Maurice Benzaquen’s Pogo 1250, Aloha, shortly after the start off Lanzarote. © RORC / James Mitchell

Sunday 6^th December 1800 UTC

The majority of yachts competing in the second edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race are predicted to finish the 3,000 mile race over the next few days. Nomad IV has just over 600 miles to go and is expected on Tuesday 8 December. By Friday December 11, most of the yachts will have completed the race and be enjoying the warm hospitality of the people of Grenada, safely moored in Camper & Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina.

After racking up over 400 miles in 24 hours, the challenge of racing across the Atlantic was made very clear to the crew of Jean-Paul Riviere's French Finot Conq 100, Nomad IV, when their enormous spinnaker came billowing down and into the rushing waves around them. Jean-Paul Riviere sent this report in by satellite connection:

Jean-Paul Riviere's French Finot Conq 100 Nomad IV gives chase at the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race 2015 off Lanzarote © RORC/James Mitchell

Eight days into the RORC Transatlantic Race and Jean-Paul Riviere's French Finot Conq 100, Nomad IV has about a thousand miles to go to reach the finish just off Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada. The powerful 100ft Maxi is over 300 miles ahead of its nearest rival, Southern Wind 94 Windfall, skippered by Tim Goodbody, and Nomad IV is in a very strong position to take Monohull Line Honours, with an estimated finish on Wednesday 9 December. Nomad IV is also the provisional leader after IRC time correction with an estimated 17 hour lead after time correction from Wil Apold's Canadian Swan 78, Valkyrie.

Line Honours victory in the 2nd RORC Transatlantic Race for Lloyd Thornburg's MOD70, Phaedo³ as they arrive at dawn in Port Louis, Grenada © RORC/Orlando K. Romain

No need for pistols at dawn as Lloyd Thornburg’s mighty green MOD70, Phaedo³ crossed the finish line off Quarantine Point, Grenada this morning, completing the RORC Transatlantic Race at UTC 10:56:03 in 5 days 22 hrs 46mins 03 secs. Waging a ‘Master and Commander’ style battle from the start in Lanzarote, Team Phaedo held onto their lead, finishing less than two hours ahead of Tony Lawson’s MOD70, Ms Barbados (Concise 10) and taking Line Honours victory in the second edition of the race.

Ms Barbados (Concise 10), skippered by Ned Collier-Wakefield was the second boat to finish at 12:36:44 UTC and the friendly rivalry ceased as Team Phaedo³ welcomed their transatlantic match racing partners alongside the dock.

The crew of Nomad IV take a minute to pose for the camera while leading the RORC Transatlantic Race - Photo Nomad IV

Day six of the RORC Transatlantic Race, and Phaedo³ & Concise 10/Ms Barbados are expected to finish the race tomorrow. Nomad IV leads the charge of the Maxis. Tales II makes up for lost time and Zed 6 finally heads south.

The two MOD 70s lit the after-burners on Day 5, scorching through the Atlantic with an incredible straight-line speed in excess of 30 knots. Lloyd Thornburg's Phaedo³, co-skippered by Brian Thompson and Tony Lawson's Concise10/Ms Barbados are due to finish the RORC Transatlantic Race on Friday 4th December at around midday local time in Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina. Before the MOD70s reach the finish, the island of Barbados is probably the last tactical obstacle to negotiate. As Concise 10's Caribbean home, be prepared for something different from the team currently trailing Phaedo³ by barely three hours after six days of ballistic racing.