# Route du Rhum 2026: economic stakes, participation and incidents > As the start from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe approaches, the Route du Rhum presents economic stakes for the skippers and their partners, while debates stir the Imoca class, with only 22 boats entered compared with 38 four years earlier. On October 30, the organizers announce 115 competitors, 23 fewer than in 2022, a decline linked to the rising cost of boats and companies' reluctance to invest. On November 1, the economic impact is estimated at several tens of millions of euros, including about 30 million for the start and 20 million for the finish in 2022. Associations, scientists and Guadeloupe residents call for the memory of slavery to be better taken into account in this race linking Saint-Malo to Pointe-à-Pitre. The same day, skippers Violette Dorange and Romain Pilliard collide off Bréhat, a few hours after the start. **In brief**: Ongoing story bringing together 6 events in 5 departments (Ille-et-Vilaine, Guadeloupe, Côtes-d'Armor and 2 more), followed from 29 October 2026 to 2 November 2026. 26 articles from 16 sources (economy, society, transport); last updated on 2 November 2026 at 12:43. - Status: ongoing - Category: Economy, Society, Transport - Place: Ille-et-Vilaine, Guadeloupe, Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Morbihan - First detected: 29 October 2026 at 13:30 - Updated: 2 November 2026 at 12:43 - Web page: https://acturadar.com/en/stories/171-route-du-rhum-2026-economic-stakes-participation-and-incidents ## Reported figures - 20 millions ## Coverage angles The three sides cover the collision of Violette Dorange and Romain Pilliard, but differ in their angles: the left emphasizes emotion and the memory of slavery, the center focuses on the sporting narrative and the Imoca class debates, the right on the economic model of the event. **Common ground** - The collision between Violette Dorange and Romain Pilliard took place shortly after the start, off Bréhat - 115 competitors are entered in this 13th edition - The start took place on November 1, 2026 from Saint-Malo to Guadeloupe **Differences** - The left highlights the memory of slavery and the navigator's emotion, an angle absent from the right's articles - The center details the Imoca class debates and the decline in the number of boats, scarcely present on the left and right - The right stresses the economic model without ticketing or TV rights, an angle not developed by the other sides ## Timeline (6 events) ### 29 October 2026 — [Route du Rhum: the economic stakes of a race without ticketing or TV rights](https://acturadar.com/en/events/3938-route-du-rhum-the-economic-stakes-of-a-race-without-ticketing-or-tv-rights.md) The Route du Rhum, which sets off on Sunday from Brittany for Guadeloupe, presents major economic challenges for skippers and their partners. 1 sources, 1 articles · Saint-Malo — Ille-et-Vilaine ### 29 October 2026 — [Route du Rhum: debates within the Imoca class before the start](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4420-route-du-rhum-debates-within-the-imoca-class-before-the-start.md) Only 22 Imoca boats will take the start of the Route du Rhum in Saint-Malo, compared with 38 four years ago, fueling debate over the future of the class. 2 sources, 2 articles · Saint-Malo — Ille-et-Vilaine ### 30 October 2026 — [Route du Rhum: Sunday departure with 115 competitors, 23 fewer than in 2022](https://acturadar.com/en/events/4621-route-du-rhum-sunday-departure-with-115-competitors-23-fewer-than-in-2022.md) The transatlantic race sets off on Sunday with 115 entrants, a smaller field due to rising boat costs and companies' reluctance to invest. 4 sources, 5 articles · Saint-Malo — Ille-et-Vilaine, Guadeloupe ### 1 November 2026 — [Route du Rhum : des retombées économiques estimées à plusieurs dizaines de millions d'euros](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6072-route-du-rhum-des-retombees-economiques-estimees-a-plusieurs-dizaines-de.md) Selon l'organisation, les dépenses des 1,5 million de visiteurs sont chiffrées à environ 30 millions d'euros pour le départ et 20 millions à l'arrivée en 2022, bénéficiant à la Bretagne et à la Guadeloupe. 1 sources, 1 articles · Saint-Malo — Ille-et-Vilaine, Guadeloupe ### 1 November 2026 — [Route du Rhum : la mémoire de l'esclavage absente de la course](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6212-route-du-rhum-la-memoire-de-l-esclavage-absente-de-la-course.md) Des associations, scientifiques et Guadeloupéens souhaitent que l'histoire de la traite transatlantique soit mieux prise en compte dans la Route du Rhum, qui relie Saint-Malo à Pointe-à-Pitre. 1 sources, 1 articles · Saint-Malo — Ille-et-Vilaine, Guadeloupe ### 1 November 2026 — [Route du Rhum: collision between two skippers off Bréhat](https://acturadar.com/en/events/6569-route-du-rhum-collision-between-two-skippers-off-brehat.md) Sunday, November 1, skippers Violette Dorange and Romain Pilliard collided a few hours after the start of the transatlantic race, off the island of Bréhat. 12 sources, 16 articles · Île de Bréhat — Côtes-d'Armor, Finistère, Ille-et-Vilaine, Morbihan --- Cite as: Acturadar, “Route du Rhum 2026: economic stakes, participation and incidents”, https://acturadar.com/en/stories/171-route-du-rhum-2026-economic-stakes-participation-and-incidents Methodology: https://acturadar.com/en/methodology