Route du Rhum: storm Austen violently shakes the boats and the village in Saint-Malo

It had been announced for several days by forecasters, notably from Météo Consult, and it has been faithful to the appointment. Storm Austen has hit the north-west of France since Friday morning and the Saint-Malo basins have not escaped the violence of its gusts reaching speeds of more than 150 km/h. The Route du Rhum boats, arriving one after the other before the big departure scheduled for Sunday, November 1, are thus seriously shaken by the breeze.

Even if all precautions were taken upstream in terms of securing and mooring the boats, the Imoca monohulls, for example, changed orientation in relation to the quay and the Ultim SVR Lazartigue team loaded on board 1000 kilos of water to weigh down the trimaran, the sailors and their team are crossing their fingers and clenching their buttocks, according to the established expressions, while waiting for the end of the weather phenomenon.

The organizers, in agreement with the authorities, this Friday also closed access to the departure village and the pontoons, very popular with the thousands of visitors expected until the departure in nine days. A much-needed closure in view of the tweets posted on A “meteorological cartridge” worthy of the oceans of the great south, which notably affected the roof of the Palais du Grand Large, partly torn off and forcing people to remain confined inside.

Four years ago, the start of the Route du Rhum was postponed due to a storm passing through the Bay of Biscay. Let's hope that after this "Austen", the damage will not be too great in Saint-Malo on the "Rhum" boats, and of course elsewhere, then that the weather calms down and allows a more peaceful departure for the 115 departing sailors.