Palanad 4 blasts home in RORC Transatlantic Race
by Louay Habib / RORC 20 Jan 13:04 UTC
20 January 2026
Palanad 4 arrived in Antigua on 19 January, exactly as she had raced across the Atlantic: flat out, fully committed and still throwing spray.
The Mach 50, skippered by Antoine Magre, blasted across the finish line at over 20 knots of boat speed, bringing an intense transatlantic race to a spectacular conclusion and setting a powerful reference point for the IRC fleet still at sea.
There was no easing off for the final miles. With trade winds still driving hard, Palanad 4 remained fully powered to the line, carving through the swell in classic downwind mode. It was a finish that reflected the tone of the entire campaign: disciplined, aggressive and relentlessly focused on performance.
"It felt right to finish the race like that," said Magre after docking. "We sailed hard all the way across, and we wanted to cross the line still racing. The boat was flying, the conditions were perfect for us, and the whole crew was fully locked in."
A finish that defined the campaign
Palanad 4's arrival was as much a statement as it was a finish. After more than a week at sea, the boat showed no sign of fatigue, maintaining high speeds and clean handling right through the final approach to Antigua.
"The intensity never really dropped," Magre explained. "Strong breeze, big pressure, big loads. You have to push, but you also have to protect the boat. Getting that balance right was the key to the whole race."
That balance was evident in the final miles. Rather than throttling back for a conservative arrival, Palanad 4 stayed in race mode, accelerating into the finish and underlining the confidence the crew had in both the platform and their preparation.
"It was a proper racing finish," Magre added. "That's how you want to end a transatlantic."
Designer on board, concept proven
For Sam Manuard, designer of Palanad 4 and a member of the racing crew, the RORC Transatlantic Race was a rare opportunity to validate the Mach 50 concept in sustained offshore conditions.
"This race was incredibly valuable," said Manuard. "You can simulate a lot, but nothing replaces sailing for days in real trade wind conditions, in VMG mode, with proper pressure. We learned a huge amount."
Manuard highlighted that Palanad 4's performance is not about short bursts of speed but about consistency and efficiency over distance.
"One thing people immediately notice is how dry the boat is," he explained. "Even at 20 to 25 knots downwind, the deck stays remarkably dry. That matters offshore. Comfort is performance. When the crew can stay focused, the boat goes faster."
The crossing also demonstrated the boat's versatility across a wide range of modes.
"This race showed the concept works not just in shorter offshore races, but across an ocean," Manuard said. "And we are still learning."
Sailing their own race
From the outset, Palanad 4 committed to sailing her own numbers rather than reacting to competitors. The strategy paid off as the fleet spread across the Atlantic and the race settled into long periods of high-speed trade wind sailing.
"We never tried to match other boats directly," Magre said. "The fleet is very diverse. The only sensible approach was to focus on our settings, our modes and how to keep refining the way we sail the boat."
That discipline allowed the crew to unlock performance gains incrementally as the miles built.
"Sometimes it's one small change and suddenly the boat finds another gear," Magre explained. "Those moments are incredibly satisfying offshore."
Crew and design working as one
A defining feature of the Palanad 4 campaign has been the close integration between skipper, designer and crew. Manuard's presence on board provided immediate feedback, while the crew translated design intent directly into sailing technique.
"Racing your own design across the Atlantic is special," Manuard said. "You feel everything. You understand instantly what works and what needs refining."
Magre agreed that this alignment was critical to the result.
"The connection between the boat, the crew and the designer is very strong now," he said. "That only comes from doing races like this together."
Setting the IRC reference
With Palanad 4 now safely alongside in Antigua, attention turns to how her elapsed time will stand up under IRC as the rest of the fleet continues to converge on the finish.
Behind Palanad 4, Ino Noir and Maxitude remain central to the overall IRC picture, especially if a big wind shift favours the boats still racing. While Jackknife continues to sail a measured and effective race further back in the fleet. Each represents a different interpretation of IRC success, reinforcing the rating system's ability to keep the race alive across a wide range of designs.
"The beauty of IRC is that nothing is decided until the competition finishes," Magre noted.
In IRC Zero, Raven's earlier finish has already set a formidable benchmark. VO65 Sisi is ranked second with the Hoek 128 Linnea Aurora ranked third. Palanad 4 is in pole position in IRC One ahead of Ino Noir and Maxitude. IRC Two continues to reward consistency for Jackknife, with Sensation ranked second and Kornog2 in third.
A benchmark, not a conclusion
The IRC trophies will be decided in the days ahead, but Palanad 4 has already delivered a clear message to the fleet still at sea: the bar has been set, and it has been set high.