Route du rhum: Charles Caudrelier surprise winner of the event ahead of François Gabart, with a record at stake

SAILING The 48-year-old skipper has just won in Guadeloupe, this Wednesday morning, the biggest victory of his career in Guadeloupe, ahead of François Gabart for his first participation in the Route du Rhum

The French skipper Charles Caudrelier, here just before the start of this Route du Rhum, in Saint-Malo (Ille-et-Vilaine). — LOIC VENANCE/AFP

For his first participation in; the Route du rhum, and even for his first transatlantic race on an Ultim, Charles Caudrelier created; the feeling all the way. The 48-year-old skipper indeed became, this Wednesday morning, the winner of the prestigious event. Leaving Brittany a week earlier, he reached Pointe-à-Pitre in six days, nineteen hours and forty-seven minutes, which is a new record. While on Tuesday evening, he was almost 70 miles ahead of François Gabart, once again second, as in 2018, this gap has clearly narrowed. during the so tactical tour of Guadeloupe.

François Gabart only counted about thirty miles late, this Wednesday morning, when Charles Caudrelier crossed the line at; aboard the Maxi Edmond de Rothschild. Almost at the head of the race throughout the week, except for a passage in the Açores, the winner of the Figaro in  everyone to the end by his mastery on this twelfth Route du Rhum. He inscribed his name alongside legends such as Florence Arthaud, Michel Desjoyeaux, Franck Cammas (whose team he was in 2010-2011 during the victory in the Volvo Ocean Race), Lo&iuml ;ck Peyron and Francis Joyon.

» More information at; follow here.