Route Du Rhum

[semelis]

1978 was the year for the first edition of the RdR, created by the french -mainly- because the brits decided to put a limit on size in the (then called) OSTAR.

During the 3rd edition, in 1986, Caradec disappeared and his big catamaran Royale capsized (or the other way around), so it was decided to put also a 60 feet limit from then on.

Now after 5 limited editions, the RdR is back to the origins, probably because Ellen McArthur, Francis Joyon and Thomas Coville have made enough single-handed miles around the world in larger than 60' trimarans to prove that that limit was (no longer?) necessary. Maybe the debacle in the 60' trimarans in 2002 (they got really thought weather) has weighted somehow, I don't know.

So this is not the "first-ever " edition to allow giants, as the front page claims, but the 4rth.

And still 4 weeks to wait ...

 

[pogen]

So, where are Sam Davies and Dee Caffari?

Who do you like in what class? I guess I will root for Pete Goss, he seems to be just about the only anglophone...

Who knows what about the "Rhum Class"? Is this the class for mere mortals??

Is there a sailing simulator game that goes with this race like with the VOR etc?

Finally, is there ANYTHING that you can't not like about an ocean race with RUM in the title????

 

[Jambalaya]

Not many 60's are doing it as noted on front page, Dee Caffari has no sponsorship.

I believe the name Route du Rhum explicitly refers to the beverage and it's origins in the French Carribean - you will find all sorts of flavoured Rums in the sailing bars of Brittany, it's a big tradition.

 

[MR.CLEAN]

1978 was the year for the first edition of the RdR, created by the french -mainly- because the brits decided to put a limit on size in the (then called) OSTAR.

During the 3rd edition, in 1986, Caradec disappeared and his big catamaran Royale capsized (or the other way around), so it was decided to put also a 60 feet limit from then on.

Now after 5 limited editions, the RdR is back to the origins, probably because Ellen McArthur, Francis Joyon and Thomas Coville have made enough single-handed miles around the world in larger than 60' trimarans to prove that that limit was (no longer?) necessary. Maybe the debacle in the 60' trimarans in 2002 (they got really thought weather) has weighted somehow, I don't know.

So this is not the "first-ever " edition to allow giants, as the front page claims, but the 4rth.

And still 4 weeks to wait ...

My bad. Cheers and thanks for the correction.

 

[moody frog]

So, where are Sam Davies and Dee Caffari?

Who do you like in what class? I guess I will root for Pete Goss, he seems to be just about the only anglophone...

Who knows what about the "Rhum Class"? Is this the class for mere mortals??

Is there a sailing simulator game that goes with this race like with the VOR etc?

Finally, is there ANYTHING that you can't not like about an ocean race with RUM in the title????

Potter would tell us more but AFAIK, Dee Caffari who had lost her sponsor his now preparing to race the BWR with a spanish girl under a spanish sponsor's (GAES) colours.

As for Sam Davies, with her sponsor reducing his budget and the boat sold, she is quoted saying that she works on a Vendée campaign and a 2nd hand boat purchase, having secured 50% of the funding and looking for the other half.

Rhum Class: any boat or contraption which is not an IMOCA, a Class 40, a Multi 50 or an "Ultimate" (defined as any multihull larger than 60')

 

[Potter]

Dee's sponsor is Spanish and has no interest in the French market. The focus is on the BWR. There are currently 8 Spanish sponsored IMOCA 60s and not one of them will do the RduR. There are 3 IMOCA 60s doing both RduR and the BWR (Foncia, Virbac, Bel), but that is a big ask of any team.

But why are we not asking the question of all the other English Solo Sailors, after all there is only one Brit entered? Phil Sharp, Brian Thompson, Mike Golding, Alex Bennett...and so many others. The truth is mostly sponsorship (though Brian is back to saliing multis and will do the Jules Verne on Banque Pop)...there just isn't the taste for it in the UK with regard to races like the RduR. Mostly you need to look for a bigger picture with the RduR being a stepping stome along the way.

If you can find an UK sponsor with a foothold in France,or vice versa then you stand more of a chance.

THis is going to be a great event, bloody difficult for the 60s to get any press with the giant multis there, and even harder for the 40s

 

[semelis]

Wow ! I made the front page !!

Back to the subject, I agree with what have been said, most IMOCA are thinking about the BWR and putting their efforts there, and despite the incredible attention the RdR attracts in France, it's only in France and about 2 weeks every 4 years (Lemonchois made it in 7 days last time in an ORMA 60, but for monos and more normal people it takes longer) , and sponsors do take this into account.

It was nicknamed "the french transat" at the beginning and sadly it still is.

For mere mortals (with a budget) there's also the Multi 50: there are a couple of private entries there (Delirium one of them, just take a look.)

The race will probably be virtually raced at Virtual Regatta, they appear in the page as one of the sponsors (or are paying an add which is about the same).

I wonder if Ellen's old tri will make it to the start: it appears still as pre-inscription and without name, does anyone have news on Monnet and or the project ?

 

[MR.CLEAN]

Anyone with a spare bed for a couple of sailing media folks near St. Malo from the 26th through the 1st...let me know!

 

[Terrorvision]

Sam Davies is Sidney Gavignets eyes and ears on shore as he races Oman Air Majan, the 105' trimaran across the pond.

Clean- if it's only a room you're after, send me a PM and we'll go from there.

 

[moody frog]

Jean Le Cam enters Mike Golding's "Soren Gold" ex Ecover in the Barcelona World Race, with a Spanish crew and TBA franco-spanish sponsor.

link

Obviously:

The Imocas make the BWR choice.

The BWR organisers are busy brokering deals.

 

[STSailing]

Jean Le Cam enters Mike Golding's "Soren Gold" ex Ecover in the Barcelona World Race, with a Spanish crew and TBA franco-spanish sponsor.

link

Obviously:

The Imocas make the BWR choice.

The BWR organisers are busy brokering deals.

Sort of a hijack, but I'm wondering if Mike Golding is still thinking about Vendee 2012.

 

[Buckie Lugger]

I think that the issue for a lot of the UK sailors is that the economy has been pretty much wrecked over the last two years, and that would cramp anyone's efforts to raise sponsorship.

I'm surprised as the number of Spanish sponsors in the BWR. Aren't there tax breaks available?

 

[anthonyvop]

Final Route du Rhum preparation for Marco Nannini and UniCredit by Oliver Dewar

On Sunday 31 October, Italian solo sailor and Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) entry, Marco Nannini, will cross the start line of the Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale on Class40 UniCredit. Nannini’s racing campaign has been impeccably planned and the 32 year-old skipper has successfully juggled his job at UniCredit Group in the City of London with corporate sailing in The Solent, a round of sponsorship commitments while constantly upgrading his boat and ensuring that he has maximum training-time on the water and top quality tuition.

Although Nannini is already an experienced solo sailor with a Jester Class-win in the 2009 OSTAR racing the Sigma 36, British Beagle, his Route du Rhum 1,000 mile qualifier undertaken in late August was the first single-handed offshore voyage on a vastly more powerful Class40. Despite sailing UniCredit (then called SunGard Front Arena) to second place overall in the double-handed Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race with co-skipper, Paul Peggs, the qualifier would teach Nannini many valuable lessons.

Typically, the sailing was upwind and uncomfortable for the majority of the passage from his yacht’s base in Haslar Marina, Portsmouth, on England’s South Coast out into the Atlantic: “I had the wind on the nose for almost 36 hours and the bumping and crashing was relentless,” he recalls. “Progress was OK, but far slower than I'd wanted it to be.” The first 300 miles of the qualifier were punishing and Nannini tried every trick to reduce the violent motion as he sailed passed the lighthouse at the western tip of the Isles of Scilly under cover of night: “I had winds of 15-18 knots True but with gusts well into the 20s,” he says. “I sailed past Bishop Rock in zero visibility, two reefs and staysail and kept leaping into the air and crashing into waves. There seemed to be no angle to the wind I could sail to prevent it other than turning around and going home.”

 

However, Nannini endured the repetitive, mind-numbing discomfort until reaching his pre-planned turning point 300 miles due west of Ushant and although the breeze dropped for a short period, a deep depression rolling east across the North Atlantic threatened as lively, Force 7-ride back into the English Channel. “The wind was steady between 32 and 36 knots and I had my share of fun as the conditions deteriorated,” admits Nannini. “I was merrily taking some video of the impressive following seas when a wave hit UniCredit sideways and spun the boat into the wind and onto the other tack... believe me it got messy!”

 

Having let the runner off to prevent total destruction of the mainsail battens, Nannini eased the staysail sheet too quickly and found there was no stop knot in either sheet. “Silly me! They both ran out before I even realised and the most violent of flogging ensued: like having a crazy witch on the bow having a fit.” He then blew the staysail halyard, but the wind strength kept the filled sail aloft rather than dropping it to the deck. “I went to the bow to manhandle it down and, meanwhile, the two sheets managed to flog themselves into the most elaborate of tight knots I've ever seen,” he continues. “Forget a Monkey's Fist, these knots were the result of decades of advanced engineering studies by a madman!”

 

As UniCredit approached the Channel, fatigue swept over Nannini: “Keeping awake was the hardest part,” he admits. “There was plenty of traffic around and the visibility was dreadful. The night was absolutely pitch black and at times I had ships one or two miles away which I could clearly see on the instruments, but were swallowed by the mist and low cloud making keeping watch somewhat of an academic exercise.” Despite the twin dangers of fatigue and increased shipping, UniCredit docked safely at Haslar Marina. However, with two months until the start of the Route du Rhum, Nannini launched into a busy, pre-race sailing and corporate schedule with further training – including an intense session with the French offshore coaching maestro, Tanguy Leglatin – an appearance at UniCredit Group’s annual sailing meeting on Lake Constance, Germany, and a visit to UniCredit’s leasing division at the Genoa Boatshow.

 

Meanwhile, further work has been undertaken on his three year-old Class40 which was relaunched at Endeavour Quay in Portsmouth on Friday. “The bottom has been done and a few other jobs to improve life on board,” Nannini confirms. “We’ve fitted a stacking system down below that works with pulleys. We’ve also replaced the bobstay which has already been round the world once on the Portimão Global Ocean Race and I think that’s quite enough!” he adds. The Italian skipper has also enlisted some heavy-hitting expertise in weather analysis and pre-race routing for the 3,600 mile course from Saint Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadaloupe. “I’ve been using Jean-Yves Bernot for my pre-race weather strategy,” he confirms and Bernot’s skill – successfully supplied in the past to offshore royalty including Michel Desjoyeaux, Francis Joyon, Franck Cammas and Ellen MacArthur – is a formidable tool for Nannini.

 

He is also experimenting with new routing software. “I got to know Christian Eddie Dost of Brainaid Ocean Racing through the OSTAR,” explains Nannini. “During the race there was an online game with about 1,000 boats and Christian won overall. I got in contact with him and it turns out he is currently developing routing software and he has offered to provide this pre-race service for me. He’ll come to St Malo and we’ll talk weather strategy in the days building to the race.”

 

With just two weeks until the start of the Route du Rhum on Sunday 31st October, Nannini’s thoughts are already focused on the North Atlantic: “The first 48 hours are going to be the hardest,” he admits. The prospect of 85 boats crossing the start line at midday on Sunday with only a few hours before nightfall is truly daunting with the huge fleet in close proximity crossing the busy shipping lanes in the English Channel, around Ushant and through the Bay of Biscay. “Then, the next hardest part is the first five to seven days until we get closer to the Azores High,” he continues. “We may well be facing really horrible winter weather.” Nannini’s concern is justifiable: last year, 24 Class40s started the double-handed La Solidaire du Chocolat from Saint Nazaire in the Bay of Biscay heading for Mexico on 18th October and, after 24 hours, a cold front hammered the fleet forcing five boats to retire with sail damage and structural issue and one boat heading into port for sail repairs. The fleet continued to be battered by a further six violent storms in the eastern Atlantic.

 

Nannini’s race strategy is realistic and sound and with ten new-generation Class40s in the fleet, he feels a podium place is beyond his grasp. “As I don’t think I’ll be a contender for the podium, my priority is to stay with the pack and make small gains in relative positioning,” he explains. Within the fleet there are five Akilarias of the same, 2007 vintage as UniCredit and further 2007-08 designs from Verdier, Rogers, Owen Clarke, Finot and Manuard to keep the main pack of the fleet highly-competitive. However, tactics and weather analysis are clearly crucial and could reduce any performance gain for the newer boats. “Without taking any fliers or isolating myself from the main boats in the race, I’m hoping for a mid-fleet finish,” adds Nannini.

Follow the Route du Rhum here and read Marco Nannini’s blogs from UniCredit here

http://globaloceanrace.com/?page=news&news_id=424〈=en

 

[freakIRL]

Final Route du Rhum preparation for Marco Nannini and UniCredit by Oliver Dewar

On Sunday 31 October, Italian solo sailor and Global Ocean Race 2011-12 (GOR) entry, Marco Nannini, will cross the start line of the Route du Rhum - La Banque Postale on Class40 UniCredit. Nannini's racing campaign has been impeccably planned and the 32 year-old skipper has successfully juggled his job at UniCredit Group in the City of London with corporate sailing in The Solent, a round of sponsorship commitments while constantly upgrading his boat and ensuring that he has maximum training-time on the water and top quality tuition.

Although Nannini is already an experienced solo sailor with a Jester Class-win in the 2009 OSTAR racing the Sigma 36, British Beagle, his Route du Rhum 1,000 mile qualifier undertaken in late August was the first single-handed offshore voyage on a vastly more powerful Class40. Despite sailing UniCredit (then called SunGard Front Arena) to second place overall in the double-handed Shetland Round Britain & Ireland Race with co-skipper, Paul Peggs, the qualifier would teach Nannini many valuable lessons.

Typically, the sailing was upwind and uncomfortable for the majority of the passage from his yacht's base in Haslar Marina, Portsmouth, on England's South Coast out into the Atlantic: "I had the wind on the nose for almost 36 hours and the bumping and crashing was relentless," he recalls. "Progress was OK, but far slower than I'd wanted it to be." The first 300 miles of the qualifier were punishing and Nannini tried every trick to reduce the violent motion as he sailed passed the lighthouse at the western tip of the Isles of Scilly under cover of night: "I had winds of 15-18 knots True but with gusts well into the 20s," he says. "I sailed past Bishop Rock in zero visibility, two reefs and staysail and kept leaping into the air and crashing into waves. There seemed to be no angle to the wind I could sail to prevent it other than turning around and going home."

 

However, Nannini endured the repetitive, mind-numbing discomfort until reaching his pre-planned turning point 300 miles due west of Ushant and although the breeze dropped for a short period, a deep depression rolling east across the North Atlantic threatened as lively, Force 7-ride back into the English Channel. "The wind was steady between 32 and 36 knots and I had my share of fun as the conditions deteriorated," admits Nannini. "I was merrily taking some video of the impressive following seas when a wave hit UniCredit sideways and spun the boat into the wind and onto the other tack... believe me it got messy!"

 

Having let the runner off to prevent total destruction of the mainsail battens, Nannini eased the staysail sheet too quickly and found there was no stop knot in either sheet. "Silly me! They both ran out before I even realised and the most violent of flogging ensued: like having a crazy witch on the bow having a fit." He then blew the staysail halyard, but the wind strength kept the filled sail aloft rather than dropping it to the deck. "I went to the bow to manhandle it down and, meanwhile, the two sheets managed to flog themselves into the most elaborate of tight knots I've ever seen," he continues. "Forget a Monkey's Fist, these knots were the result of decades of advanced engineering studies by a madman!"

 

As UniCredit approached the Channel, fatigue swept over Nannini: "Keeping awake was the hardest part," he admits. "There was plenty of traffic around and the visibility was dreadful. The night was absolutely pitch black and at times I had ships one or two miles away which I could clearly see on the instruments, but were swallowed by the mist and low cloud making keeping watch somewhat of an academic exercise." Despite the twin dangers of fatigue and increased shipping, UniCredit docked safely at Haslar Marina. However, with two months until the start of the Route du Rhum, Nannini launched into a busy, pre-race sailing and corporate schedule with further training – including an intense session with the French offshore coaching maestro, Tanguy Leglatin – an appearance at UniCredit Group's annual sailing meeting on Lake Constance, Germany, and a visit to UniCredit's leasing division at the Genoa Boatshow.

 

Meanwhile, further work has been undertaken on his three year-old Class40 which was relaunched at Endeavour Quay in Portsmouth on Friday. "The bottom has been done and a few other jobs to improve life on board," Nannini confirms. "We've fitted a stacking system down below that works with pulleys. We've also replaced the bobstay which has already been round the world once on the Portimão Global Ocean Race and I think that's quite enough!" he adds. The Italian skipper has also enlisted some heavy-hitting expertise in weather analysis and pre-race routing for the 3,600 mile course from Saint Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadaloupe. "I've been using Jean-Yves Bernot for my pre-race weather strategy," he confirms and Bernot's skill – successfully supplied in the past to offshore royalty including Michel Desjoyeaux, Francis Joyon, Franck Cammas and Ellen MacArthur – is a formidable tool for Nannini.

 

He is also experimenting with new routing software. "I got to know Christian Eddie Dost of Brainaid Ocean Racing through the OSTAR," explains Nannini. "During the race there was an online game with about 1,000 boats and Christian won overall. I got in contact with him and it turns out he is currently developing routing software and he has offered to provide this pre-race service for me. He'll come to St Malo and we'll talk weather strategy in the days building to the race."

 

With just two weeks until the start of the Route du Rhum on Sunday 31st October, Nannini's thoughts are already focused on the North Atlantic: "The first 48 hours are going to be the hardest," he admits. The prospect of 85 boats crossing the start line at midday on Sunday with only a few hours before nightfall is truly daunting with the huge fleet in close proximity crossing the busy shipping lanes in the English Channel, around Ushant and through the Bay of Biscay. "Then, the next hardest part is the first five to seven days until we get closer to the Azores High," he continues. "We may well be facing really horrible winter weather." Nannini's concern is justifiable: last year, 24 Class40s started the double-handed La Solidaire du Chocolat from Saint Nazaire in the Bay of Biscay heading for Mexico on 18th October and, after 24 hours, a cold front hammered the fleet forcing five boats to retire with sail damage and structural issue and one boat heading into port for sail repairs. The fleet continued to be battered by a further six violent storms in the eastern Atlantic.

 

Nannini's race strategy is realistic and sound and with ten new-generation Class40s in the fleet, he feels a podium place is beyond his grasp. "As I don't think I'll be a contender for the podium, my priority is to stay with the pack and make small gains in relative positioning," he explains. Within the fleet there are five Akilarias of the same, 2007 vintage as UniCredit and further 2007-08 designs from Verdier, Rogers, Owen Clarke, Finot and Manuard to keep the main pack of the fleet highly-competitive. However, tactics and weather analysis are clearly crucial and could reduce any performance gain for the newer boats. "Without taking any fliers or isolating myself from the main boats in the race, I'm hoping for a mid-fleet finish," adds Nannini.

Follow the Route du Rhum here and read Marco Nannini's blogs from UniCredit here

http://globaloceanrace.com/?page=news&news_id=424〈=en

+100 -- Go Marco, GO!

 

[Jambalaya]

Forza Marco ! - Sigma 36 to Classe 40, quite a transition

 

[mojounwin]

Any locals know of a spare hotel/motel room available in St Malo for the Saturday and Sunday night? Can't find anything on the net and I suspect they have long booked out.

Cheers

Mojo

 

[semelis]

Thomas Coville had something to say about his main rivals, but of course it was en french

Not having found it translated I'll oblige, as I found it interesting:

Original here.

Franck Cammas on Groupama 3. « He's the one I know best, cause we did last winter a round the world record (Trophée Jules Verne). In multi, it's the most successful boat ever built, the one that piles more miles and budget. Franck Cammas has never beat me in solo, but he has gained confidence. He has a spirit of synthesis unbelievable. Franck progression is that of a compulsive eater (french expression ?) and always choses the most effective solutions . »

Francis Joyon on Idec. « Francis' boat looks like a Sodebo cousin. But he has pushed Idec's simplicity to the limit, even giving up systems like the hooks of the main sail or gennaker, which I could not go without. Francis prepares and conceives all by himself while my boat profits from the contribution of all people around me. The approach is different. I admire Francis a lot, he has been a source of inspiration unbelievable. »

Yann Guichard on Gitana 11. « Gitana XI is the most aesthetic, the most aerial, the only one developed specially for this Route du Rhum. I place her skipper in the top 10 of the multi helmsmen; athlete, strategist… I'm sure we are going to see him in the America's Cup ! Yann comes from the olympic field and I've never sailed with him. But I dream to helm his magnificent boat ! »

Sidney Gavignet on Oman Air Majan. « Our projects are cousins : our boats have the same plans and Sidney has sailed with us, last year (transatlantic La Trinité-New York). Also we are of same age; we have done the America's Cup together in 1995 and raced the Figaro at the same time. We both do like the Volvo Ocean Race and anglo-saxon crews. Today is the technique that set us apart as we have not make the same choices about the foils, the canting mast or automatic pilot. Sidney has not sailed as much as I have with his boat, but he will be freer from result's pressure than me, Franck, Francis or Yann, so he's going to enjoy the ride to the end. »

 

[bagua]

Michel Desjoyeux 's new Foncia looks wicked in the Imoca class. Love the video . http://www.teamfonci.../index.php?m=b1 . Each of the classes in this race are fascinating .

 

[Davie Bowie]

Reading all this, and looking at the form, will a pommy ever win the Vendee?