Reigning Route du Rhum champion Charles Caudrelier has been forced to withdraw from the 2026 edition of the race, according to L'Équipe. The French sailor's exit was prompted by damage to a foil aboard his Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, the Route du Rhum organisation reported in a flash update.
The abandonment came during the race's third day, Ouest-France reported in its live coverage. That outlet also reported that Jérémie Beyou withdrew from the event.
Caudrelier's exit removes the defending titleholder from the solo transatlantic race. The Maxi Edmond de Rothschild is the same boat he sailed to victory in the previous edition.
His withdrawal is one of several incidents to hit the fleet in the early stages. French outlet ici.fr reported a series of setbacks at the start of the race, including abandonments, a capsize and a dismasting, alongside what it described as technical problems. The organisation's flash update identified the specific cause on Caudrelier's boat as foil damage.
The race continues without the defending champion, and the coming days will show how the rest of the fleet copes with conditions that have already produced a string of retirements.
