Two Route du Rhum races, two records, one class
Erwan Le Roux won the Route du Rhum in the Multi50 class in 2014 on FenêtréA–Cardinal (11 days 5 hours 13 minutes 55 seconds), then won it again in 2022 in the Ocean Fifty class on Koesio (10 days 21 hours 35 minutes 52 seconds), improving his own course record on the same route. The fourth sailor in history to win the Route du Rhum twice in the same category, alongside Laurent Bourgnon, Roland Jourdain, and Franck-Yves Escoffier. Born on September 7, 1974, in Auray (Morbihan).
A Multi50 career, from start to present
He entered the class via the 2009 Transat Jacques Vabre, which he won as a crew with Franck-Yves Escoffier on Crêpes Whaou! between Le Havre and Puerto Limón. The FenêtréA–Cardinal program then continued with: Transat Québec–Saint-Malo 2012, Transat Jacques Vabre 2013 with Yann Eliès, and Route du Rhum 2014. He won the Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 with Giancarlo Pedote on FenêtréA–Prysmian, recorded two second-place finishes on FenêtréA–Mix Buffet (TJV 2017 with Vincent Riou, Route du Rhum 2018), then switched to Koesio launched in September 2020. Three wins in the Transat Jacques Vabre (2009, 2013, 2015), a second place in 2017, and a second place in 2021 with Xavier Macaire.
The man who structured the Ocean Fifty class
He served as president of the Multi50 class, which became the Ocean Fifty in 2019, for seven years. The ten-boat cap, the partnership with the Pro Sailing Tour, and the shift to a fleet format with coastal race circuits: much of this institutional work is his. He handed over the presidency to Thibaut Vauchel-Camus and remains vice-president. Knight of the Order of Maritime Merit in 2024.
Palmarès
- Route du Rhum 2022 (Ocean Fifty) — winner on Koesio in 10 days 21 hours 35 minutes 52 seconds.
- Transat Jacques Vabre 2021 (Multi50) — 2nd with Xavier Macaire on Koesio.
- Route du Rhum 2018 (Multi50) — 2nd on FenêtréA–Mix Buffet.
- Transat Jacques Vabre 2017 (Multi50) — 2nd with Vincent Riou on FenêtréA–Mix Buffet.
- Transat Jacques Vabre 2015 (Multi50) — winner with Giancarlo Pedote on FenêtréA–Prysmian.
- Tour de France à la Voile 2014 — winner on Courrier Dunkerque 3 with Daniel Souben.
- Route du Rhum 2014 (Multi50) — winner on FenêtréA–Cardinal in 11 days 5 hours 13 minutes 55 seconds.
- Transat Jacques Vabre 2013 (Multi50) — winner with Yann Eliès on FenêtréA–Cardinal.
- Transat Québec–Saint-Malo 2012 (Multi50) — winner.
- Transat Jacques Vabre 2009 (Multi50) — winner with Franck-Yves Escoffier on Crêpes Whaou! (Le Havre → Puerto Limón).
- Tour de France à la Voile 2008 and 2009 — winner on Courrier Dunkerque with Daniel Souben.
- Knight of the Order of Maritime Merit (2024).
