In this tenth edition of the race, 21 teams compete for victory in a sailing event that links Lanzarote with the island of Granada.
Marina Lanzarote will be the starting point of the 10th RORC Transatlantic Race, a 3000nm transatlantic challenge connecting Lanzarote with the island of Grenada. The presentation of the event took place on Thursday morning at Marina Lanzarote, with the participation of José Juan Calero Prats, Managing Director of Calero Marinas; Jeremy Wilton, CEO of the Royal Ocean Racing Club; Elisabeth Merino, Councillor for Tourism of the Arrecife Town Hall; Héctor Fernández, CEO of the Sociedad de Promoción Exterior de Lanzarote; and Francisco Aparicio, Third Deputy Councillor of the Cabildo de Lanzarote.
In this tenth edition of the event, 21 teams flying the flags of eight different nations will take part, with crew members hailing from 24 different countries. In total, there will be 200 sailors, with France being the most represented with eight boats and 43 sailors competing in the RORC fleet. In addition, there are representatives from Austria, Great Britain, Germany, Monaco, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United States of America.
José Juan Calero Prats began by saying that “successfully participating in the RORC Transatlantic Race is already a notable achievement”. In particular, he highlighted the remarkable presence of the women’s team Limosa as an integral part of the “Famous Project”. He also drew attention to the event’s significant economic impact, underlining that “last year’s event generated more than one million euros for the island. After a decade of continuous efforts, we have successfully positioned the RORC Transatlantic Race as one of the leading events in the realm of offshore sailing”.
For the Royal Ocean Racing Club, this year is of special significance as it marks the centenary of the founding of the institution. The CEO of the organisation sought to highlight “the continued support received from the Calero family and the island as a whole to host this significant event. This regatta, which represents the most extensive of our programme, holds a very special place in our hearts. We remain hopeful that everything will be successful and that we will have the opportunity to return once again in 2025.”
Héctor Fernández emphasised that Lanzarote is consolidating its position as a host of major sporting events. “The island is acquiring a remarkable capacity to organise top-level competitions.” In addition to the economic benefits derived from the teams’ spending on the island, he highlighted “the significant impact in terms of international advertising exposure, thanks to the media coverage that this event receives”.
On Sunday, the RORC Transatlantic Race promises a day full of excitement with a variety of activities. From 09:00 to 11:00, children and their families will be able to enjoy children’s workshops and a DJ Set. At 11:00, a Round Table on Sailing in Lanzarote will take place, providing valuable insights with the participation of laureate sailors Rayco Tabares and Alfredo González. At 11:30, the Plaza de las Cruces will become the epicentre of excitement with the broadcast of the race start on a giant screen, in addition to commentary from the Lanzarote sailors. At the same time, a spectator boat will depart for those wishing to experience the start from the water. At 12:00 noon, the RORC Transatlantic Race will officially begin, marking the start of a thrilling competition at sea.
Merino justified the island capital’s support for the event because of the obvious positive impact within Arrecife. He stressed that the regatta benefits not only the area in and around the marina, but also the city in general. Kiko Aparicio expressed his appreciation for Lanzarote being the starting point for the prestigious event, recognizing its value and wishing all participants luck.
At the presentation, members of various crews shared their perspectives. Chris Sheehan, skipper of Warrior Won, highlighted the logistical support and his eagerness to participate in this well organised competition. He mentioned the weather challenges that forecast an exciting race. Alexia Barrier, skipper of Limosa, expressed excitement at the opportunity to compete in a transatlantic race, adding an exciting element for her team, who haven’t yet participated in a competition of this scale.
Multihulls
Three trimarans and one catamaran will compete in this edition, with the three MOD70s competing against each other. Erik Maris’ Zoulou (FRA), Jason Carroll’s Argo (USA), and Alexia Barrier’s Limosa (FRA) will compete for line honors. This trio of MOD70s will also attempt to beat the Multihull Record of 5 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes, and 26 seconds, set last year by Giovanni Soldini’s (ITA) Multi70 Maserati. The 84-foot catamaran Allegra (SUI), designed by Nigel Irens, is the largest multihull in the race.
Monohulls
In this tenth edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, six Maxis are competing for victory under the IRC rule and for the IMA Transatlantic Trophy. The favorite in Monohulls is the Farr 100 Leopard 3, which could challenge the Monohull Race Record set by Comanche in 2022. Other notable entries include the highly experienced Corinthian crew aboard Mylius 60 Lady First III. Three round-the-world racing yachts are participating, comprising the Volvo 70s Green Dragon and Ocean Breeze, along with the VO65 Sisi. Four 50-60’ yachts are taking part, including the Solaris 55 TEAM 42 and the PAC52 Warrior Won. Two Class40s, Concise 8 and Sensation Extreme, will compete head-to-head, while six teams under 50’ vie for the overall win based on corrected IRC times. Highlights include the Marten 49 Moana and the double-handed Sun Fast 3600 Tigris. Additionally, veteran participant Lombard 46 Pata Negra and the J/122 Moana are joining the fray, alongside the JPK 1180s Dawn Treader and Cocody.
The RORC Transatlantic Race counts on the invaluable sponsorship of the Canary Islands Government, the Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) within the NextGenerationEU funds, the Canary Islands Tourism Board, the Cabildo of Lanzarote, Lanzarote Tourism, Lanzarote European Sport Destination, Arrecife City Council and its Tourism and Festivities area, and the collaboration of the Cicar group and the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife.