While Tom Laperche won the 2026 Rhum Route by crossing the finish line in Guadeloupe during the night, Alexia Barrier experienced a very different evening. Aboard IDEC SPORT-CIC, the navigator from Antibes discovered a tear in her mainsail and attempted a repair under difficult conditions. Despite this new breakdown, the skipper continues her progress towards Pointe-à-Pitre.
A torn mainsail after the passage of the depression
The night was eventful for Alexia Barrier. After having anticipated the passage of a tropical depression and gradually reduced sail to cope with strengthening winds, the navigator must now deal with a new technical problem. The mainsail of her maxi-trimaran has torn at the second reef, on the leech of the sail.
A breakdown that forced the skipper to get out her repair kit. « The mainsail is torn, so I have a thing, a karma with mainsails and I’m going to try to fix it », she says with humor.
Alexia Barrier prepared pieces of fabric and acetone to attempt to patch the damaged area. An intervention far from obvious at sea, at night, while the boat continues to move with the waves.
The first attempt was moreover particularly delicate. At the end of the boom, in the darkness and with rough seas, the navigator tried for about thirty minutes to apply patches to the torn area. However, the conditions did not allow her to achieve the desired result.
A complicated repair, but the navigator keeps her composure
This new difficulty comes after several trying days. The passage of the tropical depression had already imposed a succession of maneuvers aboard IDEC SPORT-CIC. With gusts likely to reach 45 knots and rough seas, Alexia Barrier had to gradually reduce sail to preserve her trimaran.
The accumulated fatigue and movements on the boat also complicate technical interventions. The navigator must now find a solution for her mainsail while continuing to manage navigation alone.
Despite the situation, Alexia Barrier does not seem worried. Her experience allows her to put this breakdown into perspective, particularly because finishing without a mainsail remains possible. « Why am I not crying? It’s because I’m not very far from the finish line and I know, from having done it before, that you can finish a race without a mainsail. And besides, I’m going to manage to repair it, so it will all be fine », she assures. Indeed, the Maralpine sailor had experienced similar situations or even far more delicate ones during her Vendée Globe in 2020.
Alexia Barrier continues her route towards Pointe-à-Pitre
The tear does not block the trimaran’s progress. « It doesn’t stop me from moving forward », clarifies the skipper, who is now preparing a jibe to steer IDEC SPORT-CIC towards Guadeloupe.
The navigator must therefore carry out two operations simultaneously: continue her crossing and find a way to permanently repair her sail. No definitive solution has yet been announced after this first attempt.
While winner Tom Laperche has already reached Pointe-à-Pitre, Alexia Barrier continues to face the surprises of this 2026 Rhum Route. Despite this new breakdown, the navigator from Antibes remains determined to reach the finish. « We don’t give up. »
NicePremium is a free, independent local news outlet.
Help us keep going by supporting our work from €5 per month.
