Transatlantic Race 2025: A North Atlantic adventure like no other
by Louay Habib 25 Apr 23:52 AEST
June 18, 2025
Transatlantic Race © Amory Ross
Organized by the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club with support from the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Storm Trysail Club, the Transatlantic Race 2025 from the East Coast of the United States to the shores of the United Kingdom stands as one of sailing's most time-honored and demanding challenges. The west-to-east route tests sailors with the unpredictability of the North Atlantic, serving up everything from gales and fog to high-pressure systems and subtly shifting wind patterns.
The origins of this contest trace back to the 19th century, when the age of steam had not yet replaced the romance and utility of sail. In 1866, the American owners of three yachts (Henrietta, Fleetwing and Vesta) made a now-legendary wager of $30,000 each and raced from New York to the Isle of Wight in the Great Ocean Race, with the winner taking the entire purse.
This daring mid-winter adventure—an extraordinary feat of ambition, technology and endurance—was won by Henrietta in an elapsed time of 13 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes. Henrietta was helmed by James Gordon Bennett Jr., who was to become the Commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1870. This was the first truly publicised transatlantic yacht race and arguably the moment ocean racing was born.
The tradition continued into the 20th century with the Transatlantic Race organised every few years. Yachts that have become legends in their own right have raced this route, from Windward Passage and Condor of Bermuda to more recent high-tech campaigns like ICAP Leopard, Rambler 100 and Comanche. Not just a contest of speed, the race has long drawn those seeking personal conquest. From seasoned offshore veterans to families sailing for legacy, experience and connection to the sea. The Transatlantic Race 2025 carries forward more than 150 years of heritage.
Find the current entry list here.
Clarke Murphy returns to the Atlantic: A Family Affair with Serious Grit
Clarke Murphy, a passionate ocean racer and dual member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the New York Yacht Club, is gearing up for his fifth Transatlantic Race in 20 years, this time as skipper of the JV 82 Ikigai, which is currently the largest boat entered in the race.
Ocean racing runs deep in Murphy's veins. Raised on the Chesapeake Bay by a father who was a skilled sailor, Murphy (at left, helming at the start of the Transatlantic Race 2019) spent his childhood weekends crammed with four siblings aboard a 33-foot cruiser. That early bonding led to two post-university years of full-time sailing and three Atlantic crossings in just 15 months, turning a dream into a lifetime passion.
Known for blending top-tier professionals with close family on board, Murphy's crews reflect his core belief: "No jerks, just great sailors, good laughs and teamwork."
Why take on the Atlantic again? For Murphy, it's a blend of challenge and legacy: "The wind, the weather, the Gulf Stream, the history, every crossing is different," he says. "You plan like crazy, but there's always something: a breakdown, a whale, a container, a sail repair at 3 a.m. in the dark. That's what makes it unforgettable."
Sailing with his children has become one of Murphy's greatest joys: "They see the prep, the safety, the teamwork, the setbacks and the thrill of crossing the finish line. There are few experiences that prepare you for life like ocean racing."
With past Transatlantic entries that include storm-tossed rides on Stay Calm (2005), a broken bowsprit on ICAP Leopard (2011), hydraulic failure aboard Nomad IV (2015, at right), and 11 days of hand-pumped water on Aegir (2019), Murphy knows the highs and lows of this race better than most.
"I'm hoping this race is the culmination of everything we've learned from the past crossings, a chance to really put it all together," commented Murphy. "What makes this incredibly special is that it will be my daughter Morgan's first transatlantic, and my son Liam's third at just 23. When they asked if we could do one more as a team, that was all it took. No hesitation, we were in."
Across the Horizon: Jeremi Jablonski takes on the 2025 Transatlantic Race
Jeremi Jablonski, a proud member of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and skipper of the Hanse 43 Avanti from Cedar Point Yacht Club in Connecticut, will embark on an exciting new chapter this June. He will race the Transatlantic Race 2025 double handed on Avanti, which is currently one of the smallest boats entered for the race.
While this will be Jablonski's first oceanic race in the doublehanded format, he and co-skipper Marek Mirota are no strangers to offshore success, having already claimed top honors in the doublehanded class of February's RORC Caribbean 600. For Jablonski, the Atlantic crossing represents something deeper than a race: "It's the feeling of adventure, sailing beyond the horizon and being truly far from land. On every passage, we learn something new."
That spirit of curiosity and challenge has been with him since his early days sailing in a local yacht club, continuing through college regattas and Caribbean rallies. The decision to go doublehanded, rather than race with a full crew, comes down to the balance of independence and safety.
"Most of the time, one of us is sailing while the other sleeps—it really feels like single-handing," Jablonski says. "But we have the peace of mind that comes with knowing there's a second person there when needed."
While the camaraderie of a full crew is missed, he says the ocean is experienced "on a different level" when it's just the two of them.
Asked what ultimately pushed him to sign up for this demanding race, Jablonski points to a defining moment: "There are so many factors that came together—but participating in the RORC's centenary celebrations helped make the decision. I knew this was the year to step in and do it."
Beyond the miles, wind and waves, Jablonski is driven by a passion for Corinthian sailing—the idea that small boats and amateur sailors can rise to the challenge of the world's great races. With Avanti on the starting line in Newport this June, he'll be proving just that.
Looking ahead to the 2025 Transatlantic Race, the west-to-east challenge remains a defining milestone for offshore sailors. This is not simply a race across an ocean, it is a passage through time, a continuation of a seafaring tradition that has shaped modern yachting, and a stage for the next generation of offshore legends to write their chapter in sailing history.