The Royal Ocean Racing Club's winter transatlantic, from the Canaries to Antigua in the trade winds.
Created in 2014, the race leaves Marina Lanzarote every January and crosses the Atlantic over some 3,000 miles to English Harbour, Antigua. Maxis, MOD70 multihulls, IMOCAs, Class40s and cruiser-racers sail crewed or double-handed, with an overall ranking on IRC corrected time. In 2026 the Baltic 111 Raven set the monohull record in 6 days 22 hours, the MOD70 Argo the multihull record in 4 days 23 hours, and the Magre family's Mach 50 Palanad 4 won overall.
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Antoine Magré, Palanad IV (Mach 50) |
| 2025 | Christian Zugel, Tschüss 2 (Volvo 70) |
| 2024 | Chris Sheehan, Warrior Won (PAC 52) |
| 2023 | Éric de Turckheim, Teasing Machine (NMD 54) |
| 2022 | Mitch Booth, Comanche (VPLP/Verdier 100) |
| 2021 | Olivier Magré, Palanad (Class40) |
| 2019 | Richard Palmer, Janagda (JPK 10.10) |
| 2018 | Franco Niggeler, Kuka (Cookson 50) |
| 2017 | Éric de Turckheim, Teasing Machine (NMD 54) |
| 2016 | Arco van Nieuwland, Aragon (Marten 72) |
| 2015 | Jean-Paul Rivière, Nomad IV (Finot-Conq 100) |
| 2014 | Daniel Stump, Lupa of London (RP78) |
The Royal Ocean Racing Club launched the race in November 2014 to give the racing yachts that head to the Caribbean every winter a true transatlantic. It starts in the Canaries, near Marina Lanzarote, and heads west to Antigua. The RORC runs it with the International Maxi Association and the Yacht Club de France. It has been held every year except 2020, because of the pandemic.
The course follows the trade-wind route: the fleet first heads south to find a steady easterly, then crosses the Atlantic downwind. The fastest multihulls arrive in five or six days, most boats in twelve to fourteen. The race opens the Caribbean season: many boats go on to the RORC Caribbean 600, starting from Antigua in February. Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 won both in 2025.
The overall prize is decided on IRC corrected time, a rule that adjusts each boat's time to its potential. Small boats stand a chance: Richard Palmer's JPK 10.10 Janagda won in 2019, two-handed, a first. The Magré family has won twice, in 2021 on a Class40 and in 2026 on the Mach 50 Palanad IV. The 2026 edition also saw both race records fall.
The next start is scheduled for January 10, 2027 in Lanzarote.
The theoretical course is 3,000 nautical miles, from Lanzarote to Antigua.
4d 23h 51m 15s, set by Jason Carroll on Argo in 2026.
Antoine Magré on Palanad IV, in 2026.
Classes on the start line: IRC, MOCRA, IMOCA, Class40.
Every year.
The trade-wind route. From Lanzarote the fleet heads south to find a steady easterly, then crosses the Atlantic to Antigua, 2,995 miles away.
Five to six days for the fastest multihulls, twelve to fourteen days for most of the fleet. The record, 4d 23h, has belonged to the MOD70 Argo since 2026.
Yes, because the winner is decided on IRC corrected time. The JPK 10.10 Janagda, a 10-metre boat sailed two-handed, won in 2019, and a Class40 won in 2021.
The RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy goes to the overall IRC winner. The IMA Transatlantic Trophy goes to the first maxi home, and the RORC Transatlantic Multihull Trophy to the first multihull.
Indicative course: the actual route depends on the weather. Figures taken from the sources below.
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