Boat preservation remains a priority

One hundred fifteen entrants lined up for the 2026 Route du Rhum on November 1, taking on the 3,542 nm solo transatlantic race from Saint-Malo in France for Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. To track the fleet, click here.

There have been retirements throughout the six divisions – Ultim, Ocean Fifty, IMOCA, Class40, Vintage Multi, and Vintage Mono – with a capsize in each of the three multihull fleets. Among the notable swimmers are Francis Joyon and Armel Le Cléac’h, while the debut of Charles Caudrelier’s 32-meter Maxi Edmond de Rothschild ended with foil damage. – Full report

Weather forecast on Thursday, November 5, 2026:
The depression that is growing today in the northwest of the Azores concentrates attention. At the front, the southeast wind gradually strengthens on the Class40 road, with the passage of an active disturbed front with heavy rains and gusts of about forty knots.

At the back of the depression, a strong, highly unstable northern current involves the Ocean Fifty and the first IMOCAs. The grains are accompanied by intense rains and violent gusts of up to 45 knots. The sea becomes strong, with waves of 3 to 4 meters arriving by starboard. This sea side makes navigation uncomfortable and challenging, with constant vigilance to preserve the boats.

The first Ultim benefit first of all from more favorable conditions. A northeasterly wind of about twenty knots, on the edge of the anticyclone off the American coast, accompanies their rapid progression to the south. However, they will pass under the influence of a tropical depression located north of the Greater Antilles.

In the evening, the wind should turn east and strengthen to reach 25 to 28 knots. Stormy rains and gusts close to 40 knots are expected, in a strong sea with waves of the order of 3 meters. For Ultim leader Tom Laperche, the challenge will be to keep its speed while cleaning the equipment, after several days of navigation and accumulated fatigue.

At midday Friday, the center of the depression will be raised to about 500 miles northwest of the Azores. A large part of the Class40 will find winds less strong than the day before. The boats will temporarily sail to the nearest, south-west wind of 15 to 20 knots. This drop in wind intensity will not mean a return to comfortable navigation. The sea will remain messy and brittle, prolonging the efforts imposed on the skippers and boats after an already difficult day of Thursday.

A large part of the Ocean Fifty and the first IMOCAs will be able to breathe more. A wind bringing from north-east to northeast of about twenty knots will promote their progression to the south. The last IMOCA will, however, remain exposed to the strong current of unstable north, in the west of the depression, with a very strong sea.

The preservation of boats will remain a priority. Further south, the first Ultim will evolve south of the tropical depression. They will encounter a very unstable southwest regime, punctuated by stormy grains. Rapid variations in wind strength and direction will require frequent adjustments. The sea will gradually ease on their way south.

On Saturday, the first Ultim will approach the West Indian bow in a wind that is heading south, weak and irregular. These unusual conditions in an area generally dominated by the trade wind could strongly slow down boats in the last tens of miles to Pointe-à-Pitre. The uncertainty on the wind therefore makes difficult any precise estimate of the arrival time of the leader.

For the Ocean Fifty and the first IMOCAs, conditions will deteriorate under the influence of tropical depression. The wind will tilt to the east and strengthen around 30 knots, in a strong sea. A stormy front will bring intense rains and violent gusts. The challenge will be to anticipate the trajectory to limit the time spent in the most difficult conditions.

The Class40 and the last IMOCA will undergo a further degradation with the descent of the depression towards the Azores. At the rear, the northwest wind will be strong and very unstable, with grains, gusts of 40 to 45 knots and waves of the order of 5 meters. The boats still located in the east and northeast of the depression will encounter a wind and a less strong sea.

The depression of the Azores will take time to evacuate to the east and should still be roughing up part of the fleet on Sunday, extending this trying sequence for sailors and their equipment.