Loick Peyron who has won the Ultimate class for the 2014 Route Du Rhum with a new race record. Loick was the substitute Skipper who replaced Armel Le Cléac'h who was injured just prior to the race. He has dedicated the win to Banque Populaire's injured skipper who shared his strategies, technical data and practical tips when Loick took over the Banque Populaire for the race.

The last part of the race round Guadaloupe with its high mountain poses a tough finish with shifting airs. Yann Guichard was in second place on the maxi-trimaranSpindrift 2, his experience mainly on multihulls. Spindrift is the worlds largest racing multihull designed for a racing crew of 14 and silencing any doubts that this boat can be raced singled handed successfully.

Francis Joyon on IDEC Sport, 6 times winner of Route Du Rhum finished in 6th place, he averaged 21.3 knots and travelled a course 1000 miles further due to wind patterns. The finish was hard in the lighter airs around Guadaloupe as IDEC is a heavier boat more suited to the Southern Ocean. Right at the start of the race de damaged his main computer, then resorting to his spare which switched off after 2 minutes each time meant that routes and forecasting he only had 2 minutes before the computer shut down.

Spindrift 2 in second place

Photo © Chris Schmid/Spindrift racing & Thierry Martinez

  • Ultimes:
  • 1 - 7d 15h 08 '32 - Loick Peyron (Maxi Solo Banque Populaire Sol VII)
  • 2 - 8d 05h 18 '46 - Yann Guichard (Spindrift 2)
  • 3 - 8d 14h 47 '09 - Sébastien Josse (Edmond de Rothschild)
  • 4 - 8d 17h 44 '50 - Lemonchois (Prince de Bretagne)
  • 5 - 8d 19h 15 '24 - Sidney Gavignet (Musandam, Oman Sail)
  • 6 - 9d 4h 42' 04 - Francis Joyon (IDEC Sport)
  • 7 - 9d 5h 48' 15 - Yann Elies (Paprec Recycling)