Four very different yachts are shaping up for a battle for monohull line honours in the 2027 RORC Transatlantic Race, starting from Lanzarote for Antigua on Sunday, 10th January.
Record-holder Raven faces a double-handed Canadian foiling IMOCA 60 and two Volvo 70s in an Anglo-Australian rivalry. Across roughly 3,000 nautical miles, the trade winds could favour any of them.
Raven Returns to Defend Record
The 34-metre Baltic 111 Raven set the monohull race record in 2026: six days, 22 hours, 27 minutes and 47 seconds. The foiling-assisted yacht, skippered by Damien Durchon, returns with modifications aimed at improving speed and foil reliability downwind.
Record Defence: Raven's crew have been working to improve the Baltic 111's downwind performance as they prepare to defend their monohull line honours title and Atlantic race record. Photo: James Mitchell
New Zealand crewman Brad Jackson, a former Volvo Ocean Race winner aboard Ericsson 4, believes the opposition will be formidable.
“If the IMOCA is well sailed, then they will be very fast and hard to keep up with,” he said, adding that the Volvo 70s should also be quick downwind.
Two Sailors Against a Full Crew
Canadian Scott Shawyer and Britain's Alan Roberts will race Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive double-handed. Their foiling IMOCA 60 won The Ocean Race in 2023 under its former name, 11th Hour Racing, and finished third in the 2024–25 Vendée Globe as Groupe Dubreuil.
Foiling Challenge: Scott Shawyer and Alan Roberts will race double-handed aboard Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive, aiming to challenge Raven while building experience for Shawyer's 2028 Vendée Globe campaign. Photo: Georgia Schofield
The pair previously set a double-handed record in the 2023 RORC Transatlantic Race, on the former course to Grenada. Shawyer's simulations suggest their new boat could complete the current course in around six days and 23 hours in conditions like those of 2026 — close to Raven's record.
But Shawyer is clear about his priority: “Finish safely. That's level one. We're not going to jeopardise that one for a win or a record time.” The race is also part of his preparations for the 2028 Vendée Globe.
Volvo 70s Renew an Offshore Rivalry
Australia's Chris Townsend and Matthew Donald will campaign Gweilo 70, formerly Pyewacket 70, against British sailor Johnny Vincent's Pace, formerly Tschüss 2.
Gweilo 70 has a taller rig and longer bowsprit than in her original configuration. As Pyewacket 70, she won monohull line honours and IRC overall in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600 — with Raven's Brad Jackson aboard.
Pace won IRC overall in the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race and Caribbean 600 under her previous name, then took both line honours and IRC overall in the 2026 Round Britain and Ireland Race.
Both Volvo 70s could challenge for IRC overall honours, while their downwind performance may bring them into the line honours fight if the weather plays to their strengths.
