---
title: "RORC Transatlantic Race 2027: course, start and record"
description: "Starts January 10, 2027 from Lanzarote. The Royal Ocean Racing Club's winter transatlantic, from the Canaries to Antigua in the trade winds. Every year."
url: "https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/rorc-transatlantic"
lang: "en"
---

[Offshore Races](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en)

# RORC Transatlantic Race

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.

- **Start**: Lanzarote
- **Finish**: Antigua
- **Theoretical distance**: 3,000 nm
- **Frequency**: Every year
- **Classes**: IRC, MOCRA, IMOCA, Class40
- **Next start**: January 10, 2027
- **Record**: 4d 23h 51m 15s · Jason Carroll, Argo (MOD70), 2026
- **Official website**: [rorctransatlantic.rorc.org](https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/)

## In numbers

- **2014** first race, starting from Lanzarote
- **2,995** miles from the Canaries to Antigua, non-stop
- **4d 23h** for the race record, the MOD70 trimaran Argo in 2026
- **6d 22h** for the monohull record, Raven in 2026
- **12** editions sailed up to 2026, none in 2020
- **2** overall wins for Teasing Machine, in 2017 and 2023

## Roll of honour

| 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) |

## History

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.

## Records

- **Race record**: Argo (MOD70), Jason Carroll, 4d 23h 51m 15s in 2026.
- **Monohull record**: Raven (Baltic 111), Damien Durchon, 6d 22h 27m 47s in 2026.
- **IRC record**: Palanad 3, Olivier Magré, 12d 9h 17m 29s in 2021.

## At a glance: frequently asked questions

### RORC Transatlantic Race: when is the next start?

The next start is scheduled for January 10, 2027 in Lanzarote.

### RORC Transatlantic Race: how long is the course?

The theoretical course is 3,000 nautical miles, from Lanzarote to Antigua.

### RORC Transatlantic Race: what is the record?

4d 23h 51m 15s, set by Jason Carroll on Argo in 2026.

### RORC Transatlantic Race: who won the last edition?

Antoine Magré on Palanad IV, in 2026.

### RORC Transatlantic Race: which boats take the start?

Classes on the start line: IRC, MOCRA, IMOCA, Class40.

### RORC Transatlantic Race: how often is the race held?

Every year.

### What route does the RORC Transatlantic Race follow?

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.

### How long does the crossing take?

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.

### Can a small boat win the race?

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.

### Which trophies are awarded at the finish?

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.

## Sources

- [rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/newsflash-2026-rorc-transatlantic-race-baltic-111-raven-sets-record-and-wins-the-ima-trophy](https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/newsflash-2026-rorc-transatlantic-race-baltic-111-raven-sets-record-and-wins-the-ima-trophy)
- [rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/rorc-transatlantic-race-2026-a-race-of-innovation-endurance-and-respect](https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/rorc-transatlantic-race-2026-a-race-of-innovation-endurance-and-respect)
- [rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/from-atlantic-racing-to-caribbean-classic](https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/from-atlantic-racing-to-caribbean-classic)
- [rorc.org/2025-rtr-wrap-up](https://rorc.org/2025-rtr-wrap-up)
- [rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/about-the-rorc-transatlantic-race](https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/about-the-rorc-transatlantic-race)

Updated November 11, 2026

- [2027 offshore sailing race calendar](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/calendar/2027)
- [2028 offshore sailing race calendar](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/calendar/2028)
- [IRC offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/irc)
- [MOCRA offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/mocra)
- [IMOCA offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/imoca)
- [Class40 offshore races: courses and starts](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/classes/class40)
- [Christian Zugel: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/christian-zugel)
- [Éric de Turckheim: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/eric-de-turckheim)
- [Mitch Booth: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/mitch-booth)
- [Jason Carroll: offshore racing wins and records](https://www.offshoreraces.app/en/skippers/jason-carroll)

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[Courses au large](https://www.offshoreraces.app/fr/rorc-transatlantic) · [Offshore Races](https://www.offshoreraces.app/de/rorc-transatlantic) · [Offshore Races](https://www.offshoreraces.app/es/rorc-transatlantic) · [Offshore Races](https://www.offshoreraces.app/it/rorc-transatlantic) · [Offshore Races](https://www.offshoreraces.app/pt/rorc-transatlantic)