3543 miles now separate the 138 competitors from Pointe-à-Pitre in Guadeloupe. The skippers of the Route du Rhum who left Saint-Malo on November 9 will for the 12th time write the legend of this beautiful French sporting event. “The legend of the Route du Rhum” which has just been published by Albin Michel, is a beautiful book which pays tribute to them by Philippe Joubin, with a preface by the navigator Jean le Cam who took part twice in this transat but remained ashore for this edition. The Rum, every 4 years is a bit like the Olympic Games for sailors: one of the biggest French events, like the Tour de France, Roland Garros or the Vendée Globe according to Philippe Joubin.
The Route du Rhum is one of the 4 most beautiful sporting events in France
Philippe Joubin’s favorite corner: the banks of the Rance
The author and journalist in Ouest-France born in Le Mans whose family is from Erquy (22) has been living in Rennes for 7 years after moving away from Brittany. Between land and sea, the banks of the Rance and the village of Saint-Suliac for bucolic walks or navigation are the preference of those who have also pulled a lot from the edges with family on the island of Yeu where his grandfather had gone to live, leaving the Côtes d’Armor. Philippe Joubin previously worked for the magazine “Voiles et Voiliers”, was a senior reporter for “L’Équipe” and is the author of numerous books on sport (cars, sailing, rugby, golf, etc.) such as “La Légende of the Vendée Globe” in 2016.
The journalist’s favourite: Philippe Poupon, the sailor of the 80s is back
Philippe Joubin is particularly touched by the participation of Philippe Poupon at the Route du Rhum. The 1986 winner leaves at the age of 68 on “Pierre 1er”, the sailboat with which Florence Arthaud won in 1990, the only woman to date. Boat attacked by pirates, retyped and renamed “Flo” for the occasion and which appears in the biopic film dedicated to Florence directed by Géraldine Danon, Poupon’s companion. “The legend of the Route du Rhum” also evokes the letter B Mike Birch the first winner of the race in 1978, who died a few days ago at 90 years old, the letter J Francis Joyon who puts his title in play at 66 years old but also the dramas of the race as with the letter C, Alain Colas, this boy from Morvan very posed and skilful in the media disappeared mysteriously during the first edition. Colas, one of the great stars of French sport according to Philippe Joubin, known for his famous confrontations with Tabarly in the 1970s.
– DR
The news that affects the sailor: the drama of migrants in the Mediterranean
When we are at sea, we have an obligation to save people in difficulty
Like many Route du Rhum skippers who have spoken on the subject, sailor and journalist Philippe Joubin is outraged by the dithering around migrants picked up on ships like theOcean Viking from the SOS Méditerranée association, which has been touring at sea for 18 days now and which Italy does not want on its soil. And this against and against all European rules and international maritime conventions. The 234 surviving migrants are finally on their way this Wednesday, November 9 to Corsica.
Philippe Joubin’s musical choice: Moustaki
“The Waters of Mars” by Georges Moustaki is an invitation to travel like the Route du Rhum but above all a beautiful adaptation in French of a Bossa Nova standard, according to the Bretillian journalist who is passionate about this music discovered during numerous trips to Brazil as a senior reporter for “L’Équipe”. His book talks about legends, dramas but also unusual anecdotes: at the letter T of his book, Philippe Joubin tells the incredible story of Tintin, Joël Charpentier’s dog who had already crossed the Atlantic with him. The navigator had therefore decided to take him on board again on the Route du Rhum in 1978: he remains to this day the only one to have done this transatlantic “double”. There is also a vagueness in the rules of this race which could suggest that we could take an animal on board, whereas it is strictly forbidden on the Vendée Globe!
Joël Charpentier is the only one to have done the route du Rhum in double, with his dog Tintin in 1978
Philippe Joubin will be Friday and Saturday at the Book and Sea festival in Concarneau (29) with Jean Le Cam, honorary president of the festival which is held from November 10 to 13 with 140 authors. His book is nominated for the Prix du beau livre maritime, city of Concarneau.