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The race - History of the Route du Rhum
1990
Thirty-one competitors took part officially and three more outside of the race rules. Some of the leaders were soon forced to retire. This edition was characterised by the different route options, which very quickly determined the final outcome of the race. Philippe Poupon the previous winner remained on a northerly option, while Florence Arthaud and Michael Birch kept to the south. It was Florence Arthaud with Groupe Pierre 1er, who in spite of her physical problems and technical difficulties, which stopped her from knowing the positions of her rivals, won the race setting a new race record of 14 days, almost 20 hours ahead of Philippe Poupon and Laurent Bourgnon.
Florence Arthaud’s fabulous performance, publicised greatly in the media, was the first time a woman had won such a major event.
This edition also revealed the talent of a future winner Laurent Bourgnon, who sailed the whole distance with a leak and came in third.
Some boats remain unranked because of their size and this led to the arrival of the 60-foot multihull class.
The rankings
| Rank | Skipper | Boat | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Florence Arthaud | Groupe Pierre 1er | 14j 10h08'28" |
| 2 | Philippe Poupon | Fleury-Michon IX | 14j 18h39'36" |
| 3 | Laurent Bourgnon | RMO | 14j 18h46'31" |
| 4 | Mike Birch | Fujichrome | 14j 21h47' |
| 5 | Lionel Péan | Saint-Malo | 15j 15h27' |
| 6 | Didier Mundutéguy | Fujicolor | 15j 18h52' |
| 7 | Halvard Mabire | Jamet | 15j 19h08' |
| 8 | Yves Le Cornec | Esso Super Plus | 16j 05h18' |
| 9 | Pascal Herold | Dupon Duran | 16j 06h47' |
| 10 | Francis Joyon | BPO | 17j 13h14' |
| 11 | Titouan Lamazou | Ecureuil d'Aquitaine | 17j 14h15' |
| 12 | Paul Vatine | Haute Normandie | NC |
| 13 | Hervé Cléris | Océanopolis Brest | NC |
| 14 | Patrick Morvan | Dix de Lyon | NC |
| 15 | Claude Develay | Nootka | NC |
| 16 | Guy Bernardin | Rancagua | NC |
| 17 | Patrice Carpentier | Sarthe Compétition | NC |
| 18 | Patrick Lafrate | Trois Quatorze | NC |
| 19 | Henri Chemineau | Toulon Charlemagne | NC |
| 20 | Eric Bardaille | Port de Gravelines | NC |
| - | Jeremi | J.J. Vuylsteker | abandon |
| - | Jean Maurel | Elf d'Aquitaine | abandon |
| - | Henri Cormier | Société J.P. Turco | abandon |
| - | Patrick Coulombel | Vidal | abandon |
| - | Loïck Peyron | Lada Poch IV | abandon |
| - | Bertrand de Broc | Groupe LG | abandon |
| - | Pierre Tanays | Let’s Go | abandon |
Vincent Riou (FRA) (PRB) takes fifth place in the IMOCA Open 60 Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale
Breaking the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 07hrs 05mins 52 mins today (Monday, CET/Paris) (Monday 06 hrs 05mins 52 mins GMT/ Local 03hrs 05mins 52mins (CET -4hrs)) Vincent Riou on the IMOCA 60 PRB took fifth place in the IMOCA Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale solo Transatlantic race which started from Saint-Malo, France at 1302hrs (CET) Sunday 31st October.
The elapsed time for PRB is 14 days 18 heures 03 minutes 52 seconds
His average speed is 11.37kts for the distance he sailed of 4026 miles.
Over the theoretical course distance of 3539 miles Vincent Riou’s average speed is 10.00knots
Riou finished 01 day 00 hours 52mins 56secs after IMOCA Open 60 winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement
Jean-Pierre Dick (FRA) (Virbac-Paprec 3) takes fourth place in the IMOCA Open 60 Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale
Breaking the finish line off Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe at 04hrs 13mins 13 mins today (Monday, CET/Paris) (Monday 03 hrs 13mins 13 mins GMT/ Monday 23hrs 13mins 13 mins (CET -4hrs)) Jean-Pierre Dick on the IMOCA 60 Virbac Paprec 3 took fourth place in the IMOCA Class in the 9th Route du Rhum-La Banque Postale solo Transatlantic race which started from Saint-Malo, France at 1302hrs (CET) Sunday 31st October.
The elapsed time for Virbac –Paprec 3 is 14 days 15hours 11minutes 13seconds
His average speed is 11.36kts for the distance he sailed of 3998 miles.
Over the theoretical course distance of 3539 miles Jean Pierre Dick’s average speed is 10.08knots
Dick finished 22hrs 00mins 17 secs after IMOCA Open 60 winner Roland Jourdain (Veolia Environnement
Rookie IMOCA Open 60 skipper Christopher Pratt is suffering from a complete lack of power on DCNS 1000 due to a problem with the engine of his boat.
The engine failed Thursday and since then he has been running with almost no power. He is navigating off a small hand held GPS.
“Thursday morning I tried to repair the engine but it is the injection pump and so I have been unable to use it and so have no means of recharging the batteries. I have been in virtual blackout since then. I have a little help from the solar power but have been racing with no computer, no pilot, no keel motor, no nav station. There is just the small hand held GPS which I have a waypoint in, and with a little sun have managed to fire up the computer a couple of times. I have been carefully trying to build up enough power in the batteries to use the pilot a little and navigate a little.
But the last two days there has been really very little wind. As soon as I drop the helm it goes through 360 degrees, so I have to steer all the time. I have tried everything. Ive had a pouffe at the helm and steered with my feet as well as my arms and hands. I have not been able to move off the helm much since Thursday. I just go to make some food, then get back to the helm and sleep there. I think I should get to Guadeloupe Tuesday evening.”