Sam and Andrew Hall will take their J/125 Jackknife back across the Atlantic in the 2027 RORC Transatlantic Race, continuing a family campaign that has already delivered strong results in offshore racing and ISORA competition.
As Afloat reported earlier, Jackknife is among the early entries confirmed for the 13th edition of the 3,000nm race from Lanzarote to Antigua. The Halls’ campaign from North Wales brings a very different dimension to a fleet that also includes high-performance Volvo 70s, multihulls and Class40s.
As regular Afloat readers know, the Hall's campaigned their Lombard 46 Pata Negra this year on the Irish Sea and have retained their overall ISORA title with Sam picking up the association's top youth award to boot.
The J/125 may not have the latest generation of offshore racing technology, but her results continue to demonstrate the effectiveness of a well-prepared boat sailed by an experienced Corinthian crew.
Jackknife won IRC Two and finished third overall under IRC in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race, underlining the boat’s ability to compete against much larger and faster yachts over a full ocean crossing.
A proven offshore partnership
The Halls are familiar faces in long-distance offshore racing. Before moving to Jackknife, Sam and Andrew Hall competed in four consecutive editions of the RORC Transatlantic Race aboard Pata Negra, building considerable experience of the demands of the Atlantic crossing.
Their return with Jackknife reflects a continued commitment to offshore racing, combining competitive ambitions with a Corinthian approach.
Race Ready: The Jackknife crew prepare for another Atlantic campaign, building on their previous RORC Transatlantic experience and continued success in offshore racing
The boat’s success comes from consistency, preparation and crew work rather than outright speed alone — a philosophy that has become a defining feature of the RORC Transatlantic Race.
From ISORA to the Atlantic
Jackknife has also been a familiar competitor in Irish offshore racing, including the Irish Sea Offshore Racing Association (ISORA) series, where the Halls have built their offshore programme.
The move from ISORA racing to a 3,000nm Atlantic crossing represents another step for a campaign that has already shown its capability in demanding offshore conditions.
Jackknife Offshore: Sam and Andrew Hall’s J/125 Jackknife has shown its offshore capability in Atlantic racing, with the experienced Corinthian campaign now set for another RORC Transatlantic Race challenge
While the largest yachts in the 2027 fleet will be chasing elapsed-time honours, Jackknife’s focus will again be on IRC performance — where a well-sailed smaller yacht can challenge more powerful boats over the long ocean course.
A different route to RORC success
The 2027 RORC Transatlantic fleet is already showing the wide range of approaches possible in ocean racing, from Volvo 70s and multihulls to Class40s, racer-cruisers and competitive IRC yachts.
For Jackknife, the attraction is not simply crossing the Atlantic, but competing against some of the world’s leading offshore campaigns with a proven boat and experienced crew.
The RORC Transatlantic Race starts from Marina Lanzarote on Sunday 10 January 2027, with the fleet racing 3,000nm across the Atlantic to Antigua.
