Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2022: A potent cocktail combining all the key fundamentals
In 11 months’ time, on the 6th of November 2022, the 12th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe will see one of the most exciting ocean racing fleets ever assemble on the Saint-Malo start line. The six competing classes of solo sailors will race a course between Saint-Malo and Guadeloupe which is unchanged since the first edition in 1978.
This most popular solo race, known as the Queen of the Transats, is expected to once again welcome a huge number of visitors to the ‘Corsair City’ between the opening day of the race village on October 25th and the race start. This pre-start festival period will see the intrepid solo skippers take every chance to meet with public visitors over an extended build-up period that will be complemented by the warmth of the welcome in Guadeloupe as race organisers OC Sport Pen Duick look to introduce a series of new innovations to enhance the visitors’ and race followers’ experience on what promises to be a vintage 2022 edition.
Ultimes up close, all in the same docks
Since joining the Route du Rhum in 2010, the giant Ultimes have been required to moor off Saint Malo beside the ferry terminal at the Bourse. Now, following extended discussions and careful planning between the Ultime class and OC Sport Pen Duick, the Ultimes will now dock with the other fleets in the main basins to ensure visitors will be able to walk round and see the entire fleet between the two basins. The Ultimes will join the fleet of 8 Ocean Fifty, 25 Imoca, 55 Class40, 12 Rhum Mono and 12 Rhum Multi in the Vauban and Duguay-Trouin basins. All the boats will be grouped together along the iconic quaysides just adjacent to Intra-Muros (the ancient walled city) and the Palais du Grand Large.
A big, super colourful XXL village open for longer
From October 25th to November 6th, 2022, Saint-Malo will come alive to the vibrant colours of La Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe with an ‘XXL’ village. Open for one day more than in 2018, the entire race village area will occupy an area of 70,000m2 in the immediate vicinity of the basins, some 15% bigger than the previous edition in 2018. Including team stands, spaces for the public, media and partner spaces, this lively race hub is always immersed with an extraordinary, unique energy which inspires racers, teams, and visitors alike. The 2022 village will distil all the magic of a fine rum, delivering a unique and unforgettable experience which is set to be better than ever due to improved flow and an enhanced visitor offering.
That experience will continue upon finishing as the islands of Guadeloupe welcome sailors with great enthusiasm over fifteen days of colourful festivities. These will take place mainly around the ACTe Memorial, a though provoking and popular gathering point for sailors, the media, and the public during the finishes.
Pre-start parades to show off the boats
New for 2022 will be pre-start parades of sail which should give visitors a clear vision of the size and scope of the fleet as viewed from Saint Malo’s ramparts and the shore. Each class will have a day dedicated to their parade, introducing the fleet class by class, which will add to the atmosphere. And again, after the finishes, there will be parades against the beautiful panorama of the Guadeloupe islands.
A renewed visual identity, ‘pop and colourful’
The Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe 2022 welcomes a new visual and a new graphic identity mixing a ‘pop spirit’ and vibrant colours. The poster is based on the strong elements of the race: the black and white bands representing elements of the Brittany and Saint-Malo regional identities as well as the sunny hues of Guadeloupe. And the multitude of sails of different sizes evokes the diversity of the sports field which will take on the mythical course. This new signature of the race will be incorporated on all communication materials.
