RORC Transatlantic Race: lIfe in the fast line

Competitors in the RORC Transatlantic Race, jointly organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the International Maxi Association, are making their way to the start from Marina Lanzarote on November 28 with many of the international fleet sailing thousands of miles to take part in the second edition of the race. However, just 10 days before the start, Tony Lawson's MOD 70, Concise 10 was still in its home port of Hamble, UK, over 1,500 miles from the start line. For the RORC Transatlantic Race, Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield will be taking on Lloyd Thornburg's Phaedo3  in a high speed duel across the Atlantic.

"Trying to get south at this time of year when you have depression after depression rolling across the Atlantic always makes things interesting, so it is going to be a fairly fruity delivery for Concise 10," commented Collier Wakefield.  "We have had quite a lot of work to do on the boat to get ready for the RORC Transatlantic Race and with our base in Hamble and all the team living close by, there was no reason to leave earlier. We originally planned to leave on Monday 16th November but the change in that decision was driven by the weather. Our primary goal for the delivery is to arrive in one piece and with several weather depressions coming through, we are holding out for a weather window on Friday 20th November."

Legendary French solo sailor Francis Joyon, concurs with Concise 10. Joyon's Maxi-trimaran, IDEC SPORT is on amber alert in the Bay of Biscay for an assault on the Jules Verne Trophy. The French team may leave on Saturday at roughly the same time as Concise 10 pass their proposed start.

Collier Wakefield describes the weather scenario: "This departure takes into account more favourable conditions with a shift in the breeze to the north west, we should have about 15-20 knots, a good angle to get out of the English Channel and past Ushant. The breeze is due to build later on to 35 knots and we really want to stay just in front of that all the way down, which will mean sailing the boat to about 80% of its capability until we reach Cape Finisterre. Once we make the Portuguese coast, the weather should settle down considerably with the depressions passing north over the top of us so we should have a fast downwind ride to Lanzarote. At the moment, we are looking at three and a half days for the delivery, which over 2,000 miles will be very quick. We are looking at boat speeds often over 30 knots and in the early part of the delivery, the northwesterly wind chill factor will be about -5ºC, so it will be woolly hats, thermals, boots, full dry-suits, helmets and goggles."

The RORC Transatlantic Race is organised under ISAF Offshore Special Regulations, RORC Prescriptions, Category 1 plus Satellite Phone. Competing yachts are inspected before the start to ensure that they have complied with the regulations. Concise 10 will also be following these regulations for the delivery to Lanzarote.

"Safety on board is always hugely important and is always at the forefront of our minds," commented Collier Wakefield. "We have been going through all of our MOB and capsize procedures and we have everything in place with Falmouth Coastguard. On deck, all of the crew will be wearing lifejackets at all times and a bum-bag containing an AIS Beacon, knife and torch - nobody is allowed on deck without them. We are very vigilant towards all aspects of safety. Concise 10 is carrying, to the letter, all of the safety equipment required for the RORC Transatlantic Race and we are sailing with the full race crew. Once we get to Marina Lanzarote we will take a day off and then we will be sailing everyday to practice in the conditions for the RORC Transatlantic Race. We are really looking forward to it and it is exciting to line up against Phaedo again. We are under no illusions that they have had a lot more time on their boat than we have, and effectively it will be a one-design match race across the Atlantic. I don't want to ramp it up, but we have met each other twice and we have come out one-all so far. Phaedo have been pushing their boat hard, breaking lots of records and it is going to be very interesting to see how we come out against them. More than anything, it will be really enjoyable racing in two boats with such enormous capability in trade winds with Atlantic swell across an ocean."

Marina Lanzarote is finalising preparations for the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race with a full social calendar for all competitors and invited guests. The Welcome Reception at the Real Club Náutico de Arrecife is on Monday 24th November with the Westerhall Rum Party, held in Marina Lanzarote the following day. There will be social activities every evening in the week before the start, including the Gala Dinner on Thursday 27th November.

For more information about the RORC Transatlantic Race: www.rorctransatlantic.rorc.org

(Report by Louay Habib)

NOTES TO EDITORS:

THE RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE:

    The second RORC Transatlantic Race starts in Lanzarote on Saturday 28th November 2015 and the 2,995 nautical mile race runs through the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic to arrive in Grenada.
    The race is run in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA).
    The winner of the inaugural RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy for best elapsed time under IRC in 2014 was Jeremy Pilkington's Lupa of London. The Baltic 78 was also presented with the International Maxi Association's Line Honours Trophy at a prizegiving ceremony held at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina at the finish in Grenada.

THE ORGANISERS:

    Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral's Cup. It organises an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes as well as inshore regattas such as the RORC Easter Challenge and IRC National Championships in the Solent.
    The RORC works with other yacht clubs to promote their offshore races and provides marketing and organisational support. The RORC Caribbean 600 based in Antigua and the first offshore race in the Caribbean, has been an instant success and last year the RORC extended its organisational expertise by creating the new RORC Transatlantic Race from Lanzarote to Grenada in November 2014 
    The club is based in St James' Place, London and Cowes, Isle of Wight.
    In co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, RORC is responsible for IRC, the principal international handicap system for yacht racing worldwide.The Spinlock IRC rating rule is administered jointly by the RORC Rating Office in Lymington, UK and UNCL Centre de Calcul in Paris, France. The RORC Rating Office is the technical hub of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and recognised globally as a centre of excellence for measurement. For Spinlock IRC rating information in the UK please see:  www.rorcrating.com 
    www.rorc.org
    http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/
    Follow us on Facebook and Twitter:  #rorcrtr

INTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION (IMA):

    The racing activities for the Maxi as a separate class started in Porto Cervo in 1980 with the first Maxi Yacht Cup. Immediately afterwards an association of the Maxi owners was founded under the name "International Class A Yacht Association" (ICAYA) with Baron E. de Rothschild elected the first President of the Class. The legal office was created in Geneva, Switzerland. "Class A" was the definition of a Maxi boat in the IOR rating system in force at that time. The following year Gianfranco Alberini was appointed first Secretary General of the Association. ICAYA organized the Maxi Yacht World Championship for many years in Porto Cervo as its European base, as well in other venues in USA - Honolulu, Newport R.I., Miami, St. Thomas, San Francisco. In Europe Puerto Portales, Antibes and Saint Tropez were selected as championship locations.
    When the definition "Class A" disappeared with the change from IOR it was decided to rename the Class as "International Maxi Association" (IMA). The Class is now registered in Geneva (Switzerland), has a base in Porto Cervo and an office in the USA, for rating and technical matters. The Class is now expanding its activities, and in 2010 the first Mini Maxi World Championship took place in September in Porto Cervo, Italy,  In 2011 the new Rolex Volcano Race opened the Mediterranean sailing season.
    Andrew McIrvine took over as Secretary General in 2013. In 2014 the pure racer Mini Maxis were reformed into the Maxi 72 Class. The IMA has organised previous Maxi Transatlantic races but this is the first in association with RORC. IMA has presented a vintage trophy for line honours for this new race
    IMA is a recognized member of the IRC Congress. Since November 2010 ISAF has recognised the Maxis as an international class. This means that the International Maxi Association is now the sole authority with the right to hold World and Continental Maxi Championships
    http://www.internationalmaxiassociation.com/

CALERO MARINAS:

    Calero Marinas has developed and manages three marinas in the Canary Islands, having accrued over 35 years' experience in the sector. The Canaries' warm climate and regular supply of breeze has lead Lanzarote to become a favourite training ground for offshore race teams, whilst the combination of good flight connections and easily available services has created a popular and reliable base for international sailors
    Marina Lanzarote is the newest addition to the group with secure berthing for vessels of up to 60m LOA, a wide range of services and the advantage of having the city and maritime quarter within a few minutes' walk
    The new shipyard is equipped to hoist superyachts and the inclusion of deep keel pits in the yard's design was considered especially to meet the needs of transoceanic racing yachts
    www.caleromarinas.com

Enquiries: msymes@caleromarinas.com

GRENADA TOURISM AUTHORITY:

    The premium yachting destination in the Southern Caribbean. Grenada and The Grenadines are widely considered to be the most unspoilt cruising grounds in the Caribbean. Famed for its people's warm and gregarious hospitality the 'Spice Island' of Grenada has a varied topography of mountains, rainforests and waterfalls, fringed by icing sugar beaches and cooled by trade winds
    www.puregrenada.com
    Facebook: www.facebook.com/discovergrenada
    Twitter:  www.twitter.com/puregrenada

WESTERHALL RUMS:

    http://www.westerhallrums.co.uk/

    The major operation of the company is the blending and bottling of rum, which has been in practice since the 1700s where Westerhall apply a secret family recipe to create their world famous rums. The company now produces seven brands of rum, with its flagship brand being Westerhall Vintage Rum. The company has always put great emphasis on maintaining high standards and quality control and today works to the highest international standards at every stage of the process from blending and bottling to labelling.
    https://www.facebook.com/Westerhall-Rums-Grenada

CAMPER & NICHOLSONS PORT LOUIS MARINA:

    Camper & Nicholsons is widely recognised to be one of the world's oldest and most prestigious yachting business names, with origins dating back to 1782 when boat building began at Gosport, in the south of England

    Owned and managed by Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, Port Louis Marina has transformed Grenada's yachting facilities. Overlooking the historic capital St Georges and designed to reflect the traditional Creole architecture, the marina offers 170 berths, including 30 superyacht berths for vessels from 25m to 90m LOA, and up to 7m draft
    http://www.cnmarinas.com

MEDIA ENQUIRIES:
Trish Jenkins - RORC Transatlantic Race
Press Liaison
M: +44 (0)7880 518689
E:  press@rorc.org

RACE REPORTS:
Louay Habib
M: +44 (0)7801 800521
E:  louayhabib@gmail.com

RORC RACE ENQUIRIES:
Nick Elliott, Racing Manager
Royal Ocean Racing Club
T: +44 (0) 1983 295144
E:   racing@rorc.org
W:  http://www.rorc.org/

ROYAL OCEAN RACING CLUB:
20 St James's Place
London SW1A 1NN
Tel: 020 7493 2248
Fax: 020 7493 2470
E:  info@rorc.org