The 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race began on Sunday with a clean start off Marina Lanzarote. Clear skies and a steady northeasterly breeze greeted the international fleet.
A mix of monohulls and multihulls crossed the line in ideal conditions. The fleet now faces a 3,000-nautical-mile crossing to Antigua.
In the IRC monohull division, the Mach 50 Palanad 4, skippered by Olivier Magre, was first across the start. Swan 128 Be Cool, and Carkeek 45 Ino Noir also had strong starts.
Ino Noir took the early lead on IRC corrected time. Tactician Jack Trigger said the team aimed to stay out of trouble early on: “We avoided getting tangled up with any of the big boats,” he said.
MOD70 multihulls Argo and Zoulou started 10 minutes later. Argo, with Alister Richardson on tactics, reached the first mark ahead of all boats, including the monohulls.
Three hours in, both multihulls were neck and neck at 25 knots, speeding south along the African coast. Baltic 111 Raven led the monohull pack and gybed west towards the rhumb line.
The smallest yacht in the race is Stimmy, a Sun Fast 3300 raced two-handed by Finland’s Ari Huusela and Annika Paasikivi. “Our goal is simple: enjoy the sailing and finish safely,” said Huusela.
Germany’s Walross 4 features a student-led crew. Skipper Matthias Kahnt called it “more than a result sheet,” as the team sails a heavy wooden yacht focused on endurance and morale.
RORC Race Officer Chris Jackson confirmed both starts were all-clear. He said, “Safety is absolutely paramount to the RORC... the race is monitored 24 hours a day.”
The fleet is expected to make a southerly exit from the Canaries before picking up the Atlantic trade winds.
Live tracking below.
