As it does ahead of every major race, Sailorz has asked a panel of experts to assess the contenders in the IMOCA class for the 2026 Route du Rhum-Destination Guadeloupe. Those taking part include the last two winners, Paul Meilhat (2018) and Thomas Ruyant (2022), as well as several other skippers from the class: Yoann Richomme, Nicolas Lunven, Romain Attanasio and Justine Mettraux.
Four years after a record edition that saw 38 competitors on the start line, 22 IMOCA boats will set off from Saint-Malo for Pointe-à-Pitre on 1 November. A significant drop in numbers, which defending champion Thomas Ruyant, one of the major absentees from the 2026 race after failing to secure partners for his new Koch design, believes is easy to explain. “For me, it’s purely down to economics. Our projects are built around long-term commitments, so as soon as confidence in the future starts to waver, we feel the impact immediately. I know that only too well. It’s clear that companies are finding it difficult to commit for the long term, yet paradoxically, enthusiasm for what we do hasn’t diminished. Personally, I’ve never had so much attention.” The sailor from northern France adds: “Four years ago was incredible, but that wasn’t the norm. Twenty-two IMOCAs is a strong fleet.”
There were nine competitors in 2014 and 20 in 2018, meaning two more are taking part this year. According to our six experts, around ten skippers have a realistic chance of a podium finish or a top-five result. However, when it comes to picking the favourites, they agree on three names: Jérémie Beyou leads the way, followed by Sam Goodchild and Ambrogio Beccaria, who are rated equally.
“The most complete skipper-boat combination”
Named as the winner by four of our six experts, Charal skipper Jérémie Beyou has plenty going for him in the race to Pointe-à-Pitre, not least his boat. “I was blown away by her performance in the Transat Café L’Or [which he won with Morgan Lagravière, ed.],” says Nicolas Lunven. “She was consistently posting significantly higher average speeds than her rivals downwind in the trade winds. The team has done a really good job developing the boat, particularly with its rudder system, which helps lift the stern. It’s a clever solution that delivers a significant performance gain, and they’ve now mastered it.”
Thomas Ruyant adds: “Jérémie has come through a season in which he’s continued to learn a lot about Charal [whose hull underwent a major refit last winter; listen to the Pos. Report episode, ed.]. Today, he’s probably got the most complete skipper-boat combination, and the Route du Rhum suits Jérémie because it demands a high level of intensity.”
Paul Meilhat, however, sounds a note of caution about the Manuard design, which is “very fast, of course, but more difficult to sail effectively single-handed because she requires a lot of helming. That’s what they did in the Transat Café L’Or, but you can’t keep that up for nine days in the Route du Rhum.” The recent winner of The Ocean Race Atlantic believes “the main factor” in Beyou’s favour is that this will be his final race in Charal colours, with the partnership ending at the end of the year.
“I know from experience how much extra motivation that can provide. I won my last race with SMA, the 2018 Route du Rhum, and the same thing happened with Biotherm at The Ocean Race Europe last year. When a partnership is coming to an end, you can draw on all the experience gained during the project. Add the desire to finish on a high and probably less pressure, and I think that could free Jérémie up. The mental side of things is particularly important for him.” Justine Mettraux agrees: “It could certainly help him sail with fewer inhibitions.”
Will Sam Goodchild be at a disadvantage downwind?
Behind Beyou, our experts rate Sam Goodchild and Ambrogio Beccaria equally. “Sam is the safe bet,” says Romain Attanasio. “He’s consistently up there in every race, and his boat is well proven.” According to Nicolas Lunven, the boat also “has an edge upwind and in transition conditions, and can get foiling a little earlier than her rivals, which is a huge advantage.” If conditions favour the Verdier design, that could allow the British skipper, who won this year’s 1000 Race and Défi Azimut and finished second in the Vendée Arctique after leading for much of the race, to establish an early lead. “The key for him is to build up enough of a margin to hold on to it for the rest of the race,” confirms Justine Mettraux.
Downwind in the trade winds, however, our experts agree that Macif Santé Prévoyance is less competitive. “Sam is incredibly consistent, but this is a transatlantic race sailed predominantly downwind, and his boat is harder to manage single-handed in those conditions. Her very flat hull shape is less suited to dealing with waves,” explains Thomas Ruyant. He adds a reminder: “Four years ago, Charlie (Dalin) had an 80-mile lead over me, and many people were already tipping him to win. That gave me even more motivation to fight back. If Sam pulls away early in the race, the others mustn’t give up and will need to work hard in the trade winds to catch him.”
That’s advice aimed in particular at Ambrogio Beccaria, who, according to our experts, also has what it takes to win. “Although he’s still got things to learn about getting the best out of his boat upwind, Ambrogio is really tenacious, and he’s better at racing than he is at training. He gives it everything,” says Yoann Richomme. Paul Meilhat believes the Italian’s victory in the Vendée Arctique “probably unlocked something for him. It must have taken away some of the pressure that comes with being the new kid in the IMOCA class and feeling that you have to prove yourself.”
Thomas Ruyant also highlights his former Koch design, launched in 2023, describing it as “a downwind rocket“. The Allagrande Mapei team has “further optimised it around her strengths: they’ve lightened the boat, removed the water ballast and introduced new foils with a different positioning.” He adds: “I know how committed ‘Bogi’ is out on the water. He’s always looking for that little extra something to go faster. He just needs to be careful not to burn himself out. He’ll be a formidable contender if he can sustain that level of commitment throughout the race.”
Could a woman make the podium?
Behind the leading trio, several other sailors are seen as capable of finishing in the top five or even reaching the podium. First among them is Corentin Horeau (MACSF), who, according to Yoann Richomme, “is not only improving quickly, but also has an excellent boat for downwind sailing and heavy weather (his former Paprec Arkéa, which finished second in the 2024 Vendée Globe).”
What about the two new IMOCAs launched last summer: Malizia 4 (Koch design, Boris Herrmann) and Groupe Dubreuil-Air Caraïbes (Verdier design, Sébastien Simon)? “Often, the Route du Rhum is the last chance for the older-generation boats,” says Romain Attanasio, suggesting the new designs may still be too fresh. Justine Mettraux agrees: “Boris and Seb haven’t yet finished making their boats reliable or fully understanding how they work.”
“For me, the Route du Rhum has come a little too soon for Sébastien Simon. However, I think Boris could upset the favourites,” adds Thomas Ruyant, whose boat is a sistership to Malizia 4. “The boat has already completed two transatlantic races, and the team has had the resources to develop her quickly and effectively. The question is whether Boris can quickly unlock the additional performance potential available to him, particularly the lift generated by the rudders.”
Also identified as serious outsiders are Davy Beaudart (Bureau Vallée) – “he’s been lent a boat, and this is a bit of a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him. I can imagine him going all out, and if it pays off, he could achieve something special,” says Romain Attanasio – and the three female skippers Elodie Bonafous (Association Petits Princes-Quéguiner), Francesca Clapcich (11th Hour Racing) and Violette Dorange (Initiatives Cœur). “They’ve shown this season that they can compete at the front. I’d be delighted to see one or more of them on the podium; it’s absolutely possible,” says Justine Mettraux.
“I’m blown away by Violette. I get the impression she’s making the transition from a daggerboard IMOCA to a foiler extremely well,” adds Nicolas Lunven, referring to the youngest skipper in the fleet at 25. Thomas Ruyant, who has sailed with her, describes her as “really impressive. She trims the boat very well, is extremely conscientious and knows how to push hard.” Sailing a sistership to Macif Santé Prévoyance, Elodie Bonafous is considered “remarkably mature” by Romain Attanasio, who also highlights Francesca Clapcich: “She’s often near the front when sailing with a crew, and we’re looking forward to seeing how she performs single-handed.” Paul Meilhat is delighted to see all three sailors in contention for a top-five finish. “With Justine (Mettraux) coming back, and perhaps Charlotte Yven or Amélie Grassi in the future, we’re seeing more and more women competing at the front. It’s fantastic, exactly what we wanted!”
Our experts’ podium picks: 1. Jérémie Beyou, 2. Sam Goodchild and Ambrogio Beccaria
Photo : Jean-Marie Liot/Défi Azimut
