Closure for RORC Transatlantic Race

Olivier Magre and his crew on French Class40 Palanad 3 are the overall winner of the 2021 RORC Transatlantic Race, posting the best elapsed time under IRC to win the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy. Palanad 3 is the seventh winner of the antique sterling silver trophy and the first Class40 to do so. Antoine Carpentier’s Class40 Redman, also a Mach 40.4, was second overall under IRC.

“I am so happy to have won overall; it is a magnificent trophy!” smiled Magre. “This is a perfect race for Class40 because it is relatively shorter than other transatlantic races and the timing is perfect to join other events such as the RORC Caribbean 600.”

The 2,735-mile race started January 9, extending across the Atlantic Ocean from Lanzarote to Antigua, with the finish moved from its standard location of Grenada due to COVID-19 travel restrictions.

“I am sure that in the future if we have a number of Class40s it would be a beautiful race and we have the added attraction of challenging bigger boats as well,” added Magre. I think mixing Class40s with other boats under IRC is a good thing because it increases the challenge and the performance required.”

Oren Nataf racing his Monegasque Multi50 Trimaran Rayon Vert, skippered by Alex Pella, took Multihull Line Honours in an elapsed time of 9 days, 3 hours, 33 mins, and 19 secs. This was Oren’s second Transatlantic Race with Pella as skipper. The first race was much slower in his classic Olin Stephens’ designed Stiren.

“Rayon Vert is a very comfortable boat and we had fantastic racing conditions,” commented Nataf. “However, at such a fast pace, you have to be very careful as everything is under so much more tension. Racing at such high speed is something I will always remember – it is addictive. Racing faster than a motorboat, day after day, night after night, and most of the time alone – it is a huge experience.”

Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon took Monohull Line Honours in an elapsed time of 9 days, 18 hours, 53 mins, and 40 secs winning the International Maxi Association’s IMA Trophy.

“It is an honour to win the IMA Trophy, as so many famous boats have done, but to finish the race in such a fast time is incredible,” said Schwarz. “Although we finished in Antigua and not Grenada, the route we took was to the south, so there is not much difference in the miles we have raced.”

Third overall under IRC was Sebastien Saulnier’s Sun Fast 3300 Moshimoshi. Racing with Christophe Affolter, Moshimoshi was the first team to finish the race in IRC Two-Handed.

“The first night was the most difficult with big waves and strong wind; we got a big gust and broached,” explained Saulnier. “Christophe was down to leeward and there was so much water that his lifejacket inflated!

“The rough conditions continued for the second day, but after that we got into the rhythm. We averaged over 8 knots for the race, which is quick for a small boat! Christophe and I are very proud that we have finished the race.”

The 8th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race is scheduled for January 8, 2022, starting again from Lanzarote but returning to Grenada where the course had annually finished since the first race in 2014.

Race details – Results – Facebook

Source: Louay Habib