Race organisers have reshuffled the arrivals schedule at Saint-Malo for Tuesday 20 and Wednesday 21 October, citing forecast weather conditions. The change was made for the safety of skippers, shore teams and spectators.
The issue centres on the IMOCA class. Forecasters cannot guarantee the fleet will be able to arrive safely on Wednesday 21 October, so the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe organisation has brought the class forward instead.
IMOCAs will now arrive on Tuesday 20 October, lining up alongside the Ocean Fifty fleet already due that day. The Tuesday arrival parade stays in place, but Wednesday's parade, originally scheduled separately for the IMOCAs, has been cancelled.
Shoreside entertainment and the staging of the lock passages have also been adjusted to fit the new timetable, so the public can still enjoy what organisers are calling one of the week's highlights.
The updated programme for Tuesday 20 October runs as follows. Grandstands open to the public and roads close at 11.45am. The first boat enters the lock at 12.45pm, followed by further entries at 1.45pm, 2.45pm and 3.45pm, with a fifth and final entry at 4.45pm. Grandstands are cleared between 5.30pm and 6.15pm, with roads reopening at 6.15pm.
Organisers have thanked the public for its understanding and are urging anyone following the race to check the official Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe channels for the latest updates on the programme.
