Nacho Postigo, navigator for Pier Luigi Loro Piana's 130ft (40m) Superyacht My Song, explains the complex weather scenario for the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race. Nacho predicts a complex weather scenario. High pressure should combine with the wind shadows of the Canary Islands to produce a tactical conundrum for the start of the race.

RORC Transatlantic Race competitors enjoyed dinner in style at the Castillo de San José, hosted by Calero Marinas © RORC

Crews enjoyed a farewell gala dinner as they gathered at the 18th century Arrecife fortress, Castillo de San José - now an impressive restaurant and contemporary art museum close to Marina Lanzarote. RORC CEO, Eddie Warden Owen, competing in the race aboard the MOD70 PowerPlay, thanked the Calero family and team at Marina Lanzarote, as well as the Lanzarote and Canary Islands Tourism and Government for their continued support and great hospitality before the start:

“I am really looking forward to my experience with the team on Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay and to seeing you all in Grenada,” said Warden Owen. “Like here in Lanzarote, you will receive a warm welcome when you arrive in Grenada and you’ll have a great end to your race. I wish you a successful journey, a great result and enjoy the race. Good luck to you all.” 

With less than two days until the start, the diverse RORC fleet make final preparations for the RORC Transatlantic Race © RORC

The 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race in association with the International Maxi Association, will start from Marina Lanzarote at 1200 UTC on Saturday 24 November 2018.

Two record-breaking trimarans will go head-to-head in a 3,000 nautical mile match race; Giovanni Soldini's Maserati Multi70 (ITA) and Peter Cunningham's MOD70 PowerPlay (GBR), skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield. The high-speed match race has the added incentive of a crack at the multihull race record set by Lloyd Thornburg's Phaedo3 in the 2015 edition (5 days 22 hrs 46 mins 03 secs). Maserati won the first duel between the two in last month's Rolex Middle Sea Race. The PowerPlay team has been strengthened by the inclusion of Australian Paul Larsen, holder of the ultimate speed record of 65.45 knots in Sailrocket 2.

Maserati reported rudder damage on the delivery to Lanzarote. "We probably bumped into some sort of big net or fishing gear. The fuse system unhooked, but the rudder's blade got tangled and it was strongly pulled downwards, breaking its blocks and slipping out of the fitting," explained skipper Giovanni Soldini. The Italian team is working hard to solve the problem before the start of the race on Saturday. "The T-shaped lost rudder will be replaced with a classic MOD rudder so we will not be able to foil on port tack. It's clearly not the ideal condition, but we're fit and determined: we will do our best as usual and we will fight tooth and nail," continued Soldini who also competed in the 2016 race.

A group of over 20 young sailors from the Real Club Nautico sailing programme visited Marina Lanzarote yesterday to take a look at some of the boats competing in this year’s RORC Transatlantic Race. Along with their instructors, they were welcomed on board the First 47.7 Kali, Cookson 50 Kuka3, Giovanni Soldini’s Multi 70 Maserati, and the largest boat in the race, the 40 metre Baltic 130 My Song.