At noon on the 25th November 2017, after a week of boat preparation and much appreciated social activities at Marina Lanzarote in Arrecife, a record 23 yachts started the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race bound for Grenada. Teams from nine different nations took part including: Australia, Belgium, Canada, Chile, France, Germany, Great Britain, the Netherlands and the United States of America. Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS took line honours and was awarded the International Maxi Association (IMA) Transatlantic Trophy. Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine was the overall winner under IRC, winning the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

An unusually light southerly airstream greeted the competitors for the start, but the super-light conditions didn't last for long. A low pressure system to the north and a ridge of high pressure to the south blocked the way to the tradewinds and routed the fleet to the north of the rhumb line. After beating into rough seas for most of the second day, CQS was the first to make the dive south. After passing to the north of Tenerife trying to find a narrow gap through the high pressure ridge, CQS made short work of the transition zone to reach the tradewinds.

The crew of Hatha Maris at the finish of the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race

Lyssandra Barbieri's Dufour 40 finished the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 26 days 7 hours 51 mins 50 secs. The record entry of 23 yachts for the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race have now been accounted for. As with every team in the race, regardless of time of day or night. Hatha Maris was greeted dockside at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, with cold beer and a warm welcome. Hatha Maris is the first all-women crew to complete the race.

“Fantastic, exhausted and elated.” smiled Lyssandra having completed the 3000 nautical mile race. “We did not want one more night watch, we were done. Everybody from the marina is here to greet us, there is beer there is food, we are very lucky people. Tonight everybody wants to eat a rare steak and a lot of salad, and rum with coconut water.”

Berry Aarts's Jeanneau 54 Ds, No Doubt, crossed the finish line of the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 23 days, 21hrs, 31mins, 54secs.

1500 UTC 18 December

RORC Commodore Steven Anderson's Cutter Gemervescence, co-skippered by Jane Anderson, has finished the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 23 days 02 hours 53 mins 18 secs.

1200 UTC 17 December

Richard Palmer's British JPK 10.10 Jangada, racing two handed with Rupert Holmes has finished the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 21 days 17 hours 32 mins 55 secs and is the winner of IRC Two and IRC Two Handed. Whilst yachts are still racing, none can better Jangada's IRC corrected time. Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina gave the triumphant duo a warm welcome, as is customary for every arrival in the RORC Transatlantic Race:

1200 UTC 16 December

Three more teams have completed the RORC Transatlantic Race and are safely moored in Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina. Every yacht is greeted as they arrive with cold beers and a warm smile. French Class40 Sensation, skippered by Kai Weekes and racing in IRC One, finished the race in an elapsed time of 17 days 15 hours 39 mins 10 secs. Chris Stanmore-Major's Canadian Whitbread 60 Challenger was the next to cross the finish line in an elapsed time of 20 days 15 hours 17 mins and 40 secs. “It’s been a long time at sea, but I have to say that the crew are a much better unit and far better sailors than they were at the start in Lanzarote,” commented Chris Stanmore-Major. “We will not be in Grenada for long unfortunately as we want to do a lot of work to the boat for our next race; the RORC Caribbean 600.”

RACE UPDATE:  14 December 2017

Broader View Hamburg secure victory in IRC One

Steve Cole from the RORC Race Office presents skipper, Bjoern Woge of German Andrews 56, Broader View Hamburg with their trophy for winning IRC One in the RORC Transatlantic Race
© RORC/Arthur Daniel

The podium for IRC One is now complete in the RORC Transatlantic Race and is occupied by three German yachts; all skippered and crewed by fathers and sons. There were emotional scenes as the teams arrived at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina after racing 3,000 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean.

Andrews 56 Broader View Hamburg, owned by Hamburgische Verein Seefahrt and skippered by Bjoern Woge, has won IRC One in the RORC Transatlantic Race. Broader View Hamburg was the first yacht to complete the race in IRC One in an elapsed time of 17 Days 5 Hours 18 mins 56 secs. Friedrich Boehnert's Xp-50 Lunatix was second and Johann von Eicken's Swan 56 Latona was third.

Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine was today declared the overall winner of the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race. Whilst a number of the record 23 yacht fleet are still racing, none of them can better Teasing Machine's corrected time under IRC. Teasing Machine is the smallest yacht to win the RORC Transatlantic Trophy, which has been previously won by yachts in the Maxi Class.

From L to R: RORC Chief Executive Eddie Warden Owen and RORC Admiral Andrew McIrvine with Teasing Machine's Tony Brochet and Betrand Castelnerac © RORC / Arthur Daniel

"To win the RORC Transatlantic Race is just fantastic," commented Eric de Turckheim. "It is not just a personal achievement to win my first ever Transatlantic Race, because it has been such a massive team effort. Teasing Machine was only taking part in her second offshore race, and to build a team to that performance level within four months has required a huge commitment from everyone, but especially Laurent Pages."

On the 17^th day of the RORC Transatlantic Race five teams completed the 3,000 nautical mile race within a 10 hour period and 11 yachts are still at sea. Monday's finishers included four young German teams and Gerald Bibot's Belgian catamaran Zed 6. Mathias Mueller von Blumencron's Red was the winner of the Class40 Division for the RORC Transatlantic Race.

Red completed the race in an elapsed time of 15 days 17 hours 25 mins 25 secs to take a hard-earned victory from Berthold and Tobias Brinkmann's MarieJo, which was just under nine hours behind. The Class40 lead had changed hands at least three times during the race, but it was Red with a young but very experienced crew that has been together for many years and raced thousands of miles, that took the Class win.

RACE UPDATE: Day 16 1400 UTC 10 December 2017

An emotional arrival into Grenada for Roman Guerra's team on Volvo 70 Monster Project © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Roman Guerra's Volvo 70 Monster Project finished the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race on Sunday 10 December 2017 in an elapsed time of 14 days 21 hrs 39 mins 46 secs. Sixteen yachts are still racing across the Atlantic Ocean and a number of teams will finish the 3,000 nautical mile race over the next 48 hours.

Monster Project safely moored at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina and the team cracked open the cold beers:

"None of this team has raced across the Atlantic before and it all got pretty emotional when we finished. All of us got a bit teary," commented Monster Project skipper, Roman Guerra. "There are so many memorable moments, but racing at over 30 knots of boat speed two nights before the finish, was really special. The crew described it as awesome, scary, wonderful and just unreal. Any serious sailor wants to race across the Atlantic in a Volvo 70 and we are proud to have done it. A big thank you to the RORC for running such a great race."

Day 15 1000 UTC 09 December.

Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine finished the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race on Friday 8 December in an elapsed time of 13 days 19 hrs 29 mins 08 secs. The French team lead the race overall after IRC time correction. Canadian Southern Wind 96 Sorceress, skippered by Daniel Stump and Tilmar Hansen's German Elliot 52 Outsider have also finished the RORC Transatlantic Race. 17 yachts are still at sea, vying for the finish line outside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada.

Teasing Machine arrived at sunset on the 14th day of the race and has one hand on the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy. The team cheered for joy as they crossed the finish line.

“We are very happy to be here in Grenada,” smiled Eric de Turckheim. “This is my first transatlantic race and it has been fantastic. Every time I finish any race, be it a running marathon or a yacht race, you feel emotional, but also relaxed. Your mind, body and soul is released from that concentration. For me a memorable moment was passing through the transition zone after the start. We had been upwind for a long time and we had a short passage of very light winds before we got into the tradewinds. One night it was so beautiful, flying the Code Zero, doing just four knots. There was no noise, nothing and the moon almost full. It was just magnificent!”

RACE UPDATE: Day 14 0800 UTC 8 December 2017

Happy to be in Grenada after a competitive race - Team Aragon dockside at C&N Port Louis Marina © RORC/Arthur Daniel

The second boat to finish the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race was Jochen Bovenkamp's Marten 72 Aragon, crossing the finish line in Grenada at 07 hrs 49 mins 37 secs UTC on Friday 8 December. Completing the race in an elapsed time of 12 days 19 hrs 49 mins 37 secs, the powerful Maxi showed a tremendous turn of speed in the last 24 hours to power ahead of their close rivals. Aragon now takes the overall lead after IRC time correction for the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

RORC Admiral, Andrew McIrvine and Port Louis Marina General Manager, Glynn Thomas welcomed Aragon and her team on arrival at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina. Once safely docked, the crew enjoyed an ice-cold beer for the first time in nearly two weeks.

RACE UPDATE:  7 December 2017

21 yachts are still racing in the RORC Transatlantic Race. At 0800 UTC on the 13th day, Jochen Bovenkamps's Marten 72 Aragon was 273 miles from the finish and estimated to arrive at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina around midnight local time on Thursday 7th December. The ETA for Teasing Machine, Sorceress and Outsider is Friday 8th December.

2016 RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy winner, the Dutch Marten 72 Aragon is scheduled to be the next yacht to finish the 3,000 nmile race from Lanzarote to Grenada © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Line Honours winner, Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS will be awarded the International Maxi Association (IMA) Transatlantic Trophy later today. CQS has also set the IRC corrected time to beat for the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy. In IRC Zero, Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine is expected to finish well inside the required time to lead the race overall.

RACE UPDATE: 6 December 2017

Monohull line honours secured in the RORC Transatlantic Race (Leg 1 Atlantic Anniversary Regatta)
by Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS and his multinational crew. Dockside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada
© RORC/Arthur Daniel

Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS finished the 2017 RORC Transatlantic Race on Wednesday 6th December taking Monohull Line Honours in an elapsed time of 11 days 00 hrs 03 mins 08 secs. CSQ committed to a southerly route for the 3,000 nautical mile race and despite sustaining sail damage in a vicious 40 knot squall, the canting keel 98ft Maxi led from start to finish. Ingvall is no stranger to taking line honours in prestigious offshore races, twice taking the honour in both the Rolex Fastnet Race and the Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. This was Ludde Ingvall's 16th transatlantic.

Day 11 Race Update: 1200 UTC 05 December 2017

Provisionally leading overall under IRC, Eric de Turckheim's French Teasing Machine is under threat from last year's winning Maxi, Marten 72 Aragon and Southern Wind 96 Sorceress © RORC/James Mitchell

Ludde Ingvall's Maxi CQS is expected to finish the 4th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race tomorrow, and the overall leader under IRC - Eric de Turckheim's French Teasing Machine - is under threat from two Maxis. Everyone is keeping a close eye on the race tracker as the fleet near Grenada; especially as a high pressure system is expected to create another conundrum for the majority of the fleet.

Day 10 Race Update: 1100 UTC 04 December 2017  

Back on track after 40 knot knock-down - Ludde Ingvall's Australia Maxi CQS © RORC/James Mitchell

Ludde Ingvall’s CQS suffered a setback in the RORC Transatlantic Race:

“We got caught in a bad squall of probably 40 knots which resulted in a number of issues,” Ingvall reported from on board on day 10 of the race. “There has been damage to sails and onboard electronic systems, but we are still progressing towards the finish.” Kenneth Thelen, co-skipper for Australian Maxi CQS confirmed that all of the crew of the 96ft canting keel Maxi were safe and well. Describing the damage he said: “Part of our electronics failed, making it hard to sail in the dark. We blew our biggest spinnaker, but it is repairable. As we went into a gybe the engine stalled and we lay flat on our side for a while which resulted in a diesel spill inside the boat, so the smell is terrible in the heat! We broke the top three battens in the mainsail, but we are still sailing towards the finish at reasonable speed, in pouring rain. We will assess the situation at first light.”

1000 UTC 03 December 2017

On the ninth day of the RORC Transatlantic Race, twenty teams are now south of the rhumb line with the vast majority enjoying fast running conditions in the northeast trade winds. Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS is under 1000 nautical miles from Camper & Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina, 380 miles ahead of the fleet to take Monohull Line Honours and the IMA Transatlantic Trophy. Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine is still the provisional leader overall under IRC. However four other teams are also in the hunt for the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy; CQS, Jochen Bovenkamp's Marten 72 Aragon, Teichmann & Thomas Jungblut's German Elliott 52 Outsider, and Canadian Southernwind 96 Sorceress, skippered by Daniel Stump.

CQS has been hitting over 20 knots of boat speed, surfing down Atlantic rollers, but it has not all been plane sailing as their blog shows. “The A2 spinnaker had been up for four days during the RORC Transatlantic Race when a two foot tear appeared during a gybe. A4 hoisted, A2 doused, repaired, repacked and hoisted. Total time 90 minutes. All 15 crew working flat out. Now that’s what I call teamwork!”

Day 7 Race Update: 0900 UTC 01 December 2017

Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS is approaching the half way mark of the RORC Transatlantic Race © RORC/James Mitchell

After nearly a week at sea, Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi CQS is approaching the half way mark of the RORC Transatlantic Race, blast reaching in perfect trade wind conditions. CQS has opened up a lead of 130 miles on her nearest rival. Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine is estimated to be leading the race overall after IRC time correction. To set a new race record, CQS needs to finish the race before Tuesday 5th December 1900 hours 06 mins 59 secs UTC.

Teasing Machine is currently negotiating the ridge of high pressure, which forms a barrier to the trade winds, and is making good progress to achieve this goal. Aragon and Sorceress have been the two leading maxis in the RORC Transatlantic Race, and split tacks at about sunset on Day 6. Jochen Bovenkamp's Marten 72 Aragon chose to continue west, whilst Canadian Southernwind 96 Sorceress skippered by Daniel Stump, chose to move south.

Day 6 Race Update: 0900 UTC 30 November 2017

On day 6, a close battle is being played out between three youth offshore training boats: HVS's Haspa Hamburg & Broader View Hamburg and SKWV's Bank von Bremen © RORC/James Mitchell

Different strategies in tackling the complex weather scenario for the RORC Transatlantic Race have caused a huge spread in the fleet, with boats 800 miles across the Atlantic Ocean, north to south. Ludde Ingvall's Australian Maxi leads the fleet, gybing further south last night and covering 247 miles in the last 24 hours. CQS is under 2,000 miles from the finish at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada. CQS is 150 miles ahead of Canadian 96ft Southern Wind Sorceress in the battle to win the International Maxi Association (IMA) Transatlantic Trophy for monohull line honours.

Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt-Muratet 54 Teasing Machine is estimated to be leading after IRC time correction, and has made a move south to punch through the high pressure ridge, along with Sorceress. For now, Jochen Bovenkamp's Marten 72 Aragon is continuing west, beating along the bottom of the low pressure system north of their position. The majority of the fleet are approximately 250 miles behind the leading pack. Two yachts have continued to beat into the low pressure system to the north of the rhumb line; Roman Guerra's Volvo 70 Monster Project and Johann von Eicken and Pit Brockhausen's German Swan 56 Latona.

Near the rhumb line, a close battle is raging between three German yachts of near-equal size; all of which are youth training vessels. Haspa Hamburg, owned by Hamburgischen Verein Seefahrt (HVS) and skippered by 21-year old Max Gärtner, leads on the water by just two miles from SKWV's Bank von Bremen skippered by 29-year old Alexander Beilken. Meanwhile, HVS's second boat in the race, Broader View Hamburg is estimated to lead the trio after IRC time correction. Fifty percent of the crew on the club's Andrews 56 are between 18 and 22 years and include skipper, Björn Woge's 19-year old son.

Day 5 Race Update: 0800 UTC 29 November 2017

Grenada-bound, Canadian Southern Wind 96, Sorceress at the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote - the westward leg of the Atlantic Anniversary Regatta © RORC/James Mitchell

The record fleet in the RORC Transatlantic Race (1st leg of the westbound Atlantic Anniversary Regatta) have been at sea for five days now, and all of the 22 yachts still racing have turned their bows south towards Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina on the spice island of Grenada.

The majority of the fleet have yet to cross a long ridge of high pressure extending from the Canary Islands across the Atlantic to reach the northeast tradewinds. Over the next day or so, one of the biggest tactical decisions will play out in the 3,000 mile offshore race; crossing this area of light winds as quickly as possible will be richly rewarded. Leaders are beginning to emerge in the relative classes and the line honours leader, CQS has a virtual opponent to contend with.

In the early hours of day 5, Eric de Turckheim's French Nivelt Muratet 54 Teasing Machine and Bo Teichmann & Thomas Jungblut's German Elliott 52 Outsider were the first to alter course south to cross the ITCZ. In the leading Maxis, Jochen Bovenkamp's Marten 72 Aragon was the first to dive south, followed by Canadian Southern Wind Sorceress, skippered by Daniel Stump.