Please select your home edition
Edition
Switch One Design

2015 RORC Transatlantic Race – Grenada Bound

by RORC Press on 29 Nov 2015
Windfall, Tales II and Aloha leave Lanzarote, bound for the spice island of Grenada - 2015 RORC Transatlantic Race RORC / James Mitchell
2015 RORC Transatlantic Race – Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the International Maxi Association and supported by Marina Lanzarote, Camper and Nicholsons Marina, Port Louis Grenada and Grenada Tourism Authority.

The second edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race got away as scheduled from Marina Lanzarote with the fleet enjoying a reaching start in Atlantic swell and a solid 15 knots of breeze from the north east. Close battles are expected within the fleet for the next 3,000 miles before the yachts reach the finish at Camper and Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada.

'A fantastic start,' enthused Eddie Warden Owen, Chief Executive of the Royal Ocean Racing Club. 'Beautiful conditions for the fleet which all got away extremely well under full sail. Every single yacht competing in this race has been so well prepared and they are all expecting a very competitive race across the Atlantic. There are battles throughout the fleet which will undoubtedly have many twists and turns over the next few days and weeks of racing. Safety is always our top priority and after that major consideration, these teams are all up for the challenge of pushing hard across the Atlantic.'

First away were the monohulls, with Maurice Benzaquen's Pogo 1250, Aloha getting a great start at the pin end, deploying their bright red spinnaker with textbook precision. Joining Maurice on board Aloha are three Breton sailors who have all skippered yachts for Eric Tabarly with hundreds of thousands of sea miles between them. In sharp contrast, Chris Frost and Elin Haf Davies, racing J/120 Nunatak Two-Handed have never sailed across the Atlantic before. Chris and Elin were in a buoyant mood as they passed the RORC Committee Boat for their safety inspection. 'See you in Grenada!' shouted Elin. 'And you're buying the drinks when we make it before the prize giving!'

Gonzalo Botin's Class 40, Tales II was fully launched at the start, setting every square metre of downwind sail available to rocket through the line in front of the enormous Maxis. Two hours into the race, Tales II had already opened up a three-mile lead from Mike Gascoyne's British Class 40, Silvi Belle 2. The Spanish Class 40 was still going toe-to-toe with the Maxis through the gap between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura, surfing through the waves at 15 knots.



Three powerful Maxis are taking part in the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Southern Wind 94, Windfall is taking part for the second occasion. Skippered by Irish Olympic sailor Timothy Goodbody, Windfall made the best start to lead the Maxis to the first mark at Puerto Calero Marina, just holding off Jean-Paul Riviere's French Finot Conq 100, Nomad IV which is also competing for the second time. Will Apold's Canadian Swan 78, Valkyrie with a towering cathedral rig was not far behind the two larger rivals and holds a generous IRC rating advantage.

Last to start were the Multihull class with the first skirmish of the long awaited Atlantic duel between two MOD 70 Trimarans. Tony Lawson's British Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield and Lloyd Thornburg's American Phaedo3, co-skippered by Brian Thompson. The two crews are all friends but the gloves were definitely off at the start with Concise 10 getting underneath Phaedo 3 just metres before the line. With a few raised voices echoing across the starting area, momentarily, Phaedo 3 was put about. However, a textbook double foresail set by Phaedo 3 saw her power away from Concise 10. By the turning mark at Puerto Calero, Phaedo3 had a decent lead over Concise 10. Gerald Bibot's protoype 42ft catamaran, Zed 6 has unfortunately sent their YB Tracker to Davy Jones' Locker, but the Belgian Two-Handed team will be reporting their position to RORC Race Control throughout the passage via satellite phone.

On the first day of the RORC Transatlantic Race the fleet were heading west, following the setting sun. The race course sends the yachts to the north of Tenerife, a 120 mile blast reach from the southern tip of Lanzarote in Atlantic swell - a spectacular way to spend a Saturday night! Phaedo3 and Concise 10 were blast reaching at 25 knots this afternoon and should reach Tenerife tonight. The maxis 50 miles astern of the MOD70s should reach Tenerife by Sunday morning. After rounding Tenerife, the next mark of the course is Glover Island Light, Grenada, about 3,000 miles south west across the Atlantic.




X-Yachts X4.3Vaikobi 2024 DecemberRolly Tasker Sails 2023 FOOTER

Related Articles

24th Argentario Sailing Week day 1
West wind, calm sea and fair play set the scene for a spectacular first day of racing Argentario Sailing Week is off to a flying start! A perfect sample of the Argentario's typical summer beauty brought idyllic weather conditions to the first day of the international regatta reserved exclusively for vintage and classic yachts.
Posted today at 7:11 pm
Rolex TP52 World Championship preview
The pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES will be held at Cascais The annual Rolex TP52 World Championship represents the top tier of monohull grand prix sailing. Held as the pinnacle event of the 52 SUPER SERIES, of which Rolex is also Official Timepiece, the regatta is one of the most revered in the sport.
Posted today at 9:01 am
Gitana 18, a new off the wall work
A 32-metre long and 23-metre wide flying carbon giant is taking shape For the past eighteen months, a new Maxi Edmond de Rothschild, a 32-metre long and 23-metre wide flying carbon giant, has been taking shape hidden from view behind the doors of the CDK Keroman shed in Lorient.
Posted today at 6:01 am
One month till close of entries into Mackay ‘25
Entries close July 18! Today marks one month till close of entries into Mackay '25!
Posted on 18 Jun
Competitors readying for epic battle
Distance racing is inherently an uncomfortable sport Enjoying a spectacular evening cocktail reception overlooking Newport Harbor, one competitor in the upcoming Transatlantic Race 2025, which starts tomorrow off Castle Hill Lighthouse just after 1 pm.
Posted on 18 Jun
Finn World Masters in Medemblik day 3
Pieter-Jan Postma continues to lead after 5 races Pieter-Jan Postma, from The Netherlands, continues to dominate the Finn World Masters in Medemblik, The Netherlands, after a fifth race was sailed on Wednesday in a north-westerly breeze building from 8-12 knots during the afternoon.
Posted on 18 Jun
24th Argentario Sailing Week day 0
Historic boats from 9 nations have gathered in Porto Santo Stefano Historic boats have gathered in Porto Santo Stefano to take on the 24th edition of the prestigious Argentario Sailing Week, organised by the Yacht Club Santo Stefano with the tangible support of the Monte Argentario Municipal Council.
Posted on 18 Jun
29th Superyacht Cup Palma fleet is ready to go
Crews are now able to size-up the competition in their respective classes The owners, captains and crews of the spectacular array of yachts gathered for the 29th edition of the Superyacht Cup Palma are making their final preparations ahead of the start of racing next Thursday.
Posted on 18 Jun
Swan One Design Worlds kicks off
Practice race and opening ceremony in Costa Smeralda The crystal waters of the Costa Smeralda once again set the stage for one of the most anticipated events in the international racing calendar: the 2025 Swan One Design Worlds, hosted by Yacht Club Costa Smeralda in collaboration with ClubSwan Racing.
Posted on 18 Jun
Class40 top guns enter Rolex Fastnet Race
One of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever Now 20+ years old, the Class40 has proved itself one of the most successful genre of offshore race boat ever.
Posted on 18 Jun