Louis Burton has claimed third place at the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe, crossing the finish line on Sunday 8 November at 2.30pm local time, 7.30pm in Paris.
The 41-year-old from Saint-Malo sailed the course in 7 days, 6 hours, 28 minutes and 42 seconds. He finished 17 hours and 1 minute behind winner Tom Laperche on SVR-Lazartigue, and just 1 hour, 48 minutes and 37 seconds adrift of second-placed Thomas Coville on Sodebo Ultim 3.
It was Burton's first transatlantic race aboard his Ultim, Armand Thiery, a boat he took command of only partway through the season. He is also the first sailor from Saint-Malo to finish in this 13th edition of the race, a fitting result given the fleet starts from his home port.
Burton made his name in IMOCA, contesting four editions of the Vendée Globe including a third place in 2020. That chapter closed when his 15-year partnership with sponsor Bureau Vallée ended. A father of two in his forties, he was determined to come back, and he dreamed of Ultim.
"L'Ultim, c'est mieux que la légion d'honneur," he said in an interview, meaning the Ultim class means more to him than the Legion of Honour. He found a partner willing to back him at least through to the Arkéa Ultim Challenge Brest in 2028.
Since then, Burton has been relishing what he calls the "fabulous sensations of flight and lightness." The adjustment hasn't been simple. As an aggressive IMOCA skipper, he has had to learn the composure needed to manage a huge flying multihull, and he has picked it up fast.
He had set himself a target of a top five finish. He got a podium instead.
The race suited his style. From the start, Burton surprised the fleet, mixing it with the Laperche and Le Cléac'h duo among the chasing pack despite having logged the least time aboard his boat, the former Macif 100 raced by François Gabart, a shorter and less potent machine than the newest generation Ultims.
He was there at every transition and did not flinch when a brutal cold front swept through, the same system that capsized Maxi Banque Populaire XI.
Burton pushed Thomas Coville all the way to the finish, closing to within 20 miles as the fleet passed through the eye of a tropical depression.
Getting the best out of a tricky boat in difficult weather, on his debut no less, Burton arrived in Pointe-à-Pitre with his head held high and the respect of his rivals intact.
