Route du Rhum 2026

From boatyard to the Atlantic. Join the journey.

We are building a competitive Class40 campaign with the ambition to compete
at the highest international level, including the Route du Rhum.

Milan Kolacek

A Czech sailor with the technical knowledge to build, race and lead a serious offshore campaign.

Milan started on Czech waters, then moved through Ireland, New Zealand and Brittany, developing both as a sailor and as a builder of high-performance race boats. That combination is central to the project: this is not a polished story searching for substance, but a substantial project presented with clarity.

He built his own carbon Mini 6.50, won the French Mini class championship, and spent the following years working and racing inside leading offshore programs across Mini, Figaro, Class40 and IMOCA. The long-term vision remains clear: Class40 now, IMOCA next, Vendée Globe beyond.

Career path Czech waters → Ireland → New Zealand → Brittany
Technical edge Boatbuilding, composites and race preparation
Competitive depth Mini 6.50, Figaro, Class40 and IMOCA

Current project

This project is not just about racing.

We are building a new Class40 - Mach 6 model crafted by Sam Manuard - at JPS Production in France. The project is built toward Route du Rhum 2026. Hosted every 4 years, it is one of the most prestigious solo offshore races in the world, and will prove to be a powerful international platform for the project, giving it a clear destination and a compelling narrative.

Our project is about performance, technology, resilience, and pushing limits on the ocean and beyond. It combines serious sporting ambition with real engineering depth, a genuine boat build story, and a format that makes sense for partners, media and audiences alike.

Map of the 2026 Route du Rhum route
Map of the 2026 Route du Rhum route

Current project

Timeline.

Class40 racing offshore
2025 - Racing season

Experience from real offshore races.

The 2025 season was about racing, testing and gaining experience. On board Class40 #176, we entered key international races, including the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Transat Cafe L'Or.

Those races gave us important feedback and experience that we are building on today.

2025 Season
Race village crowd and international event atmosphere
International events with strong public and media presence.

Media & Coverage

A consistent presence across all media outlets.

Our project regularly appears across national media, digital platforms, and international sailing channels, from television and radio to podcasts and social media.

Broadcast & video

Interviews, TV appearances and race coverage.

Česká televize logo

ČT Sport - interview

Watch
Česká televize logo

ČT Sport - Sporting achievements of the year

Watch
Česká televize logo

BBV - more reports on YouTube

Watch
Nova logo

Magazín Víkend (Instagram Reel)

Watch

Articles & audio

Long-form stories, features and podcast conversations.

Radiožurnál Český rozhlas logo

Radiožurnál - interview

Listen
PročNe logo

Article in Hospodářské noviny magazine

Read
Bez frází logo

Follow Me - story

Read
Bez frází logo

Podcast - Bez frází Plus

Listen
iDNES.cz logo

Article on iDNES Sport

Read
Portrait of Milan Kolacek smiling

Let’s work together

Interested in partnering with us or learning more about the project?

We are open to new collaborations and would be happy to explore how we can work together.