New RORC Transatlantic Race starting point announced

by J Soler on 29 Nov 2013 RORC Transatlantic Race kicks off on November 29th, 2014. Europe’s premier venue for offshore racing reconfirms its pedigree by becoming the starting point of the brand new RORC Transatlantic Race. The first proper race of its kind from east to west will set off from Puerto Calero and finish in the Caribbean. Organisers expect 30-35 participants, ranging from small racers-cruisers to 100-foot maxis

The Royal Offshore Racing Club (RORC) became yet another race organiser that chose Calero Marinas to play host to a major international regatta. Founded in 1983, Puerto Calero has established itself as Europe’s premier venue for both inshore and offshore racing. Calero Marinas recently held the RC44 World Championship, for the third time. The RC44’s, the TP52’s and the GP42’s have held their world championships at Puerto Calero. The marina is also home to Team SCA, the all-female crew training for the 2014-15 Volvo Ocean Race, while Ericsson, Groupama and Puma have held training camps here in recent years.

Lanzarote is the most eastern island of the Canarian archipelago and it is the RORC`s intention that the race course will meander through the islands before venturing out into the Atlantic. The islands will be used as turning marks on the way to the Caribbean. The racing will be done under IRC rating. It will be open for all sizes of boats, from maxis and superyachts down to the typical racer-cruiser. It will encompass a whole variety of yachts and it will be a proper race, arguably the first of its kind that goes from east to west. It will act as a feeder for yachts participating in the 2015 RORC Caribbean 600, held annually in February from Antigua.

Organisers expect at least 25 boats to take part, with 16 teams already having expressed a keen interest since the race was announced. A conservative aim would be to have approximately 30-35 participants and there are already big boats, 100-footers that are very keen to do the race.

Eddie Warden Owen, CEO of RORC commented: 'We have chosen the Puerto Calero Marina because it has the infrastructure and all the facilities we need. They have boatbuilding yards, sail-makers, riggers and everything that is required. It is a very good starting point for such a race and our racers will feel very welcome.

Calero Marinas has the racing pedigree that will work for us. The Calero family understands the racing mentality and the proof is right here, in this fantastic event, the Calero Marinas RC44 World Championship.

We scheduled the start of the race on November 29th, 2014, and the idea is that people can arrive from the Rolex Middle Sea Race. They will have the time to fly here, do the race and arrive before Christmas in the Caribbean. They can either spend Christmas with the family in the Caribbean or fly back to Europe.'

José Juan Calero, Managing Director of Calero Marinas stated: 'We are proud to have been chosen by RORC, the most prestigious organiser of offshore races, to be the starting point of the first ever RORC Transatlantic Race. We are very motivated and look forward to hosting a superb event. With Calero Marinas strategically located in the Canary Islands and Europe, a great number of our sailing visitors have been asking for such an event for a long time. We feel confident it will be an excellent one and we are sure organisers and racers will feel at home here.'