Route du Rhum : an event not to be missed in Guadeloupe !

Official results of the Route du Rhum 2022

After 6 days and 19:47 and 25 seconds of crossing, the first place in the Route du Rhum 2022 edition goes to Charles Caudrelier! A first participation for the 48 years old Frenchman, and which will remain in the history! A deserved victory, especially since he pulverizes the record of the crossing of 7 days 14 hours and 21 minutes set by Francis Joyon in 2018.

Find the official ranking of the Route du Rhum 2022 :

1st place - Charles Caudrelier arrived on 16/11/2022 at 05:02, for a race time of 6 days 19 h 47' 5'' [Record] 2nd place - François Gabart arrived on 16/11/22 at 08:18 for a race time of 6 d 23 h 3' 15 3rd place - Thomas Coville arrived on 16/11/22 at 15:52 for a race time of 7 d 6 h 37' 25

4. Francis Joyon (Idec Sport/Ultime): 8 d 13 h 41' 40''

5. Yves Le Blevec (Actual/Ultime): 8 d 15 h 49' 1''

6. Arthur Le Vaillant (Mieux/Ultime): 10 d 1 h 26' 51''.

7. Erwan Le Roux (Koesio/Ocean Fifty): 10 d 21 h 35' 52''

8. Quentin Vlamynck (Arkema/Ocean Fifty): 10 d 21 h 54' 5''

9. Armel Le Cléac'h (Banque Populaire XI/Ultime): 10 d 22 h 49' 24

10. Sébastien Rogues (Primonial/Ocean Fifty): 11 d 3 h 37' 37''

11. Thomas Ruyant (LinkedOut/Imoca): 11 d 17 h 36' 25

12. Éric Péron (Komilfo/Ocean Fifty): 11 d 19 h 21' 30''.

13. Charlie Dalin (Apivia/Imoca): 11 d 19 h 38' 11''.

14. Jérémy Beyou (Charal/Imoca) : 11 d 21 h 0'55

15. Kevin Escoffier (Holcim-PRB/Imoca) : 11 d 23 h 31' 14

16. Armel Tripon (Les P'tits Doudous/Ocean Fifty): 12 d 01 h 38' 18''.

17. Paul Meilhat (Biotherm) : 12 d 10 h 18' 33''

18. Justine Mettraux (Teamwork.net) : 12 d 13 h 26' 35''.

19. Benjamin Dutreux (Guyot Environnement - Water Family) : 12 d 23 h 51' 24''

20. Isabelle Joschke (MACSF) : 13 d 2 h 26' 54"

Europcar Guadeloupe is proud to have been able to meet all your requests for car rental so that you can all participate in this incredible event. See you in 2026 for the next edition of the Route du Rhum ! The Route du Rhum 2022 is unfortunately marked by a drama. An accident at sea occurred during the arrival of the winner Charles Caudrelier, Wednesday in Guadeloupe. This accident caused the death of two people, including François Naveilhan from Nice. He was with eleven other passengers on a motor boat that, in a strong swell, capsized several meters from the finish line. November 6, 2022 marked the start of a great Atlantic crossing for over 130 solo sailors. The Route du Rhum links Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre, capital of the butterfly island, every 4 years since 1978. From Brittany to the Caribbean, the Route du Rhum has become a legend that brings together the greatest names in sailing, and which it is possible to take part in when visiting Guadeloupe.

Route du Rhum : but what is its history ?

Originally, the Route du Rhum: Destination Guadeloupe was designed to put rum and its culture back on the international scene. At its initiative, we find indeed the general secretary of the Union of the producers of rum of the Antilles, Bernard Hass. It was Florent de Kersauson who suggested the creation of a sailing race, and Michel Etevenon who officially announced its establishment.

And what better destination to choose than Guadeloupe, so famous for its rum? Since 2015, the island has indeed benefited from a PGI (Protected Geographical Indication) for some of its rums, which nonetheless leaves distilleries free to develop their own style. The rums of Guadeloupe are thus a product as typical as varied that it is particularly pleasant to discover in the exceptional atmosphere that represents the arrival of the skippers in Pointe-à-Pitre.

The Route du Rhum takes place every four years. If you are wondering when the next Route du Rhum is, just add 4 to the 2022 edition! It differs from the famous English transatlantic race by its desire for freedom. Indeed, the size of the participating boats is not limited. It quickly gains in character by its difficulty, its dramas and the famous names associated with it. After the death of Loïc Caradec in 1986, Florence Arthaud became the first woman to win the race. Mike Birch, Laurent Bourgnon, Ellen McArthur, Michel Desjoyeaux, Franck Camas... So many names that have marked the history of the Route du Rhum.

The Route du Rhum 2022 marks the 12th edition of this legendary race. It always takes place in autumn and is a strong event to determine when to leave for Guadeloupe to attend the arrival of the skippers, which is an exceptional moment gathering thousands of people.

The Route du Rhum, an intense transatlantic race

Like its previous editions, the Route du Rhum 2022 was very intense. Carried out solo, the race imposed a total commitment from the skippers, and already had two deaths, Alain Colas and Loïc Caradec. With the evolution of equipment and boats, the danger and difficulty were no less present and continued to thrill participants and spectators alike. In 2018, Alex Thompson fell asleep after having largely led the race and crashed on rocks only 60 miles from the finish...

Since its origins, the emotion is always there. In 1978, Mike Birch came first on his small trimaran, with only 98 seconds advantage over Michel Malinovsky's huge boat after an incredible battle. In 1990, it was Florence Arthaud who caused a sensation, alone at the front and pursued by the pack of participants, while in 2018, the duel between François Gabart and Francis Joyon still fuels the attraction of this race.

The speed record to cover the 5,600 km that the race represents is held by Loick Peyron in 2014, who reached Pointe-à-Pitre from Saint-Malo in 7 days and 15 hours. In general, it takes 10 to 20 days depending on weather conditions, and not all entrants reach their destination.

All the information about the Route du Rhum 2022 in Guadeloupe

If the place of departure of the Route du Rhum had initially been the subject of hesitation (it was in particular question that it starts from Bordeaux, major port of importation of sugar and rum), Guadeloupe was immediately envisaged as a point of arrival. Since 1978, Pointe-à-Pitre has seen skippers who are as proud as they are exhausted come to moor after immense efforts.

Since the creation of the race, the sailors were first welcomed at the Bas-du-Fort marina, then at the Darse and on the Place de la Victoire. To give the skippers of the Route du Rhum 2022 a standing ovation, the meeting place was the ACTe Memorial. A well-known place, easily recognizable by its unique architecture and its monumental footbridge. Dedicated to the memory of slavery and the slave trade in the Caribbean, this building offers both a permanent exhibition and a space for contemporary artistic creation. Facing the sea, it is a strong symbol chosen to receive the participants of the Route du Rhum in Guadeloupe.

It is on the square of this building that one of the villages dedicated to the event was set up. Many craftsmen and rum makers gathered there to offer you rum from Guadeloupe, typical dishes, concerts, animations... It was the effervescence while waiting for the skippers! The departure of the Route du Rhum was initially set for 1 pm on Sunday, November 6, but was finally postponed to Wednesday, November 9. The start was scheduled for 14:15, off the Pointe du Grouin, in Cancale (Ille-et-Vilaine). The atmosphere was great during this event thanks to the different villages of the Route du Rhum 2022 :

• Village of Bas-du-Fort marina: which took place from November 9 to 27 ;

• Village of Basse-Terre: which took place from November 10 to 13;

• ACTe Memorial Village: from November 11 to December 4.