After months of work and preparation, Aina Bauzà now has a boat to compete in the 2026 Route du Rhum. The Spanish sailor will compete aboard Class40 No. 161, a Mach 40.4 designed by Sam Manuard.
It is a fast, powerful, and demanding boat that Bauzà will begin to get to know in depth over the coming weeks. The next step will be to sail, fine-tune all of its systems, and log hours and miles solo in preparation for the great transatlantic challenge.
Soon, the sailor will set out on a 1,500-mile solo voyage. This voyage will be essential for fine-tuning the boat, named MAAT, and earning the qualification needed to compete in the Route du Rhum. During the voyage, Bauzà will share daily updates via her WhatsApp community about the progress of the voyage, sea conditions, and any problems she encounters and resolves.
The Route du Rhum will set sail from Saint-Malo on November 1, bound for Guadeloupe. Bauzà will be the only Spanish sailor in the Class40 category and will sail solo for more than 3,500 miles across the Atlantic.
The project is supported by the Alice Milliat Foundation, the Puerto de Andratx Sailing Club, Balearic Helicopters, Ànima Negra, Calisto Consulting, AFSTRANS International, Gill Marine, Nautix Marine Paints, Lorient La Base Course au Large, and LCJ Capteurs.
With the Class40 161 now ready, a decisive phase begins for Aina Bauzà: heading out to sea, racking up miles, and getting familiar with the boat before taking on one of the greatest challenges in ocean sailing.
