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8h ago

Tom Laperche Breaks Route du Rhum Record to Win on First Try

The 6 days 13 hours finish highlights how Ultim maxi‑trimarans have sped solo transatlantic racing, exposing a gap between modest prize money and costly campaigns.

Image
Mike Birch s'impose à la barre d'Olympus Photo lors de la première édition, 1978, avec un petit trimaran au jaune devenu légendaire en 23 jours, 6 heures, 59 minutes. A jamais le premier.
Au pays du Rhum, Franck Cammas arrose avec du champagne pour fêter sa victoire avec un Ultim géant de 31,50 m, Groupama 3. Mais le record n'est pas battu : 9 jours 3 heures et 14 minutes.
Philippe Poupon fait encore mieux l'édition suivante, en 1986, à la barre de Fleury Michon VIII en 14 jours, 15 heures et 57 minutes.

Overview

  • Tom Laperche claimed victory in the 13th Route du Rhum on Sunday by crossing the line in Pointe‑à‑Pitre and becoming the race winner on his first participation.
  • He set a new overall race record of 6 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds, cutting about 6 hours and 20 minutes off Charles Caudrelier’s 2022 mark.
  • Laperche led for most of the course after taking the lead near Cap Fréhel and finished ahead of main pursuers Thomas Coville and Louis Burton, who were expected to arrive shortly after.
  • His arrival at Marina de Bas‑du‑Fort was highly emotional, with traditional fanfare and team embraces underscoring the public ceremony that marks Route du Rhum finishes.
  • The result underlines the performance gains from larger Ultim trimarans while also highlighting economic realities: the organizer’s reported first‑place prize is €85,000 compared with reported entry fees of about €90,000.