French sailor Tom Laperche won the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum, on Saturday night, setting a new record for the crossing between Saint-Malo and Pointe-à-Pitre. At 29 years old, the skipper of the maxi-trimaran SVR-Lazartigue completed the race in 6 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds, improving the previous record held by Charles Caudrelier since 2022 by more than six hours. The Breton sailor triumphed a week after the departure of the 115 skippers from Saint-Malo.
Having set off from Saint-Malo on November 1st, Tom Laperche crossed the finish line on Saturday at 10:31 PM local time in Guadeloupe , which was 3:31 AM Paris time on Sunday. He covered 4,308 nautical miles, or nearly 8,000 kilometers, at an average speed of 27,18 knots, approximately 50 km/h. The theoretical course of the race was 3,542 nautical miles.
A four-year-old record broken by more than six hours
Tom Laperche has erased Charles Caudrelier's record from the record books. Caudrelier won the Route du Rhum aboard the maxi-trimaran Gitana 17 in 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes, and 25 seconds. The new winner improved on that record by 6 hours, 19 minutes, and 45 seconds.
The skipper of SVR-Lazartigue took the lead in the fleet as soon as they rounded Cape Fréhel at the start of the race, before maintaining first place all the way to Guadeloupe. Despite challenging weather conditions, marked by the absence of the usual trade winds, numerous sail changes, and demanding maneuvers, he managed to maintain a high speed throughout the crossing.
His lead was also built in a race marked by several retirements. Anthony Marchand had to withdraw due to a rudder problem, while Charles Caudrelier was forced to retire after a foil failure. Armel Le Cléac'h, who was in contention for the top spots, capsized off the Azores before being rescued by a merchant ship.
"This is my dream race": Tom Laperche's emotional reaction at the finish line
Moments after crossing the finish line, Tom Laperche expressed his joy at winning a competition he had dreamed of since childhood. "It's a huge victory. It's my dream race. When I started my career, it was the race to win."
The sailor also confided: “It’s truly fantastic. I’m incredibly happy. It went extremely well. It’s a bit of a high point in my life.” He recounted feeling exceptional confidence in his boat during the final days of sailing: “I was incredibly confident. I didn’t even need to wake up. I was completely at one with the boat. It was magical.”
The crossing nevertheless demanded considerable physical effort from him. "I always told myself that these long races were tough. I expended a huge amount of energy, but there was pleasure in that expenditure."
At 29, he joins Marc Pajot and Laurent Bourgnon in the history of the race
With this victory, Tom Laperche becomes the third sailor under 30 to win the Route du Rhum. Before him, Marc Pajot won the race at 29 in 1982, then Laurent Bourgnon at 28 in 1994.
Originally from Brittany , Tom Laperche grew up in a family passionate about sailing. His father, Philippe Laperche, had himself participated in the Route du Rhum in 2010, finishing fourth in the Multi50 category. The young sailor had followed the competition before participating in the delivery of the family boat back to Brittany.
His sporting career led him to win the Solitaire du Figaro in 2022, before taking the helm of SVR-Lazartigue, the maxi-trimaran developed around François Gabart. In 2024, he participated in the Arkéa Ultim Challenge, a solo round-the-world race, but was forced to abandon the race after a collision with an unidentified floating object.
In 2025, he won the Transat Café L'Or alongside Franck Cammas, confirming his progress in major ocean races.
A victory marked by the rescue of Armel Le Cléac'h
Tom Laperche's performance also includes a notable episode. During the crossing, the skipper altered his course to come to the aid of Armel Le Cléac'h, who had capsized off the Azores. He was subsequently released from his obligation to provide assistance by the race organizers.
He was granted 1 hour and 2 minutes of time compensation following a claim from his team. His reference time of 6 days, 13 hours, 27 minutes, and 40 seconds is announced subject to the jury's decisions and without application of this bonus.
The Route du Rhum continues for the other competitors
This 13th edition of the Route du Rhum is not yet over for the other categories. After the arrival of the Ultim giants, the IMOCA monohulls are expected in Guadeloupe from Tuesday, while the other competitors continue their Atlantic crossing.
For Tom Laperche, this first participation ends with a victory and a new record, four years after Charles Caudrelier's triumph.
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