The 12th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race got underway in near-perfect conditions off Marina Lanzarote, as the international fleet raced into the Atlantic framed by Lanzarote’s dramatic volcanic coastline.
A steady northeasterly breeze of around 12–15 knots, clear skies and warm temperatures delivered an exceptional start, with spectator boats following the fleet to the mark off Puerto Calero Marina before the course opened south for the 3,000-nautical-mile crossing to Antigua.
The IRC monohulls delivered a fiercely competitive opening, with Palanad 4 first across the line and Baltic 111 Raven quickly asserting herself on the water. In the multihull start, MOD70s Argo and Zoulou immediately locked horns, launching into the Atlantic at high speed.
From foiling superyachts to two-handed campaigns and youth-led teams, the RORC Transatlantic Race once again brings together extraordinary diversity, ambition and adventure as the fleet heads west across one of the world’s great oceans.