Sailors Finish Route du Rhum With Joy and Emotion
Listen to the story
The Route du Rhum is a well-known transatlantic sailing race. It takes sailors from France to Guadeloupe, crossing the Atlantic Ocean alone.
Basile Bourgnon is among the sailors competing in this edition. His family has a strong sailing background, and some describe his success as a kind of heritage, passed down through generations.
Corentin Horeau is another key figure in the race. He sails a monohull, a boat with a single hull, unlike boats with two or three hulls.
Horeau became the first monohull sailor to complete the Route du Rhum this year. His achievement was widely noted by fans and media covering the event.
"I am very happy to arrive here first," Horeau said after crossing the finish line, expressing clear joy at his result.
The race is known for being extremely demanding. Sailors spend days or weeks at sea, facing large waves, strong winds, and unpredictable weather conditions.
The French sports program Stade 2 covered the story, highlighting the emotional moments experienced by both Bourgnon and Horeau as they reached the coast.
For many competitors, finishing the race brings a mix of relief, pride, and deep emotion after such a long and difficult journey alone.
The Route du Rhum takes place every four years and attracts sailors from different backgrounds and experience levels.
Both Bourgnon and Horeau demonstrated strong skill and determination throughout the race, earning recognition from the sailing community.
Their performances added to the emotional atmosphere surrounding this edition of the competition, as families and fans celebrated their arrivals.
Vocabulary4 words
- transatlantic
- crossing the Atlantic Ocean
- heritage
- something important passed down in a family
- monohull
- a boat with just one main body
- waves
- large moving sections of water in the sea
Quiz
Answer key
1. France to Guadeloupe 2. He was the first monohull sailor to finish 3. False
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Fill-in-the-blank listening
Play the audio again and fill in the missing words as you listen.
The Route du Rhum is a well-known _____ sailing race.
It takes sailors from France to _____.
Basile Bourgnon is among the sailors _____ in this edition.
Some describe his success as a kind of _____.
Corentin Horeau sails a _____, a boat with a single hull.
Horeau became the first monohull sailor to _____ the race.
"I am very happy to arrive here _____," Horeau said.
Sailors face large waves, strong _____, and unpredictable weather.
The French sports program Stade 2 _____ the story.
The Route du Rhum takes place every _____ years.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think sailors choose to compete in such a difficult race?
- How do you think it feels to finish a long solo race like this?
- What skills do you think are important for ocean sailing?
- Do you think family history can influence someone's success in sports? Why or why not?

