France: Route du Rhum yacht race sets off

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The Route du Rhum yacht race began in Saint-Malo, with 115 sailors setting off on a solo transatlantic crossing. Competitors sailed along the Brittany coast toward a mandatory checkpoint near Cap Fréhel in mild weather and light winds.

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. Selina Sykes reports from Saint-Malo.