Two MOD70s have entered the RORC Transatlantic Race for a thrilling high-speed multihull match race from Lanzarote to Grenada. Giovanni Soldini's much modified Maserati (now called a Multi 70) and Peter Cunningham's PowerPlay (formerly Concise 10) have both confirmed that they will be on the starting line for the 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, starting from Marina Lanzarote on November 24, 2018.

This 3,000 mile match will take the boats to Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada and both teams are very capable of breaking the multihull race record, set by Lloyd Thornburg's Phaedo3 in 2015 (5 days 22 hrs 46 mins 03 secs).

On-going commitment by Calero Marinas for RORC Transatlantic Race 

Entries now open for this year's race

Hosted by Calero Marinas, RORC Transatlantic Race yachts docked in Marina Lanzarote in the heart of Arrecife, Lanzarote © James Mitchell/RORC

Entries are now open for the RORC Transatlantic Race starting on Saturday 24th November 2018 via Sailgate

The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) is delighted to announce Calero Marinas commitment to extend their support by continuing to host the RORC Transatlantic Race for the next three years. This move is also endorsed and supported by the Canary Islands and Lanzarote Governments and the Arrecife Town Council.

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."