As its creator, Michel Etévenon, intended, the first Route du Rhum was the transat of freedom: monohulls and multihulls were mixed without class divisions and without size restrictions. Professionals and amateurs competed under the same rules and all outside aids to navigation were allowed on an open course.
Key info
1st edition
The podium :
- 🥇Mike Birch (23 days, 6 hours, 59 minutes)
- 🥈Michel Malinovsky
- 🥉Philip S. Weld
What to remember from 1978 :
The first transatlantic to overthrow conventional wisdom.
Thirty-eight competitors started the race, barely a quarter of them on racing boats.
Olivier de Kersauson, Philippe Poupon, Florence Arthaud and Bruno Peyron were among those who set sail.
French skipper Alain Colas was lost at sea.
Olympus Photo, the small yellow trimaran sailed by Mike Birch, won by just 98 seconds from Kriter skippered by Michel Malinovski, after 23 days of racing.