Route du Rhum: Sailor Francis Joyon rescued by freighter during transatlantic regatta

Joyon, who won the regatta in 2018, should be brought ashore in Ireland. The skipper of the Vintage Multi class is doing well. Violette Dorange and Romain Pilliard had previously collided at the transatlantic regatta. Both remained uninjured and went to the emergency port in Roscoff, Brittany.

The Route du Rhum is a single-handed regatta across the Atlantic from Saint-Malo in Brittany to Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. For a long time, the route was a trade route along which rum was also shipped. Rum producers founded the competition and it has taken place every four years since 1978. In addition to the professionals, numerous amateurs also take part.

Extreme sailor Herrmann has had no problems so far

On Sunday, 115 sailors in six classes set off on the 3,542 nautical mile (6,560 kilometer) journey off the French coast. Among the participants is the German sailing star Boris Herrmann on his new racing yacht “Malizia 4”. The Italian-American Francesca Clapcich is sailing on his old yacht “Malizia 3”. One of the favorites is the Brit Sam Goodchild on the “Macif”. The late Charlie Dalin won the Vendée Globe 2025 on the “Macif”.

Herrmann has so far made his way towards Pointe-à-Pitre on the Caribbean island of Guadeloupe without any major incidents and was ranked sixth out of 22 participants in the Imoca class on Tuesday morning. The fastest boats should reach their destination in less than a week. Imoca-class boats could complete the distance in ten to twelve days.