_{A multihull showdown is expected with three 70ft (21m) multihulls already confirmed for the RORC Transatlantic Race starting on January 8th, 2022 © Carlo Borlenghi/Rolex/2021 Rolex Fastnet Race}

Entry is still open for the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race, starting from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Canary Islands on Saturday January 8th, 2022.

In association with the International Maxi Association (IMA) and the Yacht Club de France, over 20 teams are expected to race the 3,000 mile course across the Atlantic Ocean to Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada.

The race will feature three 70ft (21m) trimarans, with the strong possibility of Antoine Rabaste’s 80 ft (24m) Ultim'Emotion 2 also in action. The multihull record for the RORC Transatlantic Race was set in 2015 by Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 Phaedo 3. Skippered by Britain’s Brian Thompson, Phaedo 3 completed the race in 5 days 22 hrs 46 mins 03 secs.

For the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race, Brian Thompson will be racing on Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA). This will be Brian’s third RORC Transatlantic Race and having won with Phaedo 3 in 2016 - he has always been on the winning team.

“Both of the previous races have been exciting, with very close racing with Concise 10 (now PowerPlay) and Maserati,” commented Thompson. “The Atlantic is the holy grail for multihulls, but you know it is always going to be tricky at the start escaping the Canary Islands. The first night can be really intense; you have to treat it as a race to get into the trade winds. Someone might have a 10 mile lead at that point and strategically there are options. Often going north looks good on the routing but you can get boat breaking conditions. If there is good breeze south, it is the more traditional fast downwind route, not a boat breaker.”

_{RORC and IMA collaborate with Yacht Club de France for Transatlantic Race - The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race will start on 8th January from Lanzarote, Canary Islands to the Caribbean © James Mitchell}

En français

The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race will see a collaboration between two eminent yacht clubs; The Royal Ocean Racing Club and Yacht Club de France, as they team up for the next edition of the 3,000 nm (5,500km) race from Lanzarote, Canary Islands to the Caribbean.

With an interest in expanding their programme of races, the Paris-based Yacht Club de France were keen to seek an alliance with the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the International Maxi Association to promote the already established RORC Transatlantic Race to its members and affiliated clubs. Modern IRC boats, as well as classic yachts will be invited to participate in the 8^th edition of the annual race which has attracted previous entries from around the world to date.

_{Overall winner of the 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race - Olivier Magre's French Class40 Palanad 3 © Ed Gifford/RORC}

Congratulations to Olivier Magre and his crew on French Class40 Palanad 3 as the overall winner of the 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race. Palanad 3 has posted the best elapsed time under IRC to win the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy. Palanad 3 is the seventh winner of the antique sterling silver trophy and the first Class40 to do so. Antoine Carpentier’s Class40 Redman, also a Mach 40.4, was second overall under IRC.

Listen to Luke Berry talking about using the RORC Transat as a training race before the start Here: https://youtu.be/Z5s9JInlC2U

“I am so happy to have won overall; it is a magnificent trophy!” smiled Olivier Magre. “This is a perfect race for Class40 because it is relatively shorter than other transatlantic races and the timing is perfect to join other events such as the RORC Caribbean 600. I am sure that in the future if we have a number of Class40s it would be a beautiful race and we have the added attraction of challenging bigger boats as well. I think mixing Class40s with other boats under IRC is a good thing because it increases the challenge and the performance required.”

_{Tim & Mayumi Knight celebrate in Antigua after finishing the 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race © Helen Spooner/RORC}

Tim and Mayumi Knight, racing Pogo 12.50 Kai, crossed the Antigua finish line of the RORC Transatlantic Race at 13:50 UTC (30 January) in an elapsed time of 21 days, 2 hours, 50 mins and 07 secs. With all boats accounted for, the 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race has come to an end. As Kai crossed the finish line outside Nelson’s Dockyard, Benedikt Clauberg’s Kali came out to greet them and guide them to their berth.

“680 mile into the race we had a problem with the rig so we have been nursing the boat for 2,000 miles,” commented Tim Knight. “However, compared to the horrible time people have been having with the pandemic, we were in paradise. It was wonderful to see Kali when we finished and we had an amazing welcome in Falmouth Marina. Thank you so much to the RORC; Mayumi and I are very grateful, especially having Tim (Thubron) being so helpful throughout the race."

_{Enjoying a cold beer in Antigua after finishing the RORC Transatlantic Race: Sebastien Saulnier (R) and Christophe Affolter (L) racing Sun Fast 3300 Moshimoshi © Helen Spooner/RORC}

Sebastien Saulnier’s Sun Fast 3300 Moshimoshi crossed the finish line of the RORC Transatlantic Race at 20:12 UTC in an elapsed time of 15 days, 9 hours, 12 mins and 20 secs. Racing with Christophe Affolter, Moshimoshi is the first team to finish the race in IRC Two-Handed. Two years ago, Sebastien and Christophe started to put together the project to race double handed across the Atlantic. The pair were elated to finish the 2,735-mile race from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote to Antigua, West Indies.

_{Antoine Carpentier and team on Class40 Redman finished the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 10 days, 18 hours, 24 mins and 13 secs. Redman Crew: L-R: Pierre Lacaze, Arnaud Aubry, Pablo Santurde, Antoine Carpentier © Helen Spooner/RORC}

Antoine Carpentier’s Class40 Redman crossed the finish line of the 7^th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race at 04:24 UTC in an elapsed time of 10 days, 18 hours, 24 mins and 13 secs. Despite finishing after Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3, Redman’s time was still exceptional. Make no mistake, this was a heavyweight contest between two of the world’s best Class40 sailors, both racing fourth generation Mach 40s. Antoine Carpentier has been racing Class40s for 14 years, winning the 2017 Transat Jacques Vabre and class in the 2017 Rolex Fastnet Race.

“This is an amazing race for a Class40,” commented Antoine Carpentier. “It is a great course for me to prepare for the Route du Rhum because the race is almost the same from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. Interestingly, in this race we had a big problem with seaweed on the rudders, so we are thinking about how to deal with that.

_{Celebrations on board Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon after winning the IMA Trophy and Monohull Line Honours in the RORC Transatlantic Race - Finishing in an elapsed time of 9 days, 18 hours, 53 mins and 40 secs © Ed Gifford/RORC}

Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon crossed the finish line of the 7^th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race at 04:53 UTC in an elapsed time of 9 days, 18 hours, 53 mins and 40 secs. Green Dragon wins the IMA Trophy and takes Monohull Line Honours for the RORC Transatlantic Race. Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3 was less than five hours behind completing the 2735-mile race in a phenomenal elapsed time of 10 days, 1 hour, 43 mins and 18 secs. For the moment, Palanad 3 have scored the best corrected time under IRC for the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

Green Dragon becomes the seventh boat to win the International Maxi Association’s IMA Trophy. Whilst this year’s race is a different route, Green Dragon is the first monohull to complete the RORC Transatlantic Race in under 10 days. The Secretary General of the IMA, Andrew McIrvine commented: “Congratulations and best wishes from the IMA to Johannes and the Green Dragon team. We are sorry not to able to greet you, as we would have in more usual times, but we hope you enjoyed the race.”

_{Crossing the finish line in Antigua at full speed - Multihull Line Honours in the RORC Transatlantic Race for Oren Nataf’s Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella © Ed Gifford/RORC}

Oren Nataf’s Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella crossed the finish line of the 7^th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race at 13:33 UTC in an elapsed time of 9 days, 3 hours, 33 mins and 19 secs.

Racing Two-Handed across the Atlantic in under 10 days is a remarkable achievement. Rayon Vert crossed the finish line at full speed, surfing in the Caribbean swell. Helen Spooner, who has organised the volunteers for every edition of the RORC Caribbean 600, greeted the pair with the assistance of the Antigua & Barbuda Coastguard. Oren and Alex were all smiles, receiving ice cold beers after finishing the 2,735-mile race from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Canary Islands.

_{Luke Berry on Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3 reports in from the RORC Transatlantic Race and the perils of Sargassum seaweed @luke_berry_sailing/@palanad3_sailingteam - RORC YouTube - https://youtu.be/cmIsrUeq1Bo}

The RORC Transatlantic Race reaches an exciting stage on the ninth day with the leading boats closing in on the finish line in Antigua. Oren Nataf’s Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella was under 400 miles from the finish and expected to take Multihull Line Honours on Monday 18th January. Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon is leading the race for Monohull Line Honours and was approximately 500 miles from Antigua.

Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3 was just 60 miles behind Green Dragon and is expected to finish the 2,735 nautical mile race in just over 10 days - lightning-quick for a 40-footer. “The boat is going fast!” commented Palanad 3’s Luke Berry. “The only problem we have is the seaweed. We clean the rudder after a gybe, but have also resorted to taking the kite down and trying to sail backwards. All is good, so we mustn’t complain!”

On the seventh day of the RORC Transatlantic Race the leading boats were approximately 1,000 miles from the finish in Antigua. All of the boats have encountered thrilling downwind conditions in solid ENE trade winds, creating superb oceanic racing conditions.

The Mid-Atlantic battle is led by Oren Nataf’s Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella, which is 1,038 miles from the finish. Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3 is the leading monohull with 1,097 miles to go. However, Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon is closing the gap and is now just 10n miles behind Palanad 3. Antoine Carpentier’s Class40 Redman is also closing in on the monohull leader and the most southerly boat of the fleet.

_{Oren Nataf’s Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella is halfway and leading the fleet in the RORC Transatlantic Race © James Mitchell/RORC}

On the fifth day of the RORC Transatlantic Race all of the competing yachts are fully offshore in the Atlantic Ocean. Life on board will have found a rhythm to the corkscrew motion of surfing downwind for days on end. Oren Nataf’s Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella is leading the fleet and they will be celebrating having crossed the halfway mark in the 2,735-mile race from Lanzarote to the Caribbean. Rayon Vert’s skipper Pella is very much at home in the Atlantic. The Spaniard has won both the Route du Rhum and the Transat Jacques Vabre.

_{Black Pearl IRC56 © James Mitchell/RORC}

Day Two Report - 10 January 2021

The IRC56 Black Pearl, sailed by Stefan Jentzsch, contacted the RORC Race Management Team at 11:30 UTC on 10th January to report that Black Pearl is retiring from the race and heading back to Lanzarote. All are well on board. Black Pearl was approximately 20 miles west of the island of El Hierro, some 250 miles from Lanzarote. The RORC Race Team and Marina Puerto Calero will be standing by should Black Pearl require any assistance.

_{Start of the 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote .The fleet, including Class40 Palanad 3, Black Pearl IRC56 and Rayon Vert will race 2,735 nm to the Caribbean in the 7th edition of the race © James Mitchell/RORC}

The 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race started in glorious conditions outside Marina Puerto Calero on Saturday 9th January.

With the RORC Racing Management Team operating remotely, the race start was officiated by Manuel Torres, Sporting Director, Real Club Náutico de Arrecife. 

With a highly experienced team from the Royal Yacht Club, the RORC fleet got away to a spectacular reaching start for the 7th edition of the race.

Forty eight hours before the 7th RORC Transatlantic Race starts on Saturday January 9th from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Marc Lagesse, the navigator for the IRC56 Black Pearl, spoke about the new water-ballasted sloop from the drawing board of Botin Partners. Just three days before the start, Black Pearl with Stefan Jentzsch on the helm, went out for a training session in 35 knots of wind. Watch the video interview with stunning footage of the brand new ocean-going speed-machine!

The 7th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race in association with the International Maxi Association is set to start on January 9th from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote. The fascination of racing across the Atlantic Ocean is shared by a variety of offshore sailors, from professional teams racing the latest designs, to passionate amateurs fulfilling their dreams.

The 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race will feature two virtually identical Class40s from the drawing board of the highly acclaimed designer Sam Manuard. Both Redman and Palanad 3 were launched in 2020 and are very capable of taking line honours for the race. With a scow bow, massive sail plan and the latest in high tech systems, both are capable of completing the 2,735-mile race in just 10 days.

The seventh edition of the RORC Tragnsatlantic Race will start from Calero Marinas Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Canary Islands on Saturday 9th January 2021 © James Mitchell

The 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race - in association with the International Maxi Association - is scheduled to start from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote on January 9th, 2021. Ten teams have sailed from European destinations to take part in the 2,735-mile race across the Atlantic Ocean. Due to travel restrictions from the UK, the Royal Ocean Racing Club is operating remotely, relying on the expert abilities of the Calero Marinas’ team and the race officers of Real Club Náutico de Arrecife in Lanzarote.

Change of date - The 7th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race will start on Saturday 9th January 2021 from Calero Marinas Puerto Calero, Lanzarote © James Mitchell/Calero Marinas

The Royal Ocean Racing Club have announced a new start date for the 7^th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race.  Traditionally held in November each year from Lanzarote to Grenada, the next edition will start from Calero Marinas Puerto Calero on the 9^th January 2021 and once again finish at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada. This date change is the most significant of a number of subtle changes the RORC is making to its Season Points Championships, which includes making the Rolex Middle Sea Race the first points race in the Championships, not the last, and also changes to the points factors for certain offshore races.

Overall winners, Jangada, approaching the finish line at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada - Photo © RORC / Arthur Daniel

The 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race was an epic 3,000nm race in the wild blue Atlantic Ocean. Childhood 1 posted a 400nm 24-hour run on the way to taking line honours. There was high drama with a man overboard on Jangada, the smallest boat in the race, which was racing doublehanded. The crewman was recovered and Jangada went on to win the race overall under IRC, becoming the smallest yacht to win the race, and the first heroic win for a Two Handed team. All of the yachts received a fantastic send off from Marina Lanzarote and a warm welcome in Grenada from Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina.

The 6th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA), started from Calero Marinas - Marina Lanzarote on Saturday 23 November 2019 bound for Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada. Prior to the start of the 3,000 nautical mile race, a full programme of social activities included a welcome reception hosted by the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife and a gala dinner in the stunning surroundings of the unique volcanic caverns of Jameos del Agua.

Richard Palmer's British JPK 10.10 Jangada was presented with the RORC Transatlantic Trophy in Grenada at a ceremony and prize-giving banquet held at Camper & Nicholsons' Victory Bar and Restaurant. Racing two-handed with Jeremy Waitt, Jangada scored the best corrected time under IRC to win the race overall and completed the 3,000nm race in 17 days 10 hrs 11 mins 06 secs. Jangada is the first two-handed team to win the antique sterling silver trophy, as well as the smallest boat to do so.

“This win absolutely exceeded all our expectations – a great start to the season!” commented Jangada’s owner, Richard Palmer. “The competition out there certainly gave us a run for our money - Childhood 1 was doing 20 knots and we could never match that speed, and Pata Negra 12 knots, but we just said bring it on and we raced hard all the way to the finish. Persistence and perseverance were the key to keep going for each three-hour watch. It was hard work but it paid off. It is absolutely fabulous to be back at Port Louis Marina in Grenada. We were here two years ago and we are looking forward to celebrating for a few days.”

Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Benedikt Clauberg's Swiss First 47.7 Kali finished the RORC Transatlantic Race on 11 December, completing the 3,000nm race in 18 days 08 hours 28 mins and 18 secs. Kali was competing for the second year in a row and beat their finish time for 2018 by nearly 18 hours.