Marina Lanzarote kicks off the RORC Transatlantic Race regatta season on January 12th with its 11th edition on the island, coinciding with the 100th anniversary of its organiser, the Royal Ocean Racing Club
The RORC Transatlantic Race returns to Lanzarote, setting sail from Arrecife’s Marina Lanzarote on January 12, 2025. This 11th edition marks a significant milestone as it coincides with the Royal Ocean Racing Club’s 100th anniversary. In the world’s largest transoceanic sailing competition participants will navigate the vast Atlantic Ocean on course for the finish line at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada. You can follow the race live on www.rorctransatlantic.rorc.org, tracking the entire fleet or specific boats.
In this year’s race, two new participants are vying for the title in the monohull category and the IMA Transatlantic Trophy: the 27-metre Maxi Lucky owned by Bryon Ehrhart, and the 21.5-metre Volvo 70 Tschüss II skippered by Christian Zugel. It’s worth noting that the monohull race record is currently held by Comanche, captained by Mitch Booth, set in 2022 at 7 days, 22 hours, 1 minute, and 4 seconds.
Both boats share the same American nationality and were designed by Juan Kouyoumdjian. While both are formidable contenders, the Maxi Lucky is considered the early favourite. The boat’s crew includes renowned Spanish sailor Juan Vila, who, despite being a newcomer to the RORC Transatlantic Race, boasts an impressive resume that includes victories in the Jules Verne Trophy, Volvo Ocean Race, and America’s Cup.
The German JV52 Haspa Hamburg team is the youngest in the race, with nine of its twelve-member crew under 30 years of age. Led by female skipper Wibke Borrmann, the team includes her husband Lars and their 19-year-old daughter Inken, one of three young ‘Haspanauts’ on board of the same age. The boat is owned by the Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt (HVS), a club that has been training young sailors in ocean yacht racing since 1903.
