Villejuif, July 27, 2026
Route du Rhum 2026
Jean Le Cam and Christophe Rateau to sail for Gustave Roussy
For the Route du Rhum - Destination Guadeloupe 2026, Jean Le Cam and Christophe Rateau will sail under the colors of Gustave Roussy, the leading cancer center in France and Europe. Competing respectively in the Vintage and Class40 categories, the two skippers will carry the Institute's mission to the general public, supporting cancer research and raising awareness of prevention, innovation and patient care.
The start of the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe will be given on Sunday, November 1, 2026 at 1:02 p.m., from Saint-Malo. Among the 118 skippers taking part in this solo, non-stop crossing to Pointe-à-Pitre, Jean Le Cam and Christophe Rateau will carry the colors of Gustave Roussy throughout the 3,542 nautical miles (nearly 6,560 km) of racing. Facing demanding autumn conditions in the North Atlantic, they will help raise the profile of the Institute's mission and reach a wide audience, in France and internationally, on the challenges of the fight against cancer.
Two skippers committed to Gustave Roussy
Jean Le Cam - Christophe Rateau
Competing in the Vintage category, Jean Le Cam will take the start aboard Alegria-Gustave Roussy, a Swan 59 built in 1986 by Nautor Swan and fully restored under his direction. A legendary figure of French sailing, he has completed nine round-the-world voyages, five Vendée Globe races, three wins in the Solitaire du Figaro and a second-place finish in the 2006 Route du Rhum. For the first time, he will carry the colors of Gustave Roussy throughout this transatlantic crossing.
"Carrying the colors of Gustave Roussy in a race as iconic as the Route du Rhum is a commitment that gives special meaning to this sporting adventure. I am glad to contribute, in my own way, to shining a light on an illness that concerns us all, and to inviting as many people as possible to support Gustave Roussy," says Jean Le Cam.
Aboard the Class40 Gustave Roussy, Christophe Rateau will take the start of the Route du Rhum – Destination Guadeloupe. A doctor and public health specialist who leads in the health and social protection sector, he is also an experienced amateur sailor, having competed in the Solitaire du Figaro, the Transat AG2R, the Transquadra and the Transat Jacques Vabre. In 2017, he founded Team Contre Vents et Cancers, a sporting and charitable project dedicated to the fight against cancer. Since then, he has sailed under the colors of Gustave Roussy to support research, promote prevention and raise public awareness of the benefits of physical activity. Determined to take on this challenge, which is close to his heart, he continues his commitment.
"For nearly ten years, Contre Vents et Cancers has shown that offshore racing can be a formidable driver of mobilization in the fight against cancer. Seeing Jean Le Cam join this adventure alongside the Class40 Gustave Roussy today adds a new dimension to our commitment and will help carry the Institute's values even further. " says Christophe Rateau.
