As the fleet approaches Guadeloupe, the 2026 Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe is entering its final stretch. With the first competitors preparing to cross the finish line, the standings remain wide open in the Ocean Fifty and Class40 classes, where the gaps have narrowed considerably after several days of grueling sailing.

Guirec Soudée's fourth-place finish in the Ultim class, Corentin Horeau's imminent victory in the IMOCA class, and the tightly packed leaders in the other divisions all point to a particularly hard-fought finale. With very light winds returning across the Caribbean arc, the final hours could still reshuffle the standings all the way to Pointe-à-Pitre.

Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) won the Ultim class after crossing the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre on Sunday, November 8, at 3:31 a.m. Paris time. At just 29 years old, the skipper completed the crossing in 6 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes, and 40 seconds. He thus set a new race record, improving the previous mark by more than six hours.

Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) took second place, finishing on Sunday, November 8, at 5:42 p.m., after 7 days and 4 hours of racing. Despite several technical problems, including the loss of a headsail and issues with both foils, the experienced sailor managed to hold on to his podium position. He finished 15 hours and 12 minutes behind the winner.

Louis Burton (Ultim Armand Thiery) crossed the finish line on Sunday at 7:30 p.m., after 7 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes, and 42 seconds of sailing. On his first solo transatlantic race in this class, the skipper from Saint-Malo secured an impressive third place, just 1 hour and 48 minutes behind Thomas Coville.

This podium reflects three different performances: Tom Laperche's mastery, as he led the race from the very first hours; Thomas Coville's experience; and Louis Burton's outstanding performance among the leading specialists in these giant multihulls.

Guirec Soudée crossed the finish line in Pointe-à-Pitre on Monday, November 9, aboard Liamm. The skipper secured fourth place in the Ultim class after a demanding transatlantic crossing.

In the IMOCA class, Corentin Horeau (MACSF) is expected in Guadeloupe on Tuesday afternoon. After taking the lead and building a substantial advantage starting on November 3, the skipper from La Trinité-sur-Mer still holds a comfortable lead and is heading toward a victory that would be unprecedented in this class.

Behind him, Boris Herrmann (Malizia 4) remains in second place. Élodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes – Quéguiner) has moved ahead of Sam Goodchild (MACIF Santé Prévoyance), who has been hampered by rigging problems and repairs. The sailor is therefore strengthening her provisional podium position.

Sébastien Simon (Groupe Dubreuil – Air Caraïbes) is making an impressive comeback. In 72 hours, he has gained 220 nautical miles on the entire fleet and climbed four places in the standings. He is now threatening Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing), while the light winds expected ahead will provide a different test for his new IMOCA.

With around 500 nautical miles remaining to the finish, three skippers are still in contention for victory in the Ocean Fifty class: Basile Bourgnon (Edenred), Thibaut Vauchel-Camus (Solidaires en Peloton by Delanchy), and Pierre Quiroga (WeWise). Fourth-placed Léonard Legrand (Sodebo Fifty) is also still within striking distance, about 50 nautical miles behind the leaders.

Basile Bourgnon, who dominated the race for a long time, has lost the substantial lead he held before the tropical depression passed through. After building an advantage of up to 122 nautical miles, he is now just five nautical miles ahead of Thibaut Vauchel-Camus, according to the latest update in the race report. The Edenred skipper has made numerous tacks in an effort to hold off his rivals.

Accumulated fatigue and uncertainty over which sails remain available onboard could play a major role in the final outcome. The next few hours will be decisive, with light winds and the final course around Guadeloupe likely to reshuffle the standings.

Despite Matthieu Perraut's capsize (Elvest), the Ocean Fifty fleet has put in a remarkable collective performance. Eight of the ten trimarans that started the race are still competing after facing particularly difficult conditions in the Atlantic.

The Class40 fleet still has around 1,200 nautical miles to cover, with seven competitors separated by just 50 nautical miles. Achille Nebout (Amarris) remains in the lead, but the gaps are small enough for several pursuers to still have a shot at victory.

After a day of respite, the monohulls have resumed their progress through the tropical depression, near its center. The standings remain unsettled, and sail choices could play a decisive role in the remainder of the crossing.

The trade winds, which have been particularly weak since the start in Saint-Malo, are expected to gradually return starting Thursday. The skippers' ability to make the most of these following winds, particularly if they still have both spinnakers available, could make the difference in the final third of the course.

Further back, Rodolphe Sepho (Rêve de Large 5) is heading for Horta in the Azores to address his rigging problems. The Guadeloupean skipper spent more than five hours up his mast trying to carry out repairs.

Sasha Lanière (Alderan), dismasted on November 6, is still looking for a solution to set up a jury rig. The tropical depression should nevertheless move east, giving the competitors farther back more comfortable downwind sailing conditions.

In the Vintage Mono class, Kieran Le Borgne (Armor-Lux – Le Finistère Assurance) has strengthened his lead over the past 36 hours. At the helm of the former PRB, the young skipper from Brest now has an 88-nautical-mile advantage over Patrick Isoard (Groupe Cogedis pour les Enfants du Mékong).

In the Vintage Multi class, Damien Seguin (Arkéa – Handicap International) and Éric Péron (French Touch – Oceania Hotels) have negotiated the passage of the tropical depression successfully. The leader continues to make progress and is gradually extending his lead over his pursuer.

In this fleet of boats with very different designs, Thierry Roger (Perros-Guirec) continues on a direct course aboard his 39-foot monohull designed by Newick. By contrast, Patrick Etheimer (Fifty Fifty) and Charlie Capelle (Acapella Proludic – La Chaîne de l'Espoir) have chosen to stop, respectively in Lagos, Portugal, and Mohammedia, Morocco, to wait out the difficult weather conditions.

Good news for Christophe Bogrand (Des Enfants et des Arbres), who has returned to sea from Horta after repairing the torn mainsail track.

After several days of particularly demanding conditions, the Atlantic is expected to offer competitors some respite over the next 48 hours. Very light winds are forecast across the Caribbean arc, with tricky transitions to negotiate on the approach to Guadeloupe.

Corentin Horeau is expected to be the first to encounter this slowdown, as he will emerge from the tropical depression ahead of his pursuers. The Ocean Fifty and Class40 competitors will also have to contend with these calm areas, where positioning and the ability to pick up even the slightest breeze will be crucial.

The gradual return of the trade winds starting Thursday should then change sailing conditions, particularly for the Class40 boats still several hundred nautical miles from the finish.

With the first finishers covering their final miles, the Ocean Fifty fleet tightly bunched, and the Class40 battle incredibly close, this edition of the Route du Rhum still has plenty of twists and turns in store. Boat performance alone will no longer be enough: managing fatigue, choosing the right course, and reading the weather will all be crucial right up to the finish line.