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.

Richard Palmer and Jeremy Waitt celebrate dockside at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Jangada, Richard Palmer's JPK 1010 racing two-handed with Jeremy Waitt, crossed the finish line outside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada on Tuesday 10th December, 2019 at 21:11:06 UTC. Their elapsed time was 17 days 10 hours 11 mins 06 secs.

All smiles in Grenada - Andy Lis and the young crew racing on Giles Redpath's Lombard 46 Pata Negra completed the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 15 days 22 hrs 58 mins 13 secs © RORC/Arthur Daniel

Giles Redpath's British Lombard 46 Pata Negra, skippered by Andy Lis, finished the 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race on Monday 09 December in an elapsed time of 15 days 22 hrs 58 mins 13 secs. The team on Pata Negra received a warm welcome on the dock this morning at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina from RORC CEO, Eddie Warden Owen, Marina Manager, Charlotte Bonin - who provided ice cold beers, and Nikoyan Roberts from the Grenada Tourism Authority who presented the young crew with a basket of local goodies.

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

French Wally 100 Dark Shadow finished the 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race on Friday 6th December in an elapsed time of 13 days 9 hours 11 mins and 3 secs. Dark Shadow was sailed by Andre Auberton-Herve (FRA), and skippered by Yerin Hobson (AUS).