11th RORC Transatlantic Race - Lucky on record pace
by Louay Habib / RORC 18 Jan 2025 09:15 PST
18 January 2025
Bryon Ehrhart's Juan K 88 Lucky (USA) © Sailing Energy / Calero Marinas
Bryon Ehrhart's Juan K 88 Lucky (USA) is on record pace for the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race. The Monohull Race Record was set in 2022 by the Juan K 100 Comanche (MON), which completed the 3,000 mile race in 07 days 22 hrs 01 mins and 04 secs.
Lucky is under 800 miles from the finish at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada and weather forecasts are predicting a building breeze. Lucky is ahead of record pace and needs to finish the race by 10:46 and 03 seconds UTC on Monday 20th January.
In 2022, Comanche's skipper was Mitch Booth who commented about Lucky's charge for the line in 2025:
"Send it! Records are made to be broken and it would give Comanche and other 100-footers a good reason to compete in the future," commented Booth. "In a long race like this, you have to look after the boat and the crew to maximize performance, and so far, Lucky has managed that. As Lucky gets closer to the finish, I am sure they will still manage risk and reward, but if the record is on that comes into the strategy. It is a super team on board but they know to finish first, first you have to finish."
Lucky is odds-on favourite to take Monohull Line Honours and lift the IMA Transatlantic Race Trophy. Lucky's only real threat is from Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 which is about 24 hours behind Lucky on the water.
In taking Monohull Line Honours for the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race, Lucky would set the bar for the rest of the IRC fleet to better after time correction. The overall winner and the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy is won by the best corrected time under IRC.
All of the competing boats in the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race are equipped with satellite trackers displaying their position, course and speed. Race fans will also be given a boat's estimated corrected time for the race, offering dynamic insights into class and overall standings throughout the race. To view the tracker go to the official website. For smartphones, go to free YB Races App.
Race Website: rorctransatlantic.rorc.org
Race Tracker: rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/tracking
For smartphones, go to the App store for the free YB Races download.