(FILES) French skipper Armel Le Cleac'h sleeps while sailing his Ultim multihull Banque Populaire during a training session from Bordeaux to Lorient ahead of the Route du Rhum solo transatlantic sailing race from Saint-Malo to Pointe-a-Pitre, on May 29, 2026. The water slaps against the enormous trimaran as it speeds across a glassy sea. The 12-hour, 400-km night crossing of the Bay of Biscay is just a "tiny" training exercise for Armel Le Cléac'h. Yet it is essential to his "meticulous" preparation for the upcoming Route du Rhum. On this May 20216 evening, the winner of the 20162017 Vendee Globe has switched into competition mode, with his sights set on November 1, the start date of the 13th edition of the Route du Rhum. (Photo by Loic VENANCE / AFP via Getty Images)