Long before the fleet clears the breakwater at Saint-Malo, the Route du Rhum is coming to them. A travelling roadshow will take the race out of its home port and into three towns across western France this spring.
Organisers Ouest-France and OC Sport Pen Duick have put together the event ahead of this year's race, backed by Suzuki, the Brittany region, and the local councils of Vitré, Granville and Saint-Brieuc. The tour stops in each town on three dates in late September and early October.
First up is Vitré, on Wednesday 30 September, with a village set up outside the train station on Place de la Gare. Granville follows on Wednesday 7 October, then Saint-Brieuc on Thursday 8 October, where the village will take over Place de la Résistance, opposite the La Passerelle venue.
Each afternoon is given over to meeting the people behind the race. Skippers will be on hand for informal chats, alongside partner activities, the race trophy, and TyMAL, the event mascot.
The evenings have a different feel. Each stop includes a documentary screening, a talk, and further conversation with figures from the Route du Rhum, offering a look behind the scenes of one of ocean racing's toughest tests.
Registration for the three evening talks is open now. Vitré's session runs Wednesday 30 September at the Jacques Duhamel cultural centre, from 6.30pm. Granville follows on Wednesday 7 October at Salle de l'Archipel, also from 6.30pm, and Saint-Brieuc rounds out the tour on Thursday 8 October at La Passerelle, again from 6.30pm.
Sailing enthusiasts, families, school groups, or just the curious are all welcome to attend, as the race that has tested and thrilled offshore sailors for decades reaches out to its public before a single boat leaves the dock.
-900x300.png)
