The 115 sailors competing in the Route du Rhum set sail from Saint-Malo on Sunday in mild weather, embarking on a solo transatlantic crossing. The race began at 12:02 GMT, with boats heading along the Brittany coast in light winds towards a mandatory checkpoint near Cap Fréhel, where crowds had gathered to watch. One competitor, Nicolas d’Estais, described the conditions as ideal before boarding his yacht, Café Joyeux.