2026 RORC Transatlantic Race - Day 3
by Louay Habib / RORC 13 Jan 07:36 PST
13 January 2026
Baltic 111 Raven pushes high mode with 550 nautical mile day - 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race day 3 © Sailing Energy
Three days into the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race, the fleet has committed fully to the classic southern escape from the Canary Islands, with every boat choosing to dive south along the African coast before turning west toward Antigua.
The strategy has been clear from the outset: avoid lighter air to the north and position early for the trade winds that will define the RORC Transatlantic Race.
After leaving Lanzarote on Sunday, the fleet compressed along the North African coastline, gradually bending their courses southwest as the wind gradient improved. By Day 3, bows were firmly pointed offshore and the race had settled into its first major phase.
Argo & Zoulou at full throttle into the trades
At the front of the fleet, the two MOD70 trimarans are already stretching their legs. Zoulou and Argo have been consistently posting eye-catching speeds, regularly pushing into the high twenties and touching over 30 knots as the breeze builds. As of 1010 UTC on Day 3, Argo held an advantage of approximately 40 nautical miles over Zoulou, with both boats entering a stronger wind band that promises sustained high-speed running over the coming days. The pace is on, it's like a firehose on deck, and the Atlantic is opening up fast.
"We are going downwind still, which is good. 1700nm to go, life on board is good!" commented Argo's Sam Goodchild. "It's a bit bumpy which means driving is quite fun!" Argo's Charles Ogletree added: "Argo is ripping along and its very wet in the big waves but we are having fun and we are nearly half way to Antigua!"
Raven pushes high mode with 550 nautical mile day
Raven continues to assert her position at the front of the IRC monohull fleet, posting a 550 nautical mile 24 hour run (av. 22.92kn), while sailing a consistently higher mode than many of her rivals. This is at Raven's best VMG angle and maximises the benefit of the foils.
Navigator Will Oxley explained the trade-off: "We're sailing a higher angle, maybe 130 rather than other boats at 145, so we're definitely sailing more miles. But that is Raven's VMG mode. If we sail lower we go slow, just like a multihull.
"The sails are trimmed to an apparent wind angle and most of the time we have very little heel. The communication on deck between the driver, trimmers and foil controller is locked into that apparent wind and the traveller is being played for the right heel angle."
IRC overall leader Palanad 4
Behind Raven, Palanad 4, skippered by Antoine Magre, is sailing a strong and measured race. Early in the race, Palanad 4 is leading overall under IRC corrected time, demonstrating exactly the kind of consistency and positioning required in a race where tactical discipline often outweighs raw speed. Magre spoke about the importance of settling into the rhythm of the race and allowing the boat to play to its strengths as the miles build.
"Conditions have been fantastic so far with clear nights, big stars and more breeze than we expected," said Antoine Magre. "The boat is right on its polars and we are very happy with how she is performing. Strong trade winds mean big speeds, but also big loads, so the focus is on sailing fast while protecting the boat. We did break a sheet yesterday. There is still a long way to go, but we are fully focused on our race and staying in our lane."
Jackknife settles into the Atlantic
Further back in the fleet, Jackknife, co-skippered by Sam Hall and Andrew Hall, is enjoying a solid start. Currently well placed winning her class and fourth overall, Jackknife's progress reflects a balanced approach to life aboard as the race transitions from the Canary Islands phase into true open-ocean sailing.
"We had a really good first 36 hours and the boat feels strong," commented Sam Hall from Jackknife. "The reaching conditions favour the bigger, more modern designs right now, but once we get back into VMG sailing it should get interesting. There's a long way to go and plenty of variables ahead, but we're happy with where we are and how the boat is going."
Classic beauty, modern offshore test
Swan 128 Be Cool, skippered by Luca Serra has found strong wind as they head out into the Atlantic. Serra reports nearly 30 knots of wind with the Swan 128 in total control at over 20 knots of boat speed. Be Cool is almost 80 miles south of their superyacht rival Linnea Aurora. Be Cool is about 50 miles ahead of Linnea Aurora but after IRC time correction Linnea Aurora holds a 13 hour advantage.
The Hoek 128 Linnea Aurora is the largest yacht in the race and has had a great start as navigator Tom Robinson explains: "So far, so good. We have been fortunate that the weather has aligned well for this race. Conditions have been gentle, which has been ideal for easing the crew into life offshore, especially as many on board are crossing an ocean for the first time. It has been sunny, with clear nights and plenty of stars, making the transition into watch systems and life at heel a positive experience.
"From a navigation perspective, it has been less about boat-on-boat tactics and more about positioning ourselves relative to the Azores High. A developing low near the Bay of Biscay compressed the high pressure over the Canaries, shortening the usual wind shadow and allowing boats to head west sooner than expected. That is why you are seeing such a wide north to south spread across the fleet.
"We are now pushing west at best speed, aiming to hook into the clockwise rotation of the Azores High and set up the final approach towards Antigua."
As the race enters its first sustained trade wind phase, the defining characteristics of each campaign are starting to emerge. The next few days promise stronger breeze, bigger seas and rapidly increasing daily mile counts as the fleet settles into the long rhythm of the Atlantic crossing.
Gourmet to go!
Further updates, including insights about the cuisine on board, which is about as diverse as the boats racing in the RORC Transatlantic Race. It's freeze dried all the way on Palanad 4 and Raven. However, that is not the case on board Linnea Aurora where Monday's menu was oven baked wild salmon served with butter-herb potatoes, a crisp kohlrabi salad, and a warming Thai-inspired spiced coconut soup. On Xavier Bellouard's Maxitude, the crew tucked into bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast. Pete Cumming on Argo meanwhile had porridge with blueberries and a mug of English tea! On Walross 4 the young crew from Berlin enjoyed a freshly made Mango, eggplant, carrot and ginger curry with rice.
Follow all the updates from the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race at: