Route du Rhum 2026: maritime incidents, withdrawals and rescues

On November 3, 2026, the Ille-et-Vilaine prefecture refers the matter to the prosecutor after anti-police remarks made by Les Ramoneurs de Menhirs during a concert at the Route du Rhum village; the same day, Jérémie Beyou withdraws for medical reasons. On November 4, Matthieu Perraut and Armel Le Cléac'h capsize, Alexis Loison changes course after tearing off his rudder and Alexis Thomas stops over for a breakdown, while sea rescues are organized after the capsizings of Armel Le Cléac'h, Matthieu Perraut and Francis Joyon. On November 5, a security arrangement is put in place for the arrival in Guadeloupe; on November 6, Violette Dorange makes her withdrawal official after a collision at the start. On November 7, Tom Laperche is in the lead and expected in Pointe-à-Pitre, a distress signal is triggered by Benoît Sineau without communication established, and Guadeloupe is described as struggling to develop its offshore racing infrastructure. On November 8 and 9, Pierre Quiroga mentions a storm, the recovery of Armel Le Cléac'h's sailboat is launched and Gilles Lamiré suffers a breakdown with breakage of his port float.