Route du rhum. The start tomorrow at 2 pm French time.

[Sybarite]

It's something special this year with 7 former winners racing.

Guichard is racing - solo - Spindrift, 130', the largest racing trimaran capable of 45 knots with its 800 m2 downwind sail area. It's the former Banque Populaire V which holds the transatlantic record.

The French consider this as the main ocean race.

 

[doris]

Anyone know if there is any UK coverage.
These guys have cohones the size of footballs!

 

[capnsensible]

Anyone know if there is any UK coverage.
These guys have cohones the size of footballs!

You need quite a lot of neck to drink T Punch made from French Rum when you get there too......

 

[Sybarite]

91 boats of which 43 are Classe 40.

Loic Peyron was brought on as a last minute substitution. He was saying that on his boat and on Guichard's they can't see in front. There will be something like 500 spectator boats (+ 60000 spectators on Cap Frehel) and these giant multis accelerate like a rocket. Should be spectacular especially as weather fronts will be coming through.

 

[Woodlouse]

And brave sir robin is having a bash too.

 

[Roberto]

And brave sir robin is having a bash too.

75 year old, hats off!


I heard the youngest participant is 18-19yo.

 

[Roberto]

Anyone know if there is any UK coverage.

Try having a look at the web site, today they were streaming live the lock out from the marina.
I do not know if it works with non-French IPs though.
Images should begin at 1250h French time, gmt+1 now

http://www.routedurhum.com/

 

[Hydrozoan]

Short BBC video of Sir Robin here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-29853787

 

[jerrytug]

What are the spars sticking out either side of R K-J's boat? Are they part of the rigging, or is it where he parks his spi poles, or what?

 

[[70521]]

With my boat out of the water at the moment I shall not be participating this year

 

[han34]

Miranda Merton has been in Cherbourg training this summer with her class 40. I met her and had a chat on Q pontoon in September. Very nice lady indeed and I wish her well. Anybody who went to Cherbourg in late summer will have seen the class 40s training.

 

[Bobc]

Only the French could make such a mess of the website.

 

[doris]

Only the French could make such a mess of the website.

Strange cos the Vendee has one of the best websites of any sporting event.

 

[Racecruiser]

Start coverage is good: http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s10_mediatheque/direct_video.php?iframe=dimanche

Macif is looking very fast in the Open 60 class and those big tris look scary!

 

[PatrickB02]

Awesome! Only the French..!!

 

[Giblets]

Start coverage is good: http://www.routedurhum.com/en/s10_mediatheque/direct_video.php?iframe=dimanche!

As said totally **** website! Page Moved and redirected to secure login which doesn't work!!!

 

[TQA]

Is there something like a Yellow Brick tracker to follow the race on?

As you say the web site is cr*p.

 

[Adonnante]

The tracker is up and running well. Open the Route du Rhum website without using Google translate and click on cartographie.

 

[DJE]

As said totally **** website! Page Moved and redirected to secure login which doesn't work!!!

Found it on dailymotion:-

http://www.dailymotion.com/routedurhum/

 

[[32511]]

Great shots- thanks for that.