The inaugural RORC Transatlantic Race, in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA), starts on Saturday 29th November from Lanzarote bound for Grenada, 2995 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean. All of the competing yachts are now safely moored in Puerto Calero Marina and last night an informal welcome drinks reception was well received with crews mingling together and recounting tales of their journey to the start.
Derek Hatfield's Volvo 60, Spirit of Adventure, left Lunenberg, Novia Scotia, Canada on 9th November with eight crew on board for the 2,800 nautical mile delivery across the Atlantic to Lanzarote, which took 14 days.
“I have completed 26 Atlantic crossings and this one was the worst I have ever done,” admitted Derek. “It was cold and uncomfortable off the Grand Banks and the bad weather just kept coming and coming. We encountered eight low pressure systems which had spun off the east coast, including two full blown gales. At one point we were sailing upwind in 45 knots for 24 hours and we hove-to for nine hours because it was just too much. For the delivery, we had prepared the boat and the crew in much the same as we will do for the RORC Transatlantic Race and the most important goal is to keep everybody safe. For the delivery we used older sails and not pushing the boat as hard as we would in the race, where we will be ramping things up; changing sail configuration more often and concentrating on fine tuning the trim. Compared to the delivery, we expect the race to be in far more comfortable conditions, but you still have to have respect for the sea. The North Atlantic at this time of year can have storms, so you still have to pay attention, but we expect some pretty nice weather and some full on downwind racing.”
Sensation Class40 was delivered to Lanzarote with a crew skippered by Marc Lepesqueux who has completed the Route du Rhum on two occasions with the Pierre Rolland designed Class40. Sensation left Diélette near Cherbourg, France on the 15th November with a crew of six for the 1500 nautical mile delivery to Lanzarote.
“For the delivery the only stop was in La Coruna for 24 hours. We had over forty knots of wind dead downwind, so we had to gybe a lot but it was a thrilling ride with over 22 knots of GPS boat speed and we were not racing! For the race I will not be onboard, in fact I should not be here at all. At the beginning of the month, I started the Route du Rhum in a new Class40, but 10 hours after the start, I lost my keel but thankfully I didn't capsize. I returned to Cherbourg and I was very happy to bring Sensation to Lanzarote for the RORC Transatlantic Race.”
Oakcliff Racing, the other Class40 skippered by Dan Flanigan, left Southampton, England on the 7th November with a crew of five for the 1500 nautical mile delivery to Lanzarote. The team from the Oakcliff Sailing Academy are all under 27 years old and making their first Atlantic crossing.
“I come from Tiverton, Rhode Island, USA where I grew up sailing. Last year, I was a sapling in the Oakcliff Sailing programme in Rhode Island before coming to Southampton University to finish my Masters degree in boat design. The Class40 we are sailing was donated to Oakcliff by Dave Rearick, after he successfully sailed solo around the world. Dave brought the boat to Southampton and we spent some time converting it from single handed sailing to fully crewed and Dave was nice enough to sail with us to Guernsey for the first part of the delivery to Lanzarote. We had planned a 'turn and burn' in Guernsey, but the weather got pretty bad and we stayed in Guernsey for six days before we crossed the Bay of Biscay in 30 knots of wind. We pulled into Vigo to avoid 35 knots upwind and leaving Vigo, we went west to get a better wind angle to make Madeira and then on to Lanzarote. So we have been sailing the boat for well over a month before we arrived here and it was certainly an adventure just to get here.”
Dimitri Tsallis, Boat Captain on Swan 68, Yacana, left Piraeus, Greece on 1st November for the 2100 nautical mile delivery to Lanzarote with a crew of five.
“Apart from two nights in Cartagena, Spain, we came straight here,” said Dimitri. “After passing Gibraltar, going into the Atlantic was interesting, there was a lot of current and a big swell from the south west accompanied by 30 knots of wind and we put in some westing to avoid beating along the African coast. It took us 13 days to make the trip and we hope that we can complete the RORC Transatlantic Race in the same time. Most of the Yacana crew have sailed together before, so we know who is the best cook and who snores the loudest. There will be a good spirit on board and, with 10 crew, we will be pushing the boat much harder than the delivery. We will have two watches but when we are changing sails or making a manoeuvre, everybody will be taking part, regardless of the watch system. One of the advantages of racing a Swan is that we are not as weight conscious as some of the other boats and we will have good food on board during the trip, including some excellent fresh meat, fish and vegetables and superior Greek olive oil.”
This evening, competitors will enjoy a taste of Grenada courtesy of RORC Transatlantic Race partner, Westerhall Rums.
