Horeau Breaks Route du Rhum IMOCA Record on Debut

Corentin Horeau won the IMOCA class of the 13th Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe on his first participation, crossing the line at Pointe-à-Pitre on 11 November after 9 days 17 hours 12 minutes 9 seconds at sea. The result, still provisional before the jury, removed 2 days 24 minutes 16 seconds from the previous race record.

One tactical stroke, a 234-mile gap

The race turned on 2 November, the third day. While Sam Goodchild and Ambrogio Beccaria marked each other and closed on Sébastien Simon to the north, Horeau slipped away alone at the head of the fleet.

He found the north-north-westerly flow through a wind-shift trough and headed south. Goodchild and Jérémie Beyou were stopped for more than nine hours; Horeau kept moving at over 20 knots, made 10 gybes, and built a lead of 234 miles.

A career step, measured in record books

The organisers called the move one of the finest tactical strokes of this edition, shedding all rivals at mid-race. Horeau then held his commanding lead to the finish, covering 4,073.18 miles at an average real speed of 17.47 knots.

The 37-year-old, a Solitaire du Figaro winner in 2023, had joined the IMOCA circuit only last season with Yoann Richomme before taking over the MACSF project this year. Earlier setbacks included a 10th place in the 2025 Transat Café L’Or and a retirement from the Vendée Arctique in June.

The organisers noted his childhood in La Trinité and his early dreams of multihull stars. They describe this win as the start of his rise in the class.