed by Romain Pilliard. Both sailors were reported unharmed and took their boats to Roscoff.
Reported damage included the starboard foil on Dorange’s yacht and a float on Pilliard’s multihull. The boats stopped to deal with the damage; the reports did not establish whether either sailor would return to the race. YACHT
The Route du Rhum is a solo transatlantic contest for professional and amateur sailors. This edition’s course ends in Pointe-à-Pitre, on the island of Guadeloupe.
Dana Mcgee