France, Nov. 8 -- The 29-year-old skipper of the SVR-Lazartigue completed the 3,542 nautical miles (6,560km) between Saint-Malo in north-western France and Pointe-a-Pitre in Guadeloupe in six days, 13 hours, 27 minutes and 40 seconds to eclipse Charles Caudrelier's 2022 mark by just over six hours.

"I've always seen incredible images of finishes here, of great champions over the decades," Laperche said after his victory.

"My dream, first of all, was to one day sail these boats, perhaps to do some solo sailing, and why not race the Route du Rhum?

"So to win it at the helm of the most beautiful of the boats in the 2026 edition makes me very, very happy."

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