RORC Transatlantic 2022

[capnsensible]

Sets off at 1100 UT tomorrow from Arecife, Lanzarote. Live streaming of start.

Royal Ocean Racing Club - How to follow the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race

I'm gonna be watching as they go through Bocayna Strait from the breakwater, Marina Rubicon.

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is a tracker for the race - I see that Comanche is taking part.
Home

Any bets on how long Comanche will take to reach Grenada?
I am guessing she could maybe do it in 7 or 8 days if she has good winds?

 

[capnsensible]

Winds may be a bit light for a fast race?

 

[capnsensible]

Good breeze in the straits for the start though.

Commence zipped through at 24 knots and the trimaran Argo we saw hit 30.4.

Good luck to them all.

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is a link to Jangada's Facebook page - she won this race two years ago, and is back again, racing double handed again with Richard and Jeremy.
Jangada Racing | Well folks we are off

And the link is to a video showing all their preparations before the start, and the start.

 

[capnsensible]

Nice one, thanks!

 

[Bajansailor]

The RORC Tracker is quite fascinating, especially as it shows the current wind speed and direction as well.
Home

Three of the big trimarans are heading northwest for some reason - but this seems to be back firing on them if they went to look for wind up thataway, as they are only doing 17 knots now, whereas previously they were often scorching along at 28 knots.
Meanwhile, Comanche is in a windier area, sort of heading on the rhumb line, and doing 21 knots......
,

 

[capnsensible]

News

This explains a bit about the tactics of the super fast trimarans heading out there to ride that frontal system. Its almost like they are match racing.

It's certainly got me hooked. Saw Commanche powering through Bocayna, fab sight. The tri that had a halyard snag popped back to just outside our marina, then took off. Can't help but wonder where they would have been?
Seems t

Like OM2 may have a snag and is heading slowly down the west coast of Tenerife.

I'm enjoying it so a big thanks to them!

 

[Bajansailor]

Jangada is doing well - currently first in her class - they are out of phone range now, so probably no more video updates until they get within range of a phone signal on t'other side now.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=661496344888519

As of approx 0400 UTC Comanche seems to have fallen into a bit of a hole, allowing the others behind to catch up on her, and the three tris look like they are going to get some headwinds briefly, but then they should get strong following winds when the front arrives.
You can see the animated Windy version of the Tracker map here -
Windy as forecasted

 

[capnsensible]

Looks like OM2 has gone into San Miguel. Another one has stopped in La Palma.

 

[Bajansailor]

A nice report in the Isle of Wight press about Jangada - she won the RORC transatlantic race in 2019, and she was the smallest boat taking part, and she is looking to do the same again this year.
Isle of Wight's Jangada sailors ready to take on epic transatlantic race

 

[Tradewinds]

What's happened with Tosca? - Retired it seems heading for Ponta Delgada.
The curse of AT strikes again?

 

[capnsensible]

Got a leak. Diverted to azores to get it fixed.

A Game of Chess

 

[capnsensible]

What an amazing race. Maserati takes line honours after Powerplay led most of the way. Less than a week!

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is the latest post by Richard and Jeremy on Jangada's FB page - that must be hard work for 2 lads in their 50's, driving her like that.

Evening Update from Jangada. I sent them your comments from the last two FB posts. They can't do Facebook mid Atlantic but I thought it would motivate them that little bit more to read your supportive comments.
Been super physical - 100% helming last 36 hours as kites in high seas - top end of S4 got broached a couple of times in 26kts - changed down to A5 which is little more comfortable as we are starting to get clouds pushing and pulling air around as the Cape index rises. - just as well 27kts sustained ! Having to push hard to get back at Scarlet - 48ft of water line and Ross is no slouch. There is, and I say through gritted teeth, a slim chance Comanche is beatable! which means the battle between Scarlet and us is now critical - its more like inshore racing - we held off doing the change as for the last 6 hours there has only been 0.2 between us.... Every little surf, every boat length and every tenth of a mile could count - it all feels important - Ross will leave nothing on the course and will fight to the very last. We got a proper Fricken Yacht Race on!
Alongside all of that ! There is a lot miles to go - 9 days ish and 2.5 Fastnets. (new ones, just to be controversial)
Thanks everyone for the support. We are going to need it as its physically and mentally draining - we are both feeling old!

 

[Bajansailor]

Today's update from the Jangadas.

Richard and Jeremy have just passed the halfway point in the race - and are still leading IRC1, battling hard (still on starboard!) against their main rival, Scarlet Oyster (red) - an Oyster 46 - half as big again as Jangada and fully crewed with eight on board. Scarlet Oyster’s handicap, however, is only 0.045 higher than Jangada, so the boys will have to sail their socks off to stay in front. Their other rival, L’Ange de Milon (brown), is now less of a threat.
Their narrow lead against Scarlet Oyster seems to fluctuate between 3 and five hours - an amazing performance by the boys - all the more frustrating since both boats have worked their way steadily up the ladder in the monohull category, with Jangada now lying in second place in IRC overall, only 5 hours behind Comanche on estimated corrected time! For her part, Comanche is just approaching the line, now almost certain to break the monohull record - what a fabulous race!! Keep it up guys!

 

[Bajansailor]

Here is a link to an interview by Shirley Robertson with the Jangadas in mid-Atlantic -

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=2444815625650961

It was posted on their FB page -
Jangada Racing

 

[RobF]

Jangada is doing well - currently first in her class - they are out of phone range now, so probably no more video updates until they get within range of a phone signal on t'other side now.

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=661496344888519

....

Mention at 17seconds about the asymmetric - accompanied by video of a headsail on a pole. Are they flying their asymmetric on a pole?

Also intrigued as to why they appear to have a wooden pole when the rest of their spars appear to be CF.

 

[Bajansailor]

Mention at 17seconds about the asymmetric - accompanied by video of a headsail on a pole. Are they flying their asymmetric on a pole?

Also intrigued as to why they appear to have a wooden pole when the rest of their spars appear to be CF.

Good questions, and I do not know the answers.

They are sailing past Barbados tonight, and should arrive in Grenada late on Monday - I think it will be less than 16 days, which is pretty good going for a two handed 32' boat.
They were hoping to beat Scarlet Oyster, but alas she has already arrived, and I think they have similar ratings.

 

[flaming]

Mention at 17seconds about the asymmetric - accompanied by video of a headsail on a pole. Are they flying their asymmetric on a pole?

Also intrigued as to why they appear to have a wooden pole when the rest of their spars appear to be CF.

They have the exact same setup as us. They have a small prodder to which they can tack their 2 Asymmetric kites (Code zero and A5) plus their Jib Top when in blast reaching mode. However when running they can use the pole to square back the tack of the A5. This allows the A5 to be a lot more versatile and cover medium airs hot angles and heavy airs running in conditions where the S4 would just be too much.

The pole is CF painted white, the wood like effect you are looking at is grip tape. Again, the exact same setup we have on an identical boat. Except we use clear grip tape.