The Fleet Is Underway Towards Granada

[Photoboy]

3 For The Money


images©Arthur Daniel/RORC


The modified Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN) finished the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 9 days 10 hrs 27 mins and 58 secs on the 10th day of the race © Arthur Daniel/RORC

DAY 11 - 18 JAN

At sunset on the tenth day of the RORC Transatlantic Race, the modified Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN) finished the RORC Transatlantic Race in an elapsed time of 9 days 10 hrs 27 mins and 58 secs. L4 Trifork is the second monohull to finish the race and the first of three 70-foot hi-tech ocean racers. L4 Trifork’s IRC corrected time is not enough to beat the 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY) for the overall lead.

The L4 Trifork team had a warm welcome at Camper and Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, as every boat can expect in the RORC Transatlantic Race. Marina Manager Zara Tremlett and her staff provided ice cold beers and the Grenada Tourism Authority, represented by Chinel Sandy, presented L4 Trifork’s Joern Larsen with a basket of Grenada produce to welcome the team to Grenada. Andrew McIrvine, Secretary General of the IMA and RORC Race Officer Steve Cole were also on hand to congratulate the team.

“It has been a long ride and we have had all kinds of weather along the way, especially when we went north into cold weather and up to 38 knots of wind,” commented Joern Larsen. “It is a relief to get here and the race has been an absolute pleasure. In total with this trip we have raced 4,000 miles in under 10 days and next we will do the RORC Caribbean 600. The boat is now part of the Trifork family. We take out Trifork employees, customers and partners to have a special experience. It is the first time I have come to Grenada and it warms my heart to have presents from local people, we love it.”




L4 Trifork was originally Ericsson 4, the Juan K design that won the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race. Many consider Ericsson 4 as the best Volvo 70 ever built. The original intention was for L4 Trifork to be a fast cruiser, but working with boat captain Jens Dolmer, L4 Trifork has been modified into a turbo-charged offshore racer with a longer bow sprit and side foils. Race tactician Bouwe Bekking explains the concept behind L4 Trifork:

“We had a good game plan, but Comanche is an amazing boat. Maybe if we didn’t have the rating hit for the side foils we would have been there on (IRC) corrected time,” commented Bouwe Bekking dockside. “But the owner doesn’t give a damn about the rating, the goal is to be the fastest 70-footer and we have achieved that, as we hope to also in the RORC Caribbean 600. It is always fun to race these boats and all credit to the experienced crew, and Jens Dolmer who has done a fantastic job preparing L4 Trifork. We didn’t have a single breakage. This boat is an animal and if we don’t keep in control, it can be dangerous.”





L4 Trifork’s navigator is Aksel Magdahl. The Norwegian was part of the two-boat Ericsson campaign in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race, as were many of the L4 Trifork crew. Aksel explains the complex weather for L4 Trifork in the RORC Transatlantic Race:

“This was not a typical transatlantic race. For a fast boat usually you would head a little north to find a front and get the speed. For this race, we literally made a 90 degree turn north; after two days racing, we were almost the same distance to the finish. It was aggressive, but for us there was no real alternative to the south. We sailed north of the low and it followed us as forecast.

“After the first low, it got really interesting. Before the start we knew about the second low coming and had a plan, but after we set off, we saw a third low coming and we thought what are we going to do with that? We decided to stay north to get to the downwind side of it, but the path of this third low looked quite unpredictable. My real worry was that if we went south we would come into headwinds and if we sailed north we would then have few options to reach down. A southerly route opened on the modelling and we took it and we had a reasonable chance of catching Comanche (on IRC corrected time).

“As a crew, we had a quick chat as we approached the finish about what time we had ‘left behind’. If we had changed the plan or known the boat a little bit better, maybe we would have been two hours quicker. All credit to Comanche, they have a great boat, excellent navigator and a team that sail the boat well,” concluded Magdahl.

http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/ra...4-trifork.html


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images©arthur daniel/RORC

DAY TEN - 17 JAN (0900 UTC)

On the tenth day of the RORC Transatlantic Race, 21 teams are still racing in the Atlantic for the overall win and claim the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy. Racing under the IRC Rating Rule, Comanche’s record run has now set the bar for the monohulls to beat. Out in the Atlantic, battles for class honours and private duels are raging, and the race for the overall win is far from over.

In the MOCRA class, the latest multihull to finish is Antoine Rabaste’s Maxi Multihull Ultim Emotion 2 (FRA), which crossed the finish line outside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada just before sunset on 16 January. The 80ft trimaran screamed into Grenada at a speed of over 26 knots!





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image © shannon falcone

The 30.48m (100ft) VPLP Design/Verdier Maxi Comanche, skippered by Mitch Booth, took Monohull Line Honours in the 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race, winning the magnificent IMA Trophy. Comanche set a new race record for the 3,000nm race from Lanzarote to Grenada of 7 days 22 hours 1 minute 4 seconds. Comanche’s new Monohull Race Record has beaten the previous race record by over two days. With the double achieved Comanche must wait to see if any of the remaining 21 teams racing under IRC can eclipse their corrected time to win the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

The winning crew: Guillermo Altadill Fischer, Mitch Booth, Diogo Cayolla, Pete Cumming, Dom Davies, Damien Durchon, Shannon Falcone, Pavlo Kalynchev, Alexei Kapustin, Pavel Karachov, Campbell Knox, Petr Lipa, Lago Lopez Marra, Paul Magee, Will Oxley, Corrado Rossignoli, Louis Sinclair, Justin Slattery, Eduard van Lierde, Rudi van Velzen, Konstantin Vasilev, Daryl Wislang.

[Photoboy]

Giovanni Takes The Checkered Flag!



January 15th, 2022 – At 01:51:41 local time (05:51:41 UTC, 06:51:41 Italian time), Maserati Multi70 was the first to cross the finish line of the 8th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in collaboration with Yacht Club de France.

Skipper Giovanni Soldini sailed together with Vittorio Bissaro, Oliver Herrera Perez, Thomas Joffrin, Francesco Pedol and Matteo Soldini, in a wild ride across the Atlantic from Lanzarote to Grenada (2995 nautical miles), which saw the crew finish with a real time of 6 days, 18 hours, 51 minutes and 41 seconds. At the end of the competition, the trimaran leaves behind 3476.5 real miles with an average speed of 21.4 knots. The times will be ratified by the race organization in the next few hours.

In second place, some distance behind: Peter Cunningham’s PowerPlay skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield, which starred on board british sailors Giles Scott (tactician for Ineos Team UK in the America’s Cup and winner of two Olympic gold medals in the Finn class) and Miles Seddon (who set the record on this route with Phaedo3 in 2015). Third on the line: Jason Carroll’s Argo skippered by Brian Thompson.

“It was a breathtaking race! Our crew gave their all and Maserati Multi70 really made the difference,” Soldini rejoiced: “I am very satisfied. The result of the work of these years is there for all to see. It has been a very long process of research and development: through records, round the world and competitions we have continued to look for solutions and the boat has gradually reached a maturity that allows it to fly stably and safely with a performance that is clearly superior – at least in these conditions – to that of its rivals who have been following the same path for years and use the latest generation of foils. The aerodynamic and kinetic progress made over the last year, thanks to the contribution of the Maserati Innovation Lab engineers and designer Guillaume Verdier, is evident”.

This edition of the regatta counted on the participation of 32 boats, from more than 22 countries. Maserati Multi70 and its competitors set off on 8 January at 11:00 UTC / local time (12:00 in Italy) from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, in an easterly wind. Complicated weather conditions directed the MOD70s towards a more northerly route in the ocean, in search of wind.

The first part of the race was dominated by PowerPlay, followed by Argo and Maserati Multi70, but the duel between the three trimarans in the leading fleet never died down. Maserati Multi70, in flying trim, sailed in pursuit, shortening distances along the Atlantic, despite the breakage of the left rudder a few miles from the start when it hit a floating object.
As they hooked up with the trade winds, the trimarans churned up the waters and began a tight gybing duel, and about 500 miles from Grenada, the competition between the three MOD70s ended up concentrated in a ten-mile mirror, setting the stage for a spectacular race finish. With around 250 miles to go the Italian trimaran took the lead and, in a counter-attack on the MOD opponents who had chosen to pass to the south, slipped to the north of the island of Barbados, from where it emerged with a more stable lead that accompanied it to Quarantine Point.

Aboard with me: Vittorio Bissaro, Oliver Herrera Perez, Thomas Joffrin, Francesco Pedol and Matteo Soldini.

“It was a crazy race, we are a great team. It’s a result that makes me really proud,” Vittorio Bissaro commented with emotion.

Photo © RORC / Arthur Daniel








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Giovanni Soldini's Multi70 Maserati crosses the finish line in Grenada first! © James Mitchell/RORC


After an intense Atlantic battle, Giovanni Soldini's Multi70 (ITA) Maserati has crossed the finish line first in the 8th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, finishing at:05:51:41 UTC in Grenada on Saturday 15 January to take Multihull Line Honours.

Next to cross the finish line off Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada was Peter Cunningham's MOD70 PowerPlay at: 06 46 42 UTC.




Skipper Giovanni Soldini and crew (Vittorio Bissaro, Oliver Herrera Perez, Thomas Joffrin, Francesco Pedol and Matteo Soldini,) with Media man, Alberto Origone on Multi70 Maserati before the start © James Mitchell/RORC





http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/ra...e-honours.html

[Panama Red]

Looks like Giovanni could pull this one out!

[Photoboy]

Neck And Neck For The Trio Of Mod 70's



DAY SEVEN - 14 JAN (0900 UTC)

On the morning of the seventh day of the RORC Transatlantic Race news in from PowerPlay and Argo confirms they are in sight of each other, 500 miles from the finish. At dawn in Grenada on Saturday 15 January, a grandstand multihull finish is expected at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina. The wounded beast Maserati is in third. Comanche is under 900 miles from Grenada and odds on for a new monohull race record. L4 Trifork, Phosphorus II and Jangada are estimated to be leading their IRC classes and news in from the Volvo 60 Challenge Ocean, pushing as hard as anyone.

Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) still leads by a hair's breadth for Multihull Line Honours. Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) has come within half a mile of crossing PowerPlay. It has been revealed that Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) has lost the ability to fully foil having damaged, then lost, their port rudder. Argo also has port rudder damage. All three trimarans are in a high-speed pursuit of the finish, coming in hot at over 30 knots of boat speed.

PowerPlay’s Paul Larsen contacted the RORC Media team at 0900 UTC on Day 7. (Note: Due to the carbon-fibre sails on PowerPlay they have no tracker data on port gybe and didn’t see Argo or Maserati coming until they were visual from deck)

“Argo came in hot from the east; we managed to cross them by about half a mile. Tom (Dawson) and Giles (Scott) went to work with Miles (Seddon) and the decision was made to gybe with them. We’re one reef in and constantly in the 30’s (boat speed). On starboard gybe we got comms and quickly checked our position. As it stands it looks like we’ll cross Maserati as well. We’ve effectively got a new race start now with around 500 miles to go. Everyone’s pumped and PowerPlay is at 100 percent. This has already been a belter of a race. Looking like it’s going to be like that all the way to the end The blue bus is still the hunted, but the hounds are all around.”






On board PowerPlay - Miles Seddon and Giles Scott ©️ Paul Larsen/PowerPlay



IRC SUPER ZERO
The 100ft Comanche (CAY), skippered by Mitch Booth is 868 miles from the finish (0900 UTC 14 JAN). Comanche are expected to finish the race around dawn on Monday 17 January. Comanche is odds on for the double of Monohull Race Record and the IMA Trophy for Monohull Line Honours. Will Oxley reported from Comanche at 1200 UTC on 14 January:

"All well on board the mighty Comanche. We managed to negotiate the light air ridge on the 13th and are now steaming towards Grenada in great trade wind sailing conditions. The sweepstake for finish times is underway with the biggest losers having a rather large bar bill. Talk on board has turned to post race activities with plans emerging for an "intergalactic off the beach cat challenge" between all the Comanche crew. Chief organiser Mitch seems to be making up ever more complicated rules to ensure it will be an event not to be missed."

After IRC time correction, Volvo 70 LF Trifork (DEN) with Joern Larsen at the helm is estimated to be leading IRC Super Zero. Comanche is ranked second with Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL) third.

IRC ZERO
Mark Emerson’s A13 Phosphorus II (GBR) is still estimated to be leading the class after IRC time correction. Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH) leads the class on the water, 1,460 miles from the finish. David Collins’ Botin 52 Tala (GBR) is ranked third after IRC time correction, just ahead of Dominique Tian’s Ker 46 Tonnerre de Glen (FRA).








The team on the Volvo 60 Challenge Ocean (FRA), skippered by Valdo Dhoyer All photos © @UNCL #challengeocean

IRC ONE
Jangada make excellent progress Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada (GBR), racing two-handed with Jeremy Waitt, is still estimated to be leading the class after IRC time correction. However, Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) has narrowed the margin to just over four hours after IRC time correction. The biggest climber in the class is Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA). Taking the northerly route around a low-pressure system has paid off. L’Ange de Milon is now leading the class on the water, 1,788 miles from Grenada and challenging for the class podium.

Jangada contacted the RORC Media Team at 1600 UTC on 13 January having spent days on port tack at 20 degrees of heel angle.

“Lee-Ho! - Life on Starboard! Life in the galley is much easier now on the downhill side. We don't have to strap ourselves in. Coffee jars stay in the cupboard and wraps don't slide off onto the floor. The sink drain has stopped gurgling now that side of the hull is in the water. On the other side of the boat, life in the navigator’s seat is somewhat better, we no longer need to sit here in our wet weather gear when water cascades over the deck. The sun is shining, we are sailing directly towards Grenada at 8kts.”




L4 Trifork, VO70
© Soren Wiegand/Aksel Magdhal/L4 Trifork



Beautiful sunsets
© Jangada


Lady First 3, Mylius 60 owned by Jean Pierre Dreau
© Lady First 3


The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race attracts a huge variety of teams from the world’s best professional sailors racing hi-tech boats, to classic designs crewed by passionate Corinthians, and everything in between. Volvo 60 Challenge Ocean (FRA) is skippered by Valdo Dhoyer. The crew is a blend of professional sailors with guests. The amateur sailors are taking part in their ‘bucket-list’ race, pushing themselves as hard as they can. Challenge Ocean contacted the RORC from the middle of the Atlantic Ocean:

Volvo 60 - Challenge Ocean - #challengeocean “This is our cry of the sixth day of the RORC Transatlantic Race. The front is behind us, it plunges with a northerly flow in almost a direct course towards Grenada, 1,900 miles away. The sun is back, it's time for drying. The next few days will be, above all, a speed race. Under spinnaker concentration will be required for the helmsmen. It's still on for places to be won or lost, it's up to us... Fair winds!”

Volvo 60 Challenge Ocean - Atlantic rainbow - on board #challengeocean (FRA): C'est notre cri du sixième jour de la RORC Transatlantic Race. Le front est derrière nous, il plonge avec un flux de nord en route presque directe vers Grenade, à 1900nm de là. Le soleil est de retour, c'est l'heure du séchage. Les prochains jours seront avant tout une course de vitesse. Sous spi, la concentration sera de mise pour les barreurs. C'est désormais ces places qui se gagnent ou se perdent, c'est à nous... Bon vent!

http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/ra...ng-in-hot.html

[Photoboy]

Shuffle At The Top

DAY SIX - 13 JAN (0900 UTC)

On the sixth day of the RORC Transatlantic Race a thrilling finish is shaping up for multihull line honours between PowerPlay, Argo and Maserati. The 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY), skippered by Mitch Booth is estimated to be over two days ahead of the monohull race record and win for the IMA Trophy for monohull line honours. All the crew are well on Black Pearl but there was sad news from the team mid-Atlantic. Plus, updates from Jangada and even poetry from Tonnerre de Glen.

In the light airs of day 5, the crew on Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) is getting ready for the return of the trade winds for the final push to the finish at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada. Paul Larsen sets the scene (12 January 2200 UTC), as the threat of losing the lead intensifies from astern.


“On the last daylight watch the wind hit double figures again. We gybed and headed south as Miles (Seddon) relayed the news that Maserati had overtaken Argo and was three knots quicker than us on the last sched. Nothing sharpens a racer’s focus more than news of lost miles. These light days suit us just fine... but there’s still 1,000 miles to go. With respect to our foiling hunters, never laugh at the crocodile until you cross the river…"

Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) and Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) continue to stalk PowerPlay. Maserati has hit the turbo charge by way of their 4-point lifting foils. Hitting over 25 knots of boat speed, Maserati was significantly faster than PowerPlay. Chad Corning reported in from MOD70 Argo that earlier in the race:

The three 70ft trimarans are expected to finish the race at around midnight UTC on Friday 14th January. PowerPlay has led from the start, but the victory is very much in the balance.




“The bottom portion of our port rudder broke away in the confused seas after it had been weakened following an impact with an object.” Chad continued,
“We can’t push as hard on port, so we are trying to find the balance between safety and speed, looking for opportunities to get onto starboard to let the boat rip. Not much in it in the last pos. report all 3 MODS within 39 miles now.”


MOD70 Argo "trying to find the balance between safety and speed, looking for opportunities to get onto starboard to let the boat rip," Chad Corning © Lanzarote Photo Sport







TRACKER






IRC SUPER ZERO
Volvo 70 LF Trifork (DEN) with Joern Larsen at the helm is under 1,300 miles from the finish and is ranked first in class and overall after IRC time correction. L4 Trifork has slingshot around a low-pressure system and heading south towards Comanche’s position. L4 Trifork is unlikely to overtake Comanche, but the Danish Volvo 70 is liable to narrow the margin, and the next 500 miles has a forecast of tricky, lighter conditions. Volvo 70 I Love Poland (POL) and The Austrian Ocean Race Project’s VO65 Sisi (AUT) have a battle to the north of the class leaders and have both turned their bows south. Riding the wind and waves south with the air temperature rising will be luxurious compared to the battering they have experienced in the cold north.

The 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY), skippered by Mitch Booth is estimated to be over two days ahead of the monohull race record and win for the IMA Trophy for monohull line honours © James Mitchell/RORC


IRC ZERO
Mark Emerson’s A13 Phosphorus II (GBR) is leading the class after IRC time correction. Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH) leads the class on the water. Caro and Phosphorus II slingshot the low-pressure system to the north and stayed in the pressure to broad reach southwest. David Collins’ Botin 52 Tala (GBR) passed the low south taking a shorter route, but Caro and Phosphorus II look to have made a big gain.

At 15:32 UTC 12 January, Botin 56 Black Pearl contacted the RORC Race Team to retire from the race."We are retiring from the race due to a broken mast. All on board are OK. We are 800 miles west of the Canary Islands and trying to make our way there under jury rig with engine." The RORC Race Team has established communications with Black Pearl and will standby to give assistance if required.


on board Jangada


IRC ONE

Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada (GBR), racing two-handed with Jeremy Waitt, is having a distinguished race. Jangada is ranked top boat after IRC time correction in a highly competitive class. Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) is ranked second. The pair have passed the low-pressure system just to the south, resulting in the wind going well forward of the beam with a significant increase in sea state. Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) is leading on the water and ranked third after IRC correction. Pata Negra is just north of the rhumb line battling into head winds! Far to the north, Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA) has slingshot over the top of the low and is undoubtedly getting ready to hoist downwind sails and blast south.



© François-Xavier Li, racing on the Ker 46 Tonnerre de Glen

The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race is proving to be a very competitive, highly complex race. However, the spirit of racing across the world’s second largest ocean is an emotional experience for every sailor. Typified by François-Xavier Li, racing on the Ker 46 Tonnerre de Glen:

“Poseidon sent us a slew of dolphins that played with the bow of the boat for several minutes ... a magical dance! Zeus sends us a moon that lights up our nights, extraordinary rainbows and clouds that look like cotton candy. We still do not have the famous trade winds or the conditions of a usual transatlantic in January ... we will have to complain to the travel agency ;-) Life is good and we are enjoying ourselves!”

[Photoboy]

Day 5: The Rich Get Richer


Riding on a better pressure from the northwest, Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN), helmed by Joern Larsen, is reeling in the 100ft Maxi Comanche on day five of the RORC Transatlantic Race © Soren Wiegand/Aksel Magdhal/L4 Trifork


DAY FIVE - 12 JAN (1200 UTC)

The RORC Transatlantic Race enters the fifth day with the potential for a real twist of fate at the front of the RORC fleet. Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) still leads the multihulls, but as the first boat into an area of light winds, the ‘hunters’ are catching up with their prey. Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) and Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) are homing in on PowerPlay. The 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY), skippered by Mitch Booth is over 100 miles ahead with one hand on the IMA Trophy. However, Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN), helmed by Joern Larsen, is reeling in Comanche. L4 Trifork is riding on better pressure from the northwest. News from the fleet includes the latest from Gunboat 68 Tosca (USA), co-skippered by Ken Howery & Alex Thomson.

Comanche’s navigator Will Oxley reported at 2100 UTC on 11 January:

“1680nm to go. It has been a very messy Atlantic weather pattern and that looks set to continue into the finish. So far so good. We are happy with our more southerly approach in comparison to L4 Trifork. For the moment they are sailing very fast in close proximity to the low. It looks quite difficult though to extricate oneself from the north; one of the reasons we rejected this option. We watch with interest to see how it plays out. The low does seem to be playing havoc with the fleet. We are sailing in 10-15 knot northerlies with the low still disrupting the trade winds. We think we can join the dots into the finish OK but we will have to be careful to avoid some very light air on the 13th. ETA still 16th January.”

Christopher Pratt checked in from Jean Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60 Lady First III (FRA). The team are representing the Yacht Club de France in the RORC Transatlantic Race:

“At the start of this fourth evening aboard the beautiful lady we are grappling with calm, which should occupy us a good part of the night before attacking the ‘big chunk’ of this crossing of the Atlantic: the depression which disturbs or rather destroys the trade wind since our departure ...We are trying to make repairs to the sails that we damaged at the start of the race, but the manoeuvre is not easy when everything is soaked after a whole afternoon under a downpour ... The Atlantic in January, this is not really what it used to be!




Representing the Yacht Club de France - Jean Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60 Lady First III (FRA) on day 4 © Lady First III



Reporting 'a very messy Atlantic weather pattern' on board the Maxi Comanche - Onboard images © Shannon Falcone @racingSF

MOCRA
Paul Larsen on board MOD70 PowerPlay reported at 0100 UTC on 12 January:

“Protecting the exits. That’s the strategy on PowerPlay at the moment with respect to our hunters and the narrow band of pressure we are in. So far so good today; we’ve seen some pretty glamorous sailing with clear blue skies and a warm, clear moonlit night. All the while we coax PowerPlay as deep downwind as every wave, puff and shift will take us. We don’t mind too much if it gets a bit light as that suits our more conservative foil configuration nicely. The band of wind that takes us across this mid-latter stage of the course is narrow. We try and keep ourselves between Argo and the westerly extreme of this breeze. Life onboard is very pleasant and even leads to stupid talk like – I wonder if you could cruise on one of these? Offshore sailors have such short memories!”







A private duel within the MOCRA Class is going on between GDD (FRA) skippered by Halvard Mabire, racing two-handed with Miranda Merron and Club Five Oceans (FRA) © James Mitchell/RORC

Two ORC50s are competing in the RORC Transatlantic Race: Club Five Oceans (FRA), skippered by Quentin le Nabour and GDD (FRA) skippered by Halvard Mabire, racing two-handed with Miranda Merron. The pair are having their own private duel within the MOCRA Class. Club Five Oceans leads by over 50 miles. GDD racing is playing catch-up after a big issue at the start, as Miranda Merron reports from on board GDD:

Miranda Merron on board ORC50 GDD called in at 2300 UTC on 11 January:

“We made a conservative start as we are new to the boat. We had the fractional spinnaker up for no more than two hours when the spinnaker sock strop broke and the whole lot ended up being trawled in the sea. Apart from the halyard, which is obviously still up the mast and needs retrieving when the sloppy sea-state abates, the spinnaker survived intact, but we need to make a new sock strop. Soaking wet on the first day from the wet spinnaker and the sheer effort of getting it back on board! Beautiful starlit night on GDD tonight though!”

Ken Howery has reported on his Instagram feed that the boat and crew of Gunboat 68 Tosca have safely arrived in The Azores. The boat had taken on water which meant they “could not run the basic electrical systems necessary for the safety of the crew.” Howery concluded: “We hope to be back on the way to Grenada





TRACKER





IRC SUPER ZERO
L4 Trifork is now estimated to be leading IRC Super Zero after time correction from Comanche. The Austrian Ocean Race Project’s VO65 Sisi, skippered by Gerwin Jansen is ranked third after gybing southwest after making a big gain to the north.

L4 Trifork’s navigator Aksel Magdahl contacted the RORC media team, giving an insight into the complex weather for the RORC Transatlantic Race:

“Suddenly we got a routing dilemma today. I have all the way been looking at ways to get south without waiting until the last low pressure. As with the last one, we have to take what we get. This afternoon weather models suddenly showed an opening to cut south ahead of the fleet. I don’t like to jump onto a sudden change in the models, but it was an interesting opportunity at the same time as the west and north routing was looking slightly more upwind to get south to Grenada.”

IRC ZERO
The decaying low pressure system in front of the teams racing in IRC Zero has caused a real change to the ranking in IRC Zero. Mark Emerson’s A13 Phosphorus II (GBR) has made a massive gain north of the low and is estimated to be leading the class after IRC time correction. The most southerly boat, Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), helmed by Stefan Stefan Jentzsch, is still leading on the water, and looks to have made a big gain on their close rivals Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH) and David Collins’ Botin 52 Tala (GBR). Caro is set up to slingshot north of the low; which way Tala will go is as yet undecided. The British team are perilously close to the wind void at the centre of the low.



IRC ONE
© From on board Jangada

Richard Palmer’s JPK 1010 Jangada (GBR) racing two-handed with Jeremy Waitt is still estimated to lead the class after IRC time correction. Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) is still ranked second, but by a bigger margin of 12 hours. Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) is leading on the water and ranked third after IRC correction. The next conundrum for the leading boats in IRC One is how to manage the decaying low pressure system in their path. The problem is that the weather change is coming to them and in a state of flux. Choosing the correct course to activate a chosen strategy is far from a perfect science. Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L’Ange de Milon (FRA) has made his decision; the Atlantic veteran from the Yacht Club de France has gone just north of the systems trajectory - time will tell who will make the right decision.

[Photoboy]

The Multi 70's Pass The Halfway Mark


1,900 nm from Grenada -at 0900 UTC on day four of the RORC Transatlantic Race Comanche was doing 24 knots of boat speed! Drone shot credit: Shannon Falcone @racingSF


DAY FOUR - 11 JAN (0900 UTC)

Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) is over halfway and just two hours outside multihull race record pace. The 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY), skippered by Mitch Booth, is 1900 miles from Grenada and well inside monohull race record pace. The majority of the RORC fleet are north of the rhumb line. To the south an area of light winds stretches about 1000 miles across the direct route. Four days into the RORC Transatlantic Race and the sight of land is now just a distant memory for the 29 teams racing to Grenada. The crews have settled into life at sea, rolling in the deep, their boat speed the metric for success.

Comanche’s navigator Will Oxley (0900 UTC 10 JAN) reported:

“All going well on Comanche. Our goals are a safe boat and crew, line honours and a new race record. We felt we could achieve these goals without heading far north and crossing the front in big seas and strong winds. So, we have been threading the needle between a col (transition zone) and an easterly wave (atmospheric trough), trying to find enough pressure to make our way west. We had a slow 12 hours, but we hope we are through the worst of it now. We expect to cross the front around 0300 UTC on the day four. At this time, we will have a good idea whether our plan has been successful.” (At 0900 UTC on day four Comanche was doing 24 knots of boat speed!)



Sent to media team - 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY) is currently leading IRC Super Zero - © Shannon Falcone @racingSF


GDD (FRA) skippered by Halvard Mabire, racing two-handed with Miranda Merron - "Well done RORC for organising a race in phase with the lunar cycle" Sent to the media team by © Miranda Merron


Two ORC50s are competing in the RORC Transatlantic Race: Five Oceans (FRA) skippered by Quentin le Nabour and GDD (FRA) skippered by Halvard Mabire, racing two-handed with Miranda Merron. Both teams have crossed an area of light winds and are bracing themselves for strong northwesterlys to come. Five Oceans leads by 55 miles, having taken a more northerly route than GDD. Miranda Merron contacted the RORC Media team (1000 UTC JAN 11):

“Well done RORC for organising a race in phase with the lunar cycle! Each night we are treated to an hour more of ever-brighter moonlight. However, the weather department must be on holiday. According to the brochure, this race is supposed to be a downwind sleighride in the trade winds, but there is a nasty little low, marked ‘gale’ on NOAA's synoptic map, which is spoiling the party and heading this way.


Stunning shot sent to the Media Team by Gunboat 68 Tosca, sailed by Ken Howery and Alex Thomson © Tosca/PKC Media

MOCRA
PowerPlay continues to lead the race on the water, over 50 miles ahead of Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) and Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA). Paul Larsen, on board PowerPlay, shared his thoughts after the team crossed the northerly front and pointed their bows towards Grenada:

“Squinting into the lashing rain whilst wrestling in a reef. We’re in the thick of crossing the front now. It’s hard to find the right gear between squalls. Our hunters (Argo and Maserati) are 65 miles back and will also have to tread this path. We are happy with where we are...but equally aware of how quickly these boats can demolish a lead.”



PowerPlay continues to lead the race on the water, over 50 miles ahead of Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) and Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) © James Mitchell/RORC


An intense battle continues between Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH), David Collins’ Botin 52 Tala (GBR) and Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), helmed by Stefan Jentsch © James Mitchell/RORC


IRC ZERO
The intense battle continues between three 50-footers in IRC Zero with David Collins’ Botin 52 Tala (GBR) estimated to be leading after IRC time correction. Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), helmed by Stefan Jentsch, is leading on the water but ranked second in class after time correction. Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH) is ranked third after time correction. The three leaders are currently passing through a transition zone of lighter winds. Black Pearl has chosen a WSW course to get to the better pressure, while Tala and Caro are heading NW. The result of the difference in opinion will be revealed at the 1200 UTC sched.

About 90 miles behind the class leaders, Jean Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60 Lady First 3 (FRA) from the Yacht Club de France, is battling with Dominique Tian’s Ker 46 Tonnerre de Glen (FRA). François-Xavier Li contacted the RORC Media team and commented:

“Tonnerre encountered a little less wind during the night, which allowed Lady First, our friends from Marseilles, to make an 11 mile gain to catch us up. The Marseillais sail together!”

IRC SUPER ZERO
Comanche is currently leading IRC Super Zero with Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN), helmed by Joern Larsen, in second place. L4 Trifork’s navigator Aksel Magdahl contacted the RORC media team (0900 UTC JAN 11).

“Finally, we are through this front and the boat speed is back in the 20s again, with a gusty 30 knots sometimes,” commented Aksel. “We are finally heading more for Grenada, which is quite a relief. Looking ahead, it looks like the low pressure scenario will repeat itself, with us having to negotiate a wedge of light airs before we can get into the next cold front and low pressure system. All is good on board, everyone quite soaked and difficult to stay in the bunks at times. The food has been great, currently enjoying some jamon iberico in the nav station while the guys are getting smashed on deck!”


IRC ONE
Richard Palmer’s JPK 10.10 Jangada (GBR), racing two-handed with Jeremy Waitt, is estimated to lead the class after IRC time correction. Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) is ranked second by less than an hour. Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) is leading on the water and ranked third after IRC correction, by just 16 minutes from Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L'Ange De Milon (FRA), which is representing the Yacht Club de France. It will be an interesting 24 hours for the leaders in the class as they negotiate an area of light wind right across the racecourse. Pata Negra leads a pack of boats to the south, including Christopher Daniel’s J/122 Juno (GBR), Martin Westcott’s Swan 57 Equinoccio (CHI), and Carlo Vroon’s Hinckley 52 Diana (NED). If the southerly boats can find a way through the light winds, they will make huge gains on the boats to the north.

Remy Gerin’s 65ft Spirit of Tradition sloop Faïaoahé (FRA) representing the Yacht Club de France is back in the race. The two-handed team of Remy and Bernard Jeanne-Beylot suspended racing on day three to fix a problem with their auto-pilot, all within the race rules, and now Faïaoahé is back in action on the course

TRACKER


http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/ra...-the-deep.html

[Photoboy]

Riding The Northern Conveyor Belt



TRACKER



By sunset on the second day of the RORC Transatlantic Race the majority of the record fleet had raced into the wide expanse of the Atlantic Ocean leaving the Canary Islands in their wake. This would normally result in blasting southwest in the trade winds, but this year’s race has a very complex weather scenario for the days ahead. Right now, a low-pressure system to the north is affecting the front runners who chose this high road. To the south, the low road, the breeze is better than expected. The low riders look to have made the right call – for now.

MOCRA
To the north, the leading multihulls have slowed down to under 20 knots as they enter the transition zone created between the low to the northwest and the trade winds to the northeast. Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) has been the dominant force so far and has taken up a westerly position compared to Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA), and Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA). Tactically, PowerPlay has positioned between the competition and the finish. The race is on to cross the transition zone and gybe onto the fresh breeze to the northwest.




Peter Cunningham commented by satellite phone just before sunset: “A great start for PowerPlay with the boat log on 646 miles for the first day, but a little slower today.”



images © James Mitchell

IRC SUPER ZERO
The 100ft Maxi Comanche (CAY) skippered by Mitch Booth gybed southwest shortly after dawn on day two and has stayed on the same gybe all day. On a broad reach, Comanche has been unstoppable, achieving over 20 knots of boat speed hour after hour. If Comanche continues at this pace, the race record will be smashed by over three days. Volvo 70 L4 Trifork (DEN) is the most northerly boat of the RORC fleet and aptly the majority of the crew come from Scandinavia. Trifork’s navigator Aksel Magdahl contacted the RORC media team:




“Here on Trifork everything is well. I have some respect for I Love Poland since I’ve seen that the boat is very fast, so happy to be well ahead after the start. Now it’s a bit of a strategy game. It is tricky to find a reasonable way across to Grenada. We’ve chosen to trust the weather models a bit around the development of the low-pressure systems and head north. However, being aware of the risk of the models getting it wrong, we didn’t go for the most extreme route around the Azores, like the computer software recommended. All the boats with different sizes and speeds have different timing around where they will be affected by the low, so it’s hard to compare much with Comanche or the smaller boats, so we’re looking at the other Volvo boats. At the moment, the weather looks nice for Comanche who can sail a shorter distance than us, just with a little stop in a couple of days while we will battle two or three low pressure systems! We finally gybed towards the west now, Sunday afternoon. It feels good after pointing towards Greenland for 24 hours!”




IRC ZERO
Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH) is still leading the class, but only just. Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), helmed by Stefan Jentsch, and David Collins’ Botin 52 Tala (GBR) have all gybed west and are continuing their close battle. In reality, all three boats are vying for the class and overall lead, after IRC time correction.

IRC ONE
Leaving Tenerife to port initially worked out well for Richard Palmer’s JPK 10.10 Jangada (GBR), Jacques Pelletier’s Milon 41 L'Ange De Milon (FRA) and Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR). However, Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR), which went south of Tenerife, is now through the lee of the island and starting to increase in speed due to the good pressure.



Christopher Daniel on his J/122e Juno (GBR) reported in as the team passed south of Tenerife:

“Juno had a good first 30 hours, with the North Atlantic giving us a welcome reception to remember. With winds ranging from 30 kts to almost nothing, we’ve already used every sail in the locker! Before the start we made the decision to err towards the rhumb line and have just rolled the dice to sail between Tenerife and La Palma. Not an easy call, and we’ll only ever know whether it was correct when we all re-converge to the west of La Palma’s wind shadow."

Two of the boats racing in the RORC Transatlantic Race have reported that they are heading for shore. Swan 58 OMII and the classic Faiaoahe. OM II has retired from racing and will sail to Antigua. Faiaoahe have reported that they have temporarily suspended racing but intend to resume racing. All are safe and well aboard both boats.

[Photoboy]

The 2022 RORC Transatlantic Race started on time in glorious conditions outside Marina Lanzarote. A flotilla of spectator boats witnessed the spectacle and thousands more watched by live stream, with Vendée Globe star Pip Hare providing commentary. After months of preparation and planning, the 3,000nm race to Grenada has begun for 256 sailors from 27 different countries. The record fleet of 30 boats set off at blistering pace downwind, leaving Lanzarote behind. The RORC fleet will race through the Canary Islands before sailing into the open waters of the Atlantic. A complex weather system promises a fascinating race to Camper & Nicholsons' Port Louis Marina in Grenada.

“15-20 knots of wind with a wave height of one and a half metres made for a spectacular downwind start,” commented RORC Deputy Racing Manager Tim Thubron. “Both the MOCRA and combined IRC class starts were very competitive; it just shows how spirited this fleet is. The RORC Race Team will be monitoring their progress throughout the race 24/7 and, as with all of our Club’s events, we wish all our competitors a safe and enjoyable race.”

José Juan Calero, Managing Director of Calero Marinas commented:

“It is fantastic to see the race start in perfect conditions. I speak for all of the team at Calero Marinas and all of the supporters of this race, to say we are so proud of how this race has developed. It is an amazing experience for all of the sailors. This is the eighth year we have hosted the start and I thank the RORC for putting their trust in Lanzarote to deliver. A big thank you to the International Maxi Association and the Yacht Club de France for supporting the race.”


all images © James Tomlinson

MOCRA
At speeds of over 30 knots, the powerful multihulls in the MOCRA class were first away. Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) won the pin end with Giovanni Soldini’s Multi70 Maserati (ITA) first to cross the line to leeward. The Italian team was the first to gybe inshore and to the turning mark at Puerto Calero. However, Peter Cunningham’s MOD70 PowerPlay (CAY) ripped out in front, hitting a speed of 33 knots. PowerPlay was first to clear the passage between Lanzarote and Fuerteventura. Argo and Maserati gybed south of the rhumb line, but PowerPlay continued to head to the north. Less than three hours into the race, the trio had travelled over 70 miles.

IRC ONE
Andrew Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) pulled away from the class at the start to lead on the water. Boat Captain Chris Jackson called in just after the start: ‘It’s great to get going and we are doing very nicely, touching 12 knots and it is great to be first on the water in our class.”

Ross Applebey’s Oyster 48 Scarlet Oyster (GBR) had a great tactical start, hugging the coast of Lanzarote to record a velocity made good of over 10 knots. Christopher Daniel’s J/122 Juno (GBR) is racing across the Atlantic for the first time and contacted the race team after the start:

“Glamour conditions for the start! We managed to recover quickly from a blown fitting on the tack line and are now enjoying a VMG run downwind past the amazing Lanzarote coastline. Having passed the turning point off Puerto Calero we will make our way through The Canary Islands; next stop Grenada!”


Without doubt IRC One has the biggest variety of yachts in the RORC Transatlantic Race. Three classic yachts are racing under IRC including Faiaoahe sailed by Remy Gerin’s (FRA) who is a larger-than-life character and racing his 65ft (19.8m) cutter-rigged sloop two-handed with Bernard Jeanne-Beylot. Racing a traditionally built boat with just two people requires all-round skill, but the pair are not short on humour either - besides an exercise bike below deck, Remy admits to having a huge quantity of broccoli on board: “I love it but my children don’t, so this is one of my big treats on board. I don’t get enough at home!”

TRACKER








IRC SUPER ZERO
L4 Trifork got the best start of the big boat class, with Joern Larsen at the helm and Bouwe Bekking calling the shots. L4 Trifork started to leeward and got into clean air to hoist their massive spinnaker. L4 Trifork was originally the VO70 Ericsson 4, but now has DSS foils and a longer bowsprit – turbo-charged would be an understatement. However, the 100ft canting keel Maxi Comanche, skippered by Mitch Booth also got away well, passing L4 Trifork to windward in a show of power. L4 Trifork gybed on their line and might have even got a tow in their quarter wave. It was an aggressive start by both teams. Three hours into the race Comanche leads by five miles. Behind the leaders on the water, HYPR (NED), sailed by Jens Lindner, has taken a northerly position. The Polish National Foundation’s VO70 I Love Poland and The Austrian Ocean Racing’s VO65 Sisi are further to the south


IRC ZERO
The super-fight between the offshore 50-footers got off to a cracking start. Max Klink’s Botin 52 Caro (CH) nailed the pin end of the line like the team were starting an inshore race. David Collins Botin 52 Tala (GBR) was hardly shy of the line either. The Botin 56 Black Pearl (GER), helmed by Stefan Jentsch was also in the mix. Three hours into the race the trio were screeching along, three-abreast, at close to 20 knots of boat speed.

Summing up the commitment by the Royal Ocean Racing Club to this race, RORC CEO Jeremy Wilton commented:

“It takes a lot of resources from the whole RORC team and from our partners both here in Lanzarote and across the ocean in Grenada. The preparation before the start and the welcome at the finish are all part of a great experience for competitive teams racing 3,000 miles. Ocean racing is part of our name, it is in our DNA and the majority of our members around the world are ocean racers. The RORC is respected for managing racing and for our safety standards. To provide great offshore races is what we strive to deliver and these also become bucket-list events.”











STORY VIA RORC