The 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race delivered a dramatic edition of the annual ocean crossing. A combination of elite performance, endurance and tragedy marked the 3,000-mile challenge from Lanzarote to Antigua.
French entry Palanad 4, a Mach 50, claimed the overall win under IRC. The boat, owned by Olivier Magre and skippered by his son Antoine, showcased the potential of its scow-bow design.
“Winning the RORC Transatlantic Race with my son is a dream come true,” said Olivier Magre. “On the boat, Antoine is the boss.” “This race is a strong first proof of concept for the Mach 50,” Antoine added.
In the MOD70 class, Argo (USA), skippered by Chad Corning, set a new multihull race record of 4 days, 23 hours, 51 minutes and 15 seconds. “We knew it would be a close match with Zoulou, and it was intense from start to finish,” said Corning. “Every mile was earned.”
Raven, the 34m Baltic 111 skippered by Damien Durchon (and with Cork's Justin Slattery onboard), took monohull line honours in record time—6 days, 22 hours, 27 minutes and 47 seconds. “Above 30 knots, you’re moving faster than the waves. It’s demanding but manageable,” Durchon said of the foil-assisted yacht.
Ino Noir, a Carkeek 45 owned by James Neville, placed second overall under IRC after 9 days and 6 hours at sea. “This was a brutally tough race. It never let up,” Neville said.
Welsh J/125 Jackknife, skippered by Sam Hall with his father Andrew, won IRC Two and came third overall. “Hand-steering the entire way, we focused on consistency and endurance,” said Sam Hall.
The Two-Handed Division was won on corrected time by Kornog 2 (FRA), sailed by Gilles Colubi and Ivan Osselin.
Linnea Aurora, a 128ft Hoek-designed superyacht skippered by Phil Martinson, claimed the Superyacht Trophy. “For many of us, crossing the Atlantic was a long-held dream,” said Sailing Master Magnus Woxen.
Xavier Bellouard’s Maxitude won the Yacht Club de France Trophy, fulfilling a long-term goal to race across the Atlantic.
The race was overshadowed by tragedy aboard Walross 4 (GER), which completed the crossing despite the loss of a crew member.
The 2026 edition is dedicated to the crew of Walross 4. RORC, Calero Marinas, and the Antigua Yacht Club expressed condolences and support.
The 2027 RORC Transatlantic Race will start from Marina Lanzarote in January. Full results and tracker are available at rorctransatlantic.rorc.org. Link to the wrap video here.
