RORC Transatlantic Race 2018, Day 6: Kuka3 pitstop for running repairs

At 1200 UTC on 29 November, Giovanni Soldini's Multi70 Maserati and Peter Cunningham's MOD70 PowerPlay were into the sixth day of their high-speed duel in the RORC Transatlantic Race. Both teams were just under 1,000 miles from the finish at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada. The latest position report showed that Maserati was just 13 miles further from the finish than PowerPlay with both multihulls hitting well over 20 knots of boat speed.

Giovanni Soldini sent this message from on board Maserati: "Everything is going well and we have 25 knots of wind coming from east. Now we have both gybed south and we should have a good advantage over PowerPlay. We're sailing with gennaker and full main; the moon shines on the waves and Maserati Multi 70 darts with wild accelerations between 25 and 33 knots of speed. It's almost impossible to sleep - you have to strap yourself into your bunk! We are happy and determined; the finish line is close and we will do our best as always!"

Franco Niggeler's Swiss Cookson 50 Kuka3 was estimated to be in pole position for the overall win under IRC. However, Kuka3 developed an engine problem, believed to be an issue with the starter motor. Whilst engines cannot be used for propulsion, it generates electricity for essential systems on board. "We understand that Kuka3 made a short (approx. 4 hour) stop in the Cape Verdes to fix a problem with their engine," commented RORC Deputy Race Manager, Tim Thubron. "They are allowed to do this under the rules of the race and on the assumption that they adhered to this (which we believe they did) it is unlikely that any penalty would be imposed. We will of course need to see the full facts on their declaration form before any final decision is made."

In the Class40 division, Henrik Bergesen's Hydra has also reported a problem on board. Skipper Tristan Kinloch contacted the RORC Race Team on Thursday morning to say they have some rudder issues which are not serious. However, they are also heading to the Cape Verde Islands to try and resolve the problem, and expect to arrive in the Cape Verde Islands on Friday morning (29 November) and will send an update with any further information.

The Italian Supermaxi My Song, sailed by International Maxi Association member Pier Luigi Loro Piana, was 1,657 miles from the finish, just two hours behind course record pace and estimated to be leading the fleet after IRC time correction.

Race report: LOuay Habib /RORC

How to follow the race:

Race Tracker: http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/tracking/2018-fleet-tracking.html

Race Minisite: http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/

Daily stories, press releases and race updates, as well as blogs from the boats and photo gallery 

Social Media: Official Race Hashtag: #rorctransatlanticrace
Facebook: @RoyalOceanRacingClub, Twitter & Instagram: #rorctransatlanticrace

Virtual Race: Armchair sailors...take on the challenge with Virtual Regatta Page Officielle, a new dimension of virtual offshore sailing! http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4852

http://click.virtualregatta.com/?li=4852

CURRENT RACE RECORDS:

Monohull Record:

10 days 07 hours 06 minutes and 59 seconds
NOMAD IV, FINOT-CONQ 100

In 2015, Jean-Paul Riviere's French Finot-Conq 100, Nomad IV set a record for the RORC Transatlantic Race and was also awarded the International Maxi Association Transatlantic Trophy for Monohull line honours

Multihull Record:

5 days 22 hours 46 minutes 03 seconds

PHAEDO3, MOD70

In 2016, Lloyd Thornburg's MOD70, Phaedo3 set the multihull record for the race

Class40 record:

12 days 12 hours 36 minutes 32 seconds

TALES II, CLASS40

Gonzalo Botin's Spanish Class40, Tales II was the first Class40 to complete the race in 2015, setting a Class40 record

NOTES TO EDITORS

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RORC RACE ENQUIRIES:

Royal Ocean Racing Club

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THE RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE:

The 2,865 nautical mile race runs through the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic to arrive at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada

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, such as the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, as well as inshore regattas including the RORC Easter Challenge

The club is based in St James' Place, London, but after a merger with The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes, now boasts a superb clubhouse facility at the entrance to Cowes Harbour and a membership of over 4,000

The 5th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race will start from Lanzarote on Saturday 24th November 2018

The annual race is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA) http://www.internationalmaxiassociation.com 

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The RORC has also been a leader in yacht handicap systems and in co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, created IRC - the principal yacht measurement system for the rating of racing yachts 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 and for IRC rating globally www.ircrating.org 

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THE INTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION (IMA):

The International Maxi Association (IMA) represents owners of Maxi yachts worldwide

Recognised in 2010 as the World Sailing international class of Maxi yachts, the IMA has the exclusive right to organise World championships for Maxi yachts. The President of the IMA is Benoît de Froidmont, the Secretary General is Andrew McIrvine, also Admiral of the Royal Ocean Racing Club

The IMA has been closely associated with the RORC Transatlantic Race since its inception. The IMA is registered in Geneva, has a base in Porto Cervo and an office in the UK, for rating and technical matters. It has two affiliated classes (Maxi 72s, and J Class) and one associated class (Wally Class). The IMA's function is to guide, structure and encourage maxi yacht racing worldwide

The IMA rule defines and categorises maxi yachts: it aims to embrace all maxi yachts and encourage any development that has a positive effect on the construction and performance of maxi yachts

The IMA Transatlantic Trophy is presented to the Line Honours Monohull in the RORC Transatlantic Race

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 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

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Other social media handles: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Canary.Islands.Tourism 

#CanaryIslands, Twitter: @CanaryIslandsEN, #CanaryIslands, Instagram: theCanaryIslands - #CanaryIslands. Lanzarote: FB: @Visit Lanzarote -# Lanzarote, Twitter: @TurismoLZT - #Lanzarote, Instagram : turismolzt - #Lanzarote. Arrecife: @Turismo Arrecife, Real Club Náutico de Arrecife:  https://www.facebook.com/rcna.info, @rcna.info 

CAMPER & NICHOLSONS MARINAS:

Camper & Nicholsons Marinas is widely recognised to be one of the world's oldest and most prestigious yachting business names, with origins dating back to 1782

The company has specialised in marina and waterfront development for over 40 years and has provided services to clients in more than 25 countries worldwide. Projects range from small marinas through to developments of over 500 hectares

Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Limited, listed on the AIM of the London Stock Exchange. Camper & Nicholsons Marinas currently operate marinas in Grenada, Italy, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey and the UK, with over 30 new projects currently under way all over the world

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 159 berths, including 30 superyacht berths for vessels from 25m to 90m LOA, and up to 6m draft

For more information about Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina visit: www.cnmarinas.com/plm 

Twitter: @portlouismarina

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Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/portlouismarinaofficial

GRENADA TOURISM AUTHORITY:

The premium yachting destination in the southern Caribbean, Grenada and its sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique are widely considered to be the most unspoiled cruising grounds in the Caribbean. Famed for its people's warm and gregarious hospitality Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean has a varied topography of mountains, rainforests and waterfalls, fringed by icing sugar beaches and cooled by trade winds.

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