Yoann Richomme (Veedol-AIC) was taking part in his first Route du Rhum, but nevertheless, the skipper in the Class40 class was one of the big favourites in the race. A status fully assumed, as he indicated before his departure from Saint-Malo on 4 November 2018: "I cannot hide it: I set up this project to win."
Thus, after 16 days, 03 hours, 22 minutes and 44 seconds he crossed the finish line at Pointe-à-Pitre on Tuesday 20 November at 17 hours 22 minutes French time (12 hours and 22 minutes in Guadeloupe). And yet, many of them in the Class40 have taken a break from the race to escape the harsh weather and conditions. But not Yoann...
Alexis Courcoux #RDR2018
After passing Cape Fréhel in 8th position, giving Antoine Carpentier the honour of leaving the Bay of Saint-Malo in the lead, he took the lead of the fleet after just over 24 hours thanks to a Western option that allowed him to be the first to hit a NW'ly rotation before attacking a first front that will be fatal to some of his competitors (Louis Duc and Nicolas Troussel). " There were 35 knots established, gusts to 45, I was in degressive mode, two reefs staysail, it hit a lot with a cross seas in all directions, it was a real minefield, we always had the impression to break the boat" he will tell us at the end of this first front. He will nevertheless emerge first from the chaos ahead of Phil Sharp, Aymeric Chappellier and Luke Berry.
With a 100 mile lead over his two pursuers, he will tackle the Tête à l'Anglais on Tuesday at 1:45 am (local time) and will complete the round Guadeloupe in just over 10 hours. With this race time of 16 days, 03 hours, 22 minutes and 44 seconds he also set himself the new race record, beating defending champion Alex Pella by just over 14 hours
Alexis Courcoux #RDR2018
He thus adds a new title to his list of Figaro victories - winner of the Solitaire du Figaro 2016 - and passed through the Skipper Macif course in Figaro - like Paul Meilhat winner of this Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe in IMOCA and François Gabart, second in ULTIMATE
What happens next? The interested party, who has already tried the IMOCA (Transat Jacques-Vabre 2017 with Pierre Lacaze), dreams of the Vendée Globe, no doubt that his capital performance between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre will have caught the eye of potential partners..
