Francis Joyon has set a new race record winning the 2018 Route du Rhum, in what was the closest finish since the race began in 1978. The transatlantic race came down to the final moments with Joyon closing out François Gabart and the wounded Macif by a mere seven minutes and eight seconds. This is the eighth Route du Rhum for Joyon, an offshore sailing veteran, who…
In the coming weeks, Jean Allaire, the St Martin-based sailmaker, will find out if his bid to compete in the 2006 Route du Rhum will go ahead or not.
Allaire’s Route du Rhum attempt will cost over 200 Euros per nautical mile, or more than 50,000 Euros a day. That’s the tab for entering, equipping and insuring a record-breaking trimaran. It may seem extravagant, but is a steal compared to the estimated $100 million cost of putting together an America’s Cup challenge. An abundance of transatlantic races suggests that…
A recent burst of activity in St Martin has seen ‘the French Side’ grab a little limelight from its neighbour. For starters, the St Martin Yacht Club has a new clubhouse at the top of the West Indies Shopping Mall, which played host right away to the inaugural Course de l’Alliance in July. The race, organized in conjunction…