Caudrelier defends

Defending Route du Rhum champion Charles Caudrelier returns aboard the new Gitana 18, with the solo transatlantic race set to provide its first competitive test.

Photography by © Y.Riou / polaRYSE / GITANA SA

28 October 2026

Charles Caudrelier will defend his Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe title aboard the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, Gitana 18, trading the familiarity of his record-breaking predecessor for a foiling trimaran still revealing its potential.

The 2026 Route du Rhum starts from Saint-Malo, France, on Sunday 1 November, bound for Guadeloupe.

For Caudrelier, who won the 2022 race aboard Gitana 17, the title defence brings a different challenge: taking a new boat into its first race while continuing to learn how to extract its performance.

Now 52, Caudrelier holds the race record of 6 days, 19 hours, 47 minutes and 25 seconds.

Defending Route du Rhum champion Charles Caudrelier prepares to defend his title aboard the new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (Gitana 18).

Charles Caudrelier celebrates his 2022 Route du Rhum victory with the Gitana team aboard Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (Gitana 17).

The new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild (Gitana 18) will make its racing debut in the 2026 Route du Rhum–Destination Guadeloupe.

Four years ago, he arrived as a Route du Rhum newcomer but a leading contender, having developed a detailed understanding of Gitana 17.

“In 2022, I went into the race as favourite. My boat was ahead of the game,” says Caudrelier. “I’d won everything, I’d done a huge amount of sailing and I was completely comfortable handling Gitana 17.”

Launched on 14 February 2026, the new 32-metre Gitana 18 presents a different proposition. Caudrelier brings greater experience of racing giant foiling multihulls single-handed, but has had considerably less time to learn his latest boat.

“I know she’s fast, but she’s not yet performing at 100 percent of her potential,” he says. “I’m going to discover new things and encounter conditions I haven’t sailed her in before, so I’ll have to adapt.

It’s a different approach, but that’s a challenge I really enjoy. Even if I’m not the favourite, we’re going to do everything we can to fight for the win, whatever happens.”

Caudrelier’s record includes two Volvo Ocean Race victories, a Solitaire du Figaro title and wins in the Transat Jacques Vabre and Rolex Fastnet Race.

In 2024, he added the inaugural Arkéa Ultim Challenge–Brest, completing the solo round-the-world race aboard Gitana 17 in 50 days, 19 hours, 7 minutes and 42 seconds.

Since joining Gitana Team in 2019, Caudrelier has helped develop its foiling multihulls alongside the shore team. He sees that collective effort as fundamental to his prospects offshore.

“I’ve always felt comfortable sailing solo. It’s where I feel I’m at my best as a sailor, and it’s one of my greatest strengths,” he says.

“But, as in Formula 1, a sport I often like to draw comparisons with, even the best driver is nothing without the best car and the best team.”

The new trimaran measures 23 metres across, displaces 19.5 tonnes and carries 450 square metres of sail upwind, increasing to 630 square metres downwind. Its systems include 500 sensors and eight kilometres of electrical cabling.

For Caudrelier, the task is now to translate the team’s development work into performance on the racecourse.

“My job is to turn all that work into results on the racecourse. It’s a huge responsibility.”

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