RORC Transatlantic Race: Ready to go
November 25, 2015
Competitors for the second edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race have arrived in Marina Lanzarote. The new Calero Marina is a hive of activity as sailors from 14 different nations ready themselves and their yachts for the 3,000 nautical mile race to Port Louis Marina, Grenada which will start at noon, local time, Saturday 28th November.
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club and the International Maxi Association, the race has attracted yachts from 40 to 100 feet. The fastest yachts could complete the race in just 6 days, but the majority of the fleet will be at sea for two weeks or more.
Tony Lawson's MOD 70, Concise 10, skippered by Ned Collier Wakefield was one of the last arrivals in Marina Lanzarote, accomplishing a safe but brutal delivery from Hamble UK, covering 2,000 miles in just over four days. However, Concise 10 was safely moored in Marina Lanzarote just in time for the Westerhall Rums Party.
Organised by Nick & Annabel Kingsman, 150 sailors and guests enjoyed a real taste of Grenada as well as an opportunity to meet other competitors in the RORC Fleet. Westerhall Estate has been making rums in Grenada since the mid 1700s and have more recently won several top Spirit awards. Recognising that sailors traditionally love rum and that the race ends in Grenada, Westerhall Rums, Nick Kingsman is pleased to be an avid supporter of the RORC Transatlantic Race for the second year.
"This is an official Westerhall Rums Pink Cap Party," says Nick. "A chance for the crews to experience a little bit of Grenada before they leave and to sample the 5-year old Plantation Rum which is the official rum of the RORC Transatlantic Race. There will be plenty of opportunity for the teams to enjoy more rum once they reach the Caribbean, with an early arrivals party and at the final awards ceremony."
José Juan Calero, Managing Director for Calero Marinas was delighted to welcome the RORC fleet to the new purpose-built, Marina Lanzarote. The Calero family are keen racers and have hosted many championships and races at their marinas over the years. The opening of the new marina in October was perfect timing for the second edition of the race as it is more suited to the larger boats in the fleet with larger moorings, the biggest Travelift in Spain and all the services required by crews prior to making their Atlantic crossing.
"Calero Marinas is very happy to host the fleet this year at Marina Lanzarote and to support the RORC Transatlantic Race for the second edition. We are really enthusiastic about the race and our long term relationship with the RORC," explains José "From our point of view; this is the race for competitive sailors wanting to cross the Atlantic. We have many cruising rallies and other races, but if you really want to challenge yourself and to be in race mode across the Atlantic, then this is the race. The diversity of classes and different type of boats this time is incredible. It's going to be a really challenging crossing for the crews, but we are expecting very good winds for the start on Saturday with NE 15-20 knot tradewinds and will be looking forward to tracking and following the boats during the crossing. The great thing about the race is that many people will be able to watch from the shore so there should be lots of spectators in Arrecife and also along the coast near Puerto Calero where there is a mark of the course before the fleet head off."
Quotes from the Boats preparing for the race:
(FRA) Maurice Benzaquen, Pogo 1250, Aloha
- "We are all friends from Brittany and the one thing we have in common is sailing with Eric Tabarly. David (Alexandre) was the skipper of Pen Duick 2, Gwen (Kerisit) was skipper of Pen Duick 5 and Philippe (Foucher) was skipper of Pen Duick 6. We are competing because we love it, simple as that and of course we want to do well, but on board we will also have intense competition for the cooking; after all we are from France!"
(FRA) John-Paul Riviere, Finot Conq 100, Nomad IV - " We have an excellent crew and over the past year we have been improving the performance of Nomad IV, as you have to do with any new racing boat, especially a prototype. Crossing the Atlantic in full race mode is the first objective and I expect to be the first monohull to finish the race and will take great pleasure if we can take Line Honours."
(GBR) Mike Gascoyne, Class 40, Silvi Belle 2 - "This will be my fourth Atlantic crossing in two years, so I guess you could say I really enjoy it. Having worked at the top end of Formula One for 30 years and I know all about the frustrations of trying to get the best performance from technology and how frustrating that can be. However, out there in the Atlantic I just love it, especially the freedom. This Transatlantic will be different for me. In previous races I have had the pleasure of learning from masters such as Brian Thompson and Josh Hall, but this time, I am the most experienced member of the team."
(AUS) Paul Larsen, Watch Captain, British MOD 70 Concise 10 - "That was without doubt the worst delivery I have ever done. We saw 55 knots of wind off Ushant and the sea state was horrendous. The motion on board was appalling and the boat's structure in those conditions gets really punished. Everybody was seasick, except for Jonny Malbon who has an amazing constitution. On the first night it was pitch black, we were doing 20 knots down a big wave, just on bare poles. Just past La Coruña we picked up a hitch hiker, Barry the Pigeon landed on the deck and stayed with us all the way to Lanzarote and apart from Barry making a bit of a mess of the chart table, the boat stood up to the pounding incredibly well, which bodes well for the race ahead."
Tony Lawson's Concise 10, MOD 70 on delivery to Lanzarote with 55 knots of wind off Ushant © Helena Darvelid/Team Concise
RACE WEBSITE: For more information visit the dedicated event minisite: http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/
FOLLOW THE FLEET: Follow the progress of the race via the fleet tracker:
http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/tracking/2015-fleet-tracking.html
Follow us on Facebook Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RoyalOceanRacingClub/
Twitter: #rorcrtr
VIRTUAL RACE: Well over 5000 armchair admirals have already signed up for the RORC Transatlantic Virtual Race: http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4540
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 IMA member 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