The largest offshore racing trimarans: up to 32 m long and 23 m wide.
On the Route du Rhum, the six fleets face very different conditions: storms, heavy seas, strong winds and lulls. In the Ultim class, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) wins in 6 d 13 h 27 min 40 s, a new record, ahead of Thomas Coville at 15 h 12 min and Louis Burton at 17 h 1 min. In the IMOCA class, Sébastien Simon sits 8th and is chasing Maxime Sorel's 6th place.
Tom Laperche crossed the line in Pointe-à-Pitre in 6 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds on SVR-Lazartigue, on Sunday 8 November at 03:31 Paris time. He led from Cap Fréhel onward and never gave up the lead. The time beats Charles Caudrelier's record by more than six hours.
A deep low is hitting the whole Route du Rhum fleet in unusual weather, bringing capsizes and damage. Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) leads the Ultims, expected to finish overnight Saturday to Sunday. In the IMOCAs, Horeau is over 270 miles ahead of Herrmann.
Four days after the start, depressions and missing trade winds are slowing the Route du Rhum. Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) leads the Ultims, under two days from Guadeloupe, with Guirec Soudée fourth. Guillaume Pirouelle (Sogestran - Seafrigo) leads the Class40s and Corentin Horeau (MACSF) the IMOCAs, where Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) is second, 145 miles back.
