Laperche Leads Route du Rhum Ultim Fleet as Le Cleac'h Gives Chase

Tom Laperche held the lead in the Ultim class of the 13th Route du Rhum on Sunday night, with Armel Le Cleac'h 30 km behind and Anthony Marchand a further 11 km back.

2 Nov 2026

The 13th edition of the Route du Rhum started on Sunday at 13:02, sending the fleet off on a multi-day Atlantic crossing split across six different categories, with newcomers racing alongside seasoned offshore sailors.

In the Ultim class, the headline division of the race, eight competitors are doing battle. At 23:57, Tom Laperche (SVR-Lazartigue) topped the standings, ahead of Armel Le Cleac'h (Maxi Banque Populaire XI), who was 30 km behind the leader.

Anthony Marchand (Actual Ultim 4) sat third at 41 km from the front, while Charles Caudrelier (Maxi Edmond De Rothschild) was fourth, 46 km adrift. Thomas Coville (Sodebo Ultim 3) was listed with the same 46 km gap to the leader, followed by Louis Burton (Ultim Armand Thiery) at 60 km.

Further back, Guirec Soudée (Liam) was 140 km behind Laperche, with Alexia Barrier (Idec Sport) at 149 km, the largest deficit among the eight Ultim skippers in the provisional ranking.

Sources: Le Figaro.