Overall winners of the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race, Kuka3 © RORC/Arthur Daniel

The 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA), started from Calero Marinas - Marina Lanzarote on Saturday 24 November 2018. 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 farewell dinner at the 18th century Arrecife fortress, Castillo de San José. After an initial period of light winds, the fleet enjoyed perfect trade wind conditions for the race.

Overall Winner – Kuka3 (SUI)
Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3, skippered by Roberto Chuny Bermúdez de Castro, won the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy after overcoming technical issues and a fire on board to post the best IRC corrected time. Franco was presented with the antique silver trophy by Grenadian Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation, Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, M.P. at a ceremony held at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada.

"This was my first Atlantic crossing and it could not have been better than this," commented Franco Niggeler. "Grenada is a beautiful island with beautiful people and we can't be happier. It is a wonderful race, well organised by RORC, and not forgetting Calero Marinas - Marina Lanzarote. A big thank you to my team.”
Multihull Match Race

The crew from Kali dockside at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina © Arthur Daniel

Benedikt Clauberg’s First 47.7 Kali, owned by the Swiss Ocean Racing Club and skippered by Corinne Wirth, completed the 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, finishing on Thursday 13th December in an elapsed time of 19 days 2 hrs 18 mins and 4 secs.

The six crew, led by Benedikt Clauberg and Corinne Wirth, with Martin Weber, Hans Peter Berger, Jessica Richardson and Kyriakos Spiliopoulos were happy to finally hear the words “Welcome to Grenada!” as they crossed the finish line and headed for the dock at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina.

Marina Manager Charlotte Bonin had the beer on ice and Nikoyan Roberts from the Grenada Tourism Authority greeted the team with a gift basket of Grenadian goods, including their world famous chocolates and highly prized rum.

Second overall after IRC time correction for the smallest boat in the competition: Trevor Middleton's Sun Fast 3600 Black Sheep. 

Trevor Middleton, Jacob Carter, Joe Simmons, Paul Hardy, Matthew Morton © RORC/Arthur Daniel

 Sirius, Black Sheep and Xtra Staerk have joined the roll of honour for the 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, arriving in Grenada to a warm welcome and iced cold beers. Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina provide centre stage for the arrivals on their superyacht dock, and Marina Manager Charlotte Bonin keeps the beer on ice until the boats arrive. Nikoyan Roberts from the Grenada Tourism Authority also greets every boat with a gift basket of Grenadian goods, including their world famous chocolates and highly prized rum.

Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3, skippered by Roberto Chuny Bermúdez de Castro has been announced as the overall winner of the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race.

Franco Niggeler's Cookson 50 Kuka3 lift the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy after setting the best time after IRC correction © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Franco Niggeler was presented with the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy by Grenadian Minister for Tourism & Civil Aviation, Dr. Clarice Modeste-Curwen, M.P. at a ceremony held at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada. Whilst several yachts are still racing, none of them can beat the time set by Kuka3 after IRC time correction. 

"This was my first Atlantic crossing and it could not have been better than this," commented Franco Niggeler. "Grenada is a beautiful island with beautiful people, and we can't be happier. It is a wonderful race, well organised by RORC, and not forgetting Calero Marinas - Marina Lanzarote; and a big thank you to my team."

Henrik Bergesen's Norwegian Class40 Hydra finish in Grenada. Skippered by Tristan Kinloch, Hydra finished the RORC Transatlantic Race at 22:02:23 UTC on Sunday, 09 December in an elapsed time of 15 days 10 hrs 2 mins 23 secs.

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Team Hydra Class40 finishes in Grenada: Pip Hare, Henrik Bergesen, Paul Peggs, Tristan Kinloch © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Henrik Bergesen's Norwegian Class40 Hydra, skippered by Tristan Kinloch, finished the RORC Transatlantic Race at 22:02:23 UTC on Sunday, 09 December in an elapsed time of 15 days 10 hrs 2 mins 23 secs. Hydra was runner-up in the Class40 Division to Catherine Pourre's Eärendil. Early in the race, Hydra was very much in contention for the class win until a rudder problem forced the team to make a pit stop in the Cape Verde Islands. After completing the race, Hydra's team received a warm welcome on the dock from RORC CEO Eddie Warden Owen and Race Officer Steve Cole. Marina Manager Charlotte Bonin greeted the team with ice cold beers and presented the crew with a basket of Grenadian goods, including rum and chocolates, courtesy of the Grenada Tourism Authority.

It's been an epic race; absolutely fantastic," commented Henrik Bergesen dockside at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina. "I have had a great crew and we had perfect conditions. We had an issue with the rudders, but we came back and did a good job; we kept going and got back into second place, so I am very happy about that. After eating freeze dried food and desalinated water, the beer tastes really good. We are looking forward to some real food; barbecue chicken I think! After this race, we're well prepared for the RORC Caribbean 600 in February and it should also be great fun."

_{Class40 Line Honours for the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race - Catherine Pourre's French Class40 Eärendil makes her way to the dock at C&N Port Louis Marina, Grenada © RORC/Arthur Daniel}

Catherine Pourre's Class40 Eärendil finished the 2018 RORC Transatlantic Race on Saturday 08 December at 04:10:18 taking Class40 Line Honours for the 3,000 mile race from Calero Marinas Marina Lanzarote to Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada.

After completing the race, Catherine and crew members Pietro Luciana and Gery Atkins received a warm welcome from RORC Race Officer Steve Cole, and Marina Manager Charlotte Bonin greeted the team with ice cold beers. Nikoyan Roberts presented Eärendil with a basket of Grenadian goods, including rum and chocolates, courtesy of the Grenada Tourism Authority. There was also a surprise welcome on the dock from friends Halvard Mabire and Miranda Merron - who was fresh from her Route du Rhum adventures with Class40 Campagne de France. In the 2016 race, Campagne de France had won class ahead of Eärendil, but this year it was Catherine Pourre's turn to celebrate finishing the race in pole position for the Class40 Division in a time that was over three days quicker than 2016.

Interviews after the finish in Grenada of Cookson 50 Kuka3: With Owner, Franco Niggeler + Skipper, Chuny Bermudez

_{Celebrations in Grenada after completing the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 12 days 5 hrs 34 mins and 35 secs, Franco Niggeler's Cookson 50 Kuka3 is in a strong position to win the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy © RORC/Arthur Daniel}

Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3, skippered by Roberto Chuny Bermúdez de Castro, overcame technical issues and a fire on board to post the best IRC corrected time so far in the RORC Transatlantic Race. After over 12 days of racing in the Atlantic Ocean, the crew looked tired but elated to arrive in Grenada.

Kuka3 finished the RORC Transatlantic Race on Thursday 06 December at 17:34:35 UTC in an elapsed time of 12 days 5 hrs 34 mins and 35 secs and was the second yacht racing under IRC to finish the race, after Pier Luigi Loro Piana's Supermaxi My Song.

Kuka3 has set the best time after IRC correction and is in a very strong position to win the race overall and lift the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

DAY 11 - 1200 UTC 05 December

Kuka3, Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3 is currently on pace to win the race overall © RORC

Pier Luigi Loro Piana's Supermaxi My Song has not only set a new monohull race record for the RORC Transatlantic Race, but also the benchmark for the remaining boats to beat racing under the IRC Rating Rule. The best corrected time will win the race outright and lift the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3, skippered by Roberto 'Chuny' Bermudez de Castro was 287 miles from the finish at 1200 UTC on 5 December. Kuka3 was showing an impressive turn of speed on the YB Tracker, averaging over 14 knots, and presumably surfing down Atlantic rollers at some pace. Kuka3 must cross the finish line by 18:58:08 UTC tomorrow (06 December). Currently at their current pace, Kuka3 is expected to be well inside the required time.