More arrivals for Transatlantic Race

(January 19, 2021; Day 11) – Johannes Schwarz’s Volvo 70 Green Dragon crossed the finish line today of the 7th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race to win the IMA Trophy for monohull line honours. The team completed the course to Antigua at 04:53 UTC in an elapsed time of 9 days, 18 hours, 53 mins, and 40 secs.

Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3 was less than five hours behind, completing the 2735-mile race in a phenomenal elapsed time of 10 days, 1 hour, 43 mins and 18 secs. For the moment, Palanad 3 have scored the best corrected time under IRC for the RORC Transatlantic Race Trophy.

Green Dragon becomes the seventh boat to win the International Maxi Association’s IMA Trophy. Whilst this year’s race is a different route, Green Dragon is the first monohull to complete the RORC Transatlantic Race in under 10 days.

“It is an honour to win the IMA Trophy, as so many famous boats have done, but to finish the race in such a fast time is incredible,” said Schwarz. “Although we finished in Antigua and not Grenada, the route we took was to the south, so there is not much difference in the miles we have raced.”

The finish was moved from its standard location of Grenada due to travel restrictions. It remains the intention of the RORC to finish the 2022 edition in Grenada, as it has done since the first race in 2014.

Green Dragon and Paland 3 followed Oren Nataf’s Multi50 trimaran Rayon Vert which finished yesterday to claim multihull line honors.

“In the early part of the race we didn’t push too hard because we are a mixed pro-am crew and there were strong winds on the reach from Lanzarote to Tenerife,” explained Schwarz. “Later in the race we deployed the big kite and the conditions were just so fantastic. It was really special and very emotional for all the crew – we went faster and faster.

“However, I have to say that we are deeply impressed by the performance of the Class40s, they were so incredible! When we arrived in Antigua, it was not possible for the RORC team to meet us due to the curfew, but as if by magic, there was a cooler of cold beer on the dock!”

Green Dragon crew: Kees Bos, Alexis Duvernoy, Jonathan Florent, Florian Guezennec, Jens Lindner, Angel Lingorski, Jorge Lorenzo Roman, Elena Malakhatka, Peter Marchal, August Ruckman, Johannes Schwarz (Skipper), Anton Tajiev, Ada Westerinen.

Olivier Magre’s Class40 Palanad 3 showed blistering pace in the RORC Transatlantic Race. “We pushed the boat hard, maybe at times a bit too much,” admitted Luke Berry. “We had the smaller spinnaker up in 38 knots for example.” Palanad 3’s owner Olivier was racing with two of the best Class40 sailors in the world in Corentin Douguet and Luke Berry.

“We are overjoyed to arrive in Antigua to such a great welcome, it has been a super race,” said Magre. “The boat performed really well; very quick but also very safe, with tremendous acceleration. If it was not for the sargassum weed, I am sure we would have finished inside 10 days – it is a superb boat!

“I remember the start from Puerto Calero so well; the boat was singing in big conditions and we had a great battle with our sistership Redman. I have sailed with Corentin before and it is always special, he is a great sailor. This was my first time with Luke, he is a great communicator, always in a good mood and a tremendous sailor. I would like to say a big ‘thank you’ to Lanzarote, Antigua and to the RORC. This has been a super race and really well organized.”

Antoine Carpentier’s Class40 Redman is expected to be the next boat to complete the RORC Transatlantic Race. Redman is due in Antigua in the early in early hours tomorrow.

Race details – Tracker – Facebook

The 2,735-mile race started January 9 and extends across the Atlantic Ocean from Lanzarote to Antigua, with the finish moved from its standard location of Grenada due to travel restrictions. It remains the intention of the RORC to finish the 2022 edition in Grenada, as it has done since the first race in 2014.

Source: Louay Habib