The latest news from the Route du Rhum 2026, newest first, followed by the essential facts about the race. Each item gives its source.
Updated on October 31, 2026
This information is taken from third-party sources, listed with each item, and reworded. It may change: refer to the official race website (routedurhum.com) for reference information.
Latest news
France 3 report: "An ocean of emotions"
The 19/20 news bulletin of France 3 Bretagne ran a report on the Route du Rhum titled "Un océan d'émotions". It shows the Ultim Armand Thiery alongside the quay and footage aboard the vintage multihull Groupe GCA, where the "boat captain" Geoffroy Mataczynski is interviewed, according to the on-screen captions. France 3 Bretagne's coverage of the race can be found on its website.
Weather bulletin of 30 October: an unusual anticyclone over the Channel
The Météo Consult bulletin of Friday 30 October, posted on the race website, says a large anticyclone centred over northern Germany is shaping the weather in the English Channel, a set-up described as unusual for the time of year. Meteorologist Cyrille Duchesne is due to explain how conditions will evolve for Sunday's start in Saint-Malo.
The eight Ultims leave the start village this Friday, 30 October, through the lock, with three passages scheduled at 6:51 pm, 7:51 pm and 8:51 pm. The exit is streamed live on YouTube at about 7 pm. The IMOCAs follow on Saturday, 31 October, from 10:08 am according to the city timetable.
As not all boats can pass the lock on a single tide, exits are staggered: Ultims on Friday; Ocean Fifty, Vintage Multi, Vintage Mono and IMOCA on Saturday; Class40 on Sunday morning. Ultims and IMOCAs wait at anchor near Dinard, the Ocean Fifty in the Bas-Sablons port. Each skipper must be alone on board four minutes before the start.
France 3 and YouTube broadcast the start live on Sunday, 1 November from 12:30 pm, with the starting gun at 1:02 pm. A special edition of the programme Littoral is planned on Saturday, 31 October at 4:30 pm on ICI Bretagne TV, and "La quotidienne" airs daily at 6 pm on YouTube from Monday, 2 November.
In its forecasts of 26 and 27 October, Meteo Consult predicted a north-easterly wind of roughly 10 to 30 km/h and a slight sea with 50 to 80 cm waves for Sunday. The reliability of this trend was still moderate six days before the start: the forecast may still change.
Entrants: 115 boats according to the organisation (116 according to Filovent; 117 announced originally, with possible last-minute wildcards), in six classes: Ultim, IMOCA, Ocean Fifty, Class40, Vintage Multi and Vintage Mono.
Weather routing: banned for monohulls (IMOCA, Class40, Vintage Mono) and allowed for multihulls according to the organisation; Filovent says it is reserved for the Ultims. Check the notice of race for the exact rule.
Start village: Vauban and Duguay-Trouin basins and Esplanade Saint-Vincent, free admission, from 20 October to 1 November according to the original schedule (opening was postponed because of the weather).