After tackling an English classic in the Rolex Fastnet, the Volvo Ocean Race fleet will now head to a legendary French ocean racing destination, the walled city of St Malo.
Much like current race stopover, Newport R.I on the east coast of the USA, Saint Malo has stately stone homes overlooking picturesque inlets, but more importantly, it shares a baked in sailing fan base.
Since 1978, St Malo has hosted France’s most prestigious solo transatlantic race, the Route du Rhum. Every four years the city comes alive in November with two million fans that crowd the harbour to ogle the 90 boat fleet and catch a glimpse of France’s best solo sailors. Sailors like Jérémie Beyou on Dongfeng Race Team who will be eager to repeat their success in the Rolex Fastnet when they sail into his homeland on Friday morning.
St Malo is a beautiful city, so I’m really excited to get there. St Malo for all sailing fans means the Route du Rhum but it would be great if it could become also the city of the Volvo Ocean Race
Jérémie Beyou- Dongfeng Race Team
France has an incredible history in the Volvo Ocean Race, starting with five entries in the first edition and continuing with France’s most famous solo sailor, Eric Tabarly. France has won the race twice with Leonel Péan in 1986 and Frank Cammas in 2012, both of whom also completed St Malo’s Route du Rhum. Franck won the solo transatlantic in 2010 before going on to win the Volvo Ocean Race. Now, compatriot Charles Caudrelier would like to become the third French sailor to engrave his name on the trophy.
The Volvo Ocean 65 fleet will start the third part of the Leg Zero qualification race from Plymouth at 1200 UTC tomorrow and will backtrack down the Fastnet route to a buoy next to the Needles on the Isle of Wight before heading south west towards the walled city of St Malo. ETA for the fleet is early morning Friday and you are welcome to come watch the fleet rise up through the locks into the inner basin where they will be on display for the public.
