The 13th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race will start on Sunday 10 January 2027 from Marina Lanzarote in the Canary Islands, with the fleet racing 2,995 nautical miles non-stop to Antigua in the West Indies.
Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the International Maxi Association and the Yacht Club de France, the race draws one of offshore sailing’s most diverse fleets, from high-performance multihulls and foiling superyachts to two-handed teams and classic yachts competing under IRC time correction.
The 2026 edition set a high bar. French Mach 50 Palanad 4, skippered by Antoine Magre and owned by his father Olivier, claimed overall honours on IRC corrected time, setting a new IRC course record of 11 days, 12 hours, 30 minutes and 32 seconds. It was a father-and-son result that captured the spirit of the race. “Winning the RORC Transatlantic Race with my son is a fantastic dream come true,” said Olivier Magre. Antoine was equally direct about what the win meant technically: “This race is a very strong first proof of concept for the Mach 50. Winning overall here really sets the bar.”
James Neville’s Carkeek 45 Ino Noir finished second overall, while the corinthian crew aboard the 30-year-old J/125 Jackknife delivered one of the race’s standout performances, finishing third overall and winning IRC Two after hand-steering the entire crossing. “We hand-steered the entire way, day and night,” said skipper Sam Hall. “The consistency of our performance made the difference.”
In the multihull division, MOD70 Argo set a new multihull course elapsed record of 4 days, 23 hours, 51 minutes and 15 seconds, edging out rival MOD70 Zoulou by just two and a half hours after a sustained duel at over 30 knots. Monohull line honours went to the foil-assisted Baltic 111 Raven, which set a new monohull race record of 6 days, 22 hours, 27 minutes and 47 seconds.
The race was also marked by tragedy. German entry Walross 4 suffered a fatal accident mid-Atlantic; the crew completed their crossing, and the 2026 race was dedicated to them.
The 2027 edition also serves as a feeder race for the RORC Caribbean 600, which starts from Antigua each February, making it a natural pairing for crews looking to string two of offshore sailing’s premier events together.
Entry is open to monohulls and multihulls of all sizes. Dependent on conditions, the fastest multihulls are expected to finish in five to six days, with the majority of the fleet arriving between 12 and 14 days, and later finishers completing the crossing in 17 days or more.
For entry details and further information, visit rorc.org.
