Sleepless speed in RORC Transatlantic

(November 29, 2018; Day 6) – Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati and Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay continued their high-speed duel in the RORC Transatlantic Race, with both teams now two-thirds along the course from the Canary Islands to Grenada. Maserati holds the edge with both multihulls hitting well over 20 knots of boat speed.

“It’s almost impossible to sleep,” reports Soldini. “You have to strap yourself into your bunk.”

Franco Niggeler’s Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3 was estimated to be in pole position for the overall win under IRC. However, Kuka3 developed an engine problem, believed to be an issue with the starter motor. Whilst engines cannot be used for propulsion, it generates electricity for essential systems on board.

“We understand that Kuka3 made a short (approx. 4 hour) stop in the Cape Verdes to fix a problem with their engine,” commented RORC Deputy Race Manager, Tim Thubron. “They are allowed to do this under the rules of the race and on the assumption that they adhered to this (which we believe they did) it is unlikely that any penalty would be imposed. We will of course need to see the full facts on their declaration form before any final decision is made.”

Kuka3 have resumed racing today and at 1200 UTC, the team was making 14 knots with just over 2,000 miles to the finish.

In the Class40 division, Henrik Bergesen’s Hydra has also reported a problem on board. Skipper Tristan Kinloch contacted the RORC Race Team this morning to say they have some rudder issues which are not serious. However, they are also heading to the Cape Verde Islands to try and resolve the problem, and expect to arrive in the Cape Verde Islands tomorrow morning.

The Italian Supermaxi My Song, sailed by International Maxi Association member Pier Luigi Loro Piana, was 1,657 miles from the finish, just two hours behind course record pace and estimated to be leading the fleet after IRC time correction.

Race details – Tracker – Facebook

Background: Ten teams started the 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race from Marina Lanzarote at 1200 UTC on November 24, 2018. The 2,865 nautical mile-long race from the Canary Islands to Grenada is the final challenge in the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 2018 calendar, and is viewed as a transition to the RORC Caribbean 600 in February 2019.

CURRENT RACE RECORDS:

Monohull Record:
10 days 07 hours 06 minutes and 59 seconds
NOMAD IV, FINOT-CONQ 100
In 2015, Jean-Paul Riviere’s French Finot-Conq 100, Nomad IV set a record for the RORC Transatlantic Race and was also awarded the International Maxi Association Transatlantic Trophy for Monohull line honours

Multihull Record:
5 days 22 hours 46 minutes 03 seconds
PHAEDO3, MOD70
In 2016, Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70, Phaedo3 set the multihull record for the race

Class40 record:
12 days 12 hours 36 minutes 32 seconds
TALES II, CLASS40
Gonzalo Botin’s Spanish Class40, Tales II was the first Class40 to complete the race in 2015, setting a Class40 record

Source: Louay Habib