RORC Transatlantic 2026

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Started off Arecife in Lanzarote at lunchtime. Lead trimaran clocking 26.4 knots....

 

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For a race with only 21 entrants, and only 17 in IRC, it certainly has a lot to hold the attention...

How will Raven, the 111 foot "semi foiling" maxi actually go in a transatlantic race?
The 50 foot canting keel scow, Palanad 4, that could mark a huge change in what gets built for offshore racing if it starts getting results.
A J125, probably the best downwind J ever built, taking on a tradewind race....

But fair to say that the sunfast 3300 stands out as being out of place... 101 points slower than the next slowest boat, the J125. This race has become one for the big boys....

 

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It is an oddball race - just 17 monohulls and 4 multihulls.
And few of the boats seem to have any vaguely similar competitors to race against.
A 128 foot Swan, a 111 foot foiler, a 70 footer ?

The picture of the start showed how little there was in terms of comparable boats to race each other Flawless start for the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race

 

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Yes. It's not quite getting the traction that I think RORC hoped for, especially in the smaller sizes.

 

[dunedin]

Yes. It's not quite getting the traction that I think RORC hoped for, especially in the smaller sizes.

Certainly get a closer race across doing the ARC, with their fleet nearer 200 boats - and a substantial racing division, even if few are out and out racers.
We had a close “race” to the finish line with quite a few boats from the race fleet, all in close sight for the last 24 hours after a 3,000 mile crossing. We finished with a race fleet Farr 45 (?) half a mile ahead, and an X-41 and Pogo 40 just astern (the Pogo had done a huge extra mileage zig zagging whilst we and the X went straight downwind).

 

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Newcomer Raven favourite for RORC Transatlantic Race's IMA Trophy

 

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Newcomer Raven favourite for RORC Transatlantic Race's IMA Trophy

Bit of a non story that headline - 111 foot semi foiling racer expected to claim line honours over a pair of large cruising yachts.
It’s like racing a WRC rally car against a road going Bentley and a Morgan

Not really a serious competitive race. Would be interesting to see a modern IMOCA 60 alongside Raven - would double the length be any faster than the 60.

 

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Bit of a non story that headline - 111 foot semi foiling racer expected to claim line honours over a pair of large cruising yachts.
It’s like racing a WRC rally car against a road going Bentley and a Morgan

Not really a serious competitive race. Would be interesting to see a modern IMOCA 60 alongside Raven - would double the length be any faster than the 60.

I wonder if that's why there is a handicap system?

 

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I wonder if that's why there is a handicap system?

Not for the IMA trophy from that article, which is just a line honours trophy.

 

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Oh well, the teams wouldn't go if the thought it was naff. Isn't it a feeder race for Caibbean 600?

The two trimaran are attempting under 5 and a half days as well as competing against each other.

Guess then it's a race for racers.

 

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More here:

Sailing-Speed Demons Argo And Zoulou Lead Atlantic Charge As Fleet Sets Sail

 

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Oh well, the teams wouldn't go if the thought it was naff. Isn't it a feeder race for Caibbean 600?

The two trimaran are attempting under 5 and a half days as well as competing against each other.

Guess then it's a race for racers.

In a way it is a feeder for the C600. Shame in a way, as the course probably deserves a bit better. Just hasn't been able to tempt people, especially in the smaller sizes.

 

[dunedin]

In a way it is a feeder for the C600. Shame in a way, as the course probably deserves a bit better. Just hasn't been able to tempt people, especially in the smaller sizes.

Yes in part a feeder for the Caribbean 600 - and in part just a seasonal migration west for the wider round of Caribbean regattas, slightly later than the ARC migration.