Many people come to Saint-Malo to watch the start of the Route du Rhum 2022, staying at our sea-view hotel. Many new features are planned for the 2022 edition of this exceptional event, such as the expansion of the village, the presence of a Ferris wheel and the welcoming of all boats in the harbor.
Three-thousand-seat bleachers to be installed at Naye lock
The passage through the Naye lock as the boats leave the port of Saint-Malo before the start to anchor opposite Dinard is nothing short of spectacular. It will be further improved this year, to the delight of spectators and skippers alike, who also appreciate this moment of sharing with the public before the start on Sunday.
Indeed, unlike the 2018 edition, this year the "Ultime" trimarans - whose exceptional dimensions forced them to remain in the outer harbor - will be able to pass through the Naye lock and offer a spectacle worthy of the race's reputation.
Until now, the width of these boats and the height of their masts have made it virtually impossible to pass through the lock, which is only 25 m wide. What's more, in wind speeds of over 27 km/h, the 35 m high masts make maneuvering impossible.
Tests carried out by the OC Sport Pen Duick team using mini-bridges and protective tarpaulins at the lock entrance and exit showed that the operation was technically feasible, provided the wind did not exceed the 27 km/h limit.
To enable spectators to enjoy the show even more, the organizers have installed bleachers on either side of the lock for the 2022 edition, which can accommodate around 3,000 people instead of the hundred or so in previous years.
Larger pontoons to accommodate more boats
The organizers have reorganized the village to better manage the influx of visitors, which posed a few problems in 2018, and also to take account of the constraints imposed by the Vigipirate plan.
As a result, traffic flow in the village has been improved and new entrances are planned:
- Near the old port silos next to the Compagnie des pêches,
- Close to the Gare Maritime de la Bourse,
- Near avenue Louis-Martin,
- Next to the Porte Saint-Vincent.
Visitors will also be able to move more fluidly along the quays. Similarly, the extension of the pontoons from the Quai Duguay-Trouin to the Compagnie des pêches will make it possible to accommodate more boats.
The organizers will also be installing a Ferris wheel near the new Rocabey entrance, with a height of 40 m offering a breathtaking view of the basins and boats.
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