Richard Palmer's British JPK 10.10 Jangada was presented with the RORC Transatlantic Trophy in Grenada at a ceremony and prize giving banquet held at Camper & Nicholsons Victory Bar and Restaurant. Racing Two Handed with Jeremy Waitt, Jangada scored the best corrected time under IRC to win the race overall and completed the 3,000nm race in 17 Days 10 hrs 11 mins 06 secs. Jangada is the first Two Handed team to win the antique sterling silver trophy, as well as the smallest boat to do so.
"This win absolutely exceeded all our expectations - a great start to the season!" commented Jangada's owner, Richard Palmer. "The competition out there certainly gave us a run for our money - Childhood 1 was doing 20 knots and we could never match that speed, and Pata Negra 12 knots, but we just said 'bring it on' and we raced hard all the way to the finish. Persistence and perseverance were the key to keep going for each three-hour watch. It was hard work but it paid off. It is absolutely fabulous to be back at Port Louis Marina in Grenada. We were here two years ago and we are looking forward to celebrating for a few days."
Guest of honour at the prizegiving was Dr Clarice Modeste-Curwen, Minister for Tourism and Civil Aviation. Honoured guests included Patricia Maher, CEO of the Grenada Tourism Authority, Nikoyan Roberts, Manager of Nautical Development for Grenada, Assistant Chinel Sandy, and Charlotte Fairhead, Port Louis Marina Manager.
For Jangada the decisive strategy was using weather forecasts to decide on the optimum route to Grenada, as Jeremy Waitt explains: "It was a progressive strategy; going to a certain point and then making the decision based on the forecast, trying to pick a route through. The big decision came on day 5, whether to stay north up against the high pressure or dive south for more breeze. By day 7 there would have been no get out, we would be committed. It was always going to be a bit of a gamble, but we managed to pick our way through a few light patches and when we got into the breeze we kept pushing. Jangada kept moving and although the boats to the south were faster, they were going a long way to get to the breeze. We think we got the navigation right and it's great to be here and to have won the race."
About 1,000nm from Grenada, Jeremy Waitt fell overboard while re-setting a twisted spinnaker. Jeremy was clipped onto the boat using a tether which is a requirement for all RORC offshore races. The sea state was up and had Jeremy not been tethered to Jangada, he would have disappeared from sight very quickly: "A wave caught us and I went straight over the side," explained Waitt. "I was being dragged at seven knots and that is a moment when you think about a few things, when you are in the middle of the ocean. The survival gene kicks in fairly quickly and it was a good bit of team work to get back on board. I have a few bruises but I don't think Richard was too impressed as I was slowing the boat down! When I was safely back on board, Richard said, 'shall we have a cup of tea?' I replied, let's get the spinnaker back up first!"
Benedikt Clauberg's Swiss First 47.7 Kali was the final boat to finish the RORC Transatlantic Race. Crossing the line at 19:28:19 UTC on 11 December, the crew were in time to join the prizegiving party and also celebrate finishing the race for the second year in a row.
Full reports: www.rorctransatlantic.rorc.org
Results: http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/results/2019-results.html
THE RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE:
The 6th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race started from Calero Marinas, Marina Lanzarote on Saturday 23rd November 2019
The annual race is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA) http://www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
The 2,995 nautical mile race runs through the Canary Islands before crossing the Atlantic to arrive at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina in Grenada
Established in 1925, The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) became famous for the biennial Fastnet Race and the international team event, the Admiral's Cup. It organises an annual series of domestic offshore races from its base in Cowes, such as the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race, as well as inshore regattas including the RORC Easter Challenge
The club is based in St James' Place, London, but after a merger with The Royal Corinthian Yacht Club in Cowes, now boasts a superb clubhouse facility at the entrance to Cowes Harbour and a membership of over 4,000
#RORCTransatlanticRace
Race minisite: http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/
RORC website: www.rorc.org
Twitter: #rorctransatlanticrace @RORCracing
Facebook: www.facebook.com/royaloceanracingclub
Instagram: instagram.com/rorcracing
IRC RATING:
The RORC has also been a leader in yacht handicap systems and in co-operation with the French offshore racing club, UNCL, created IRC - the principal yacht measurement system for the rating of racing yachts worldwide
The Spinlock IRC rating rule is administered jointly by the RORC Rating Office in Lymington, UK and UNCL Centre de Calcul in Paris, France
The RORC Rating Office is the technical hub of the Royal Ocean Racing Club and recognised globally as a centre of excellence for measurement. For Spinlock IRC rating information in the UK please see: www.rorcrating.com and for IRC rating globally www.ircrating.org
Social media: www.facebook.com/rorcratingwww.facebook.com/ircrating
Twitter @RORCrating @IRCrating
THE INTERNATIONAL MAXI ASSOCIATION (IMA):
The International Maxi Association (IMA) represents owners of Maxi yachts worldwide
Recognised in 2010 as the World Sailing international class of Maxi yachts, the IMA has the exclusive right to organise World championships for Maxi yachts. The President of the IMA is Benoît de Froidmont, the Secretary General is Andrew McIrvine, also Admiral of the Royal Ocean Racing Club
The IMA has been closely associated with the RORC Transatlantic Race since its inception. The IMA is registered in Geneva, has a base in Porto Cervo and an office in the UK, for rating and technical matters. It has two affiliated classes (Maxi 72s, and J Class) and one associated class (Wally Class). The IMA's function is to guide, structure and encourage maxi yacht racing worldwide
The IMA rule defines and categorises maxi yachts: it aims to embrace all maxi yachts and encourage any development that has a positive effect on the construction and performance of maxi yachts
The IMA Transatlantic Trophy is presented to the Line Honours Monohull in the RORC Transatlantic Race
www.internationalmaxiassociation.com
CALERO MARINAS:
Calero Marinas has developed and manages three marinas in the Canary Islands, having accrued over 35 years' experience in the sector. The Canaries' warm climate and regular supply of breeze has lead Lanzarote to become a favourite training ground for offshore race teams, whilst the combination of good flight connections and easily available services has created a popular and reliable base for international sailors
Marina Lanzarote is the newest addition to the group with secure berthing for vessels of up to 60m LOA, a wide range of services and the advantage of having the city and maritime quarter within a few minutes' walk
The shipyard is equipped to hoist superyachts and the inclusion of deep keel pits in the yard's design was considered especially to meet the needs of transoceanic racing yachts
www.caleromarinas.com
About Camper & Nicholsons Marinas:
Camper & Nicholsons is widely recognised to be one of the world's oldest and most prestigious yachting business names, with origins dating back to 1782. The company has specialised in marina and waterfront development for over 40 years and has provided services to clients in more than 25 countries worldwide. Projects range from small marinas through to developments of over 500 hectares. Camper & Nicholsons Marinas Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Camper & Nicholsons Marina Investments Limited. Camper & Nicholsons currently owns, manages and operate marinas in Grenada, Malta, Cyprus, Turkey and the UK, with over 40 new projects currently under way all over the world.
http://www.cnmarinas.com/
About Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina:
The newly refurbished, luxury superyacht marina in Grenada in the Caribbean. Located in the beautiful Lagoon just outside St. George's, the capital, Port Louis Marina provides the perfect base from which to cruise the unspoilt Caribbean Paradise of Grenada and the Grenadines. The tranquil marina overlooks the colourful waterfront of the Carenage. The 'Spice Island', as Grenada is known, lies south of the main hurricane belt, making it a popular destination for yachts and superyachts to berth during the Caribbean summer months.
http://en.cnmarinas.com/port-louis-marina/
GRENADA TOURISM AUTHORITY:
The premium yachting destination in the southern Caribbean, Grenada and its sister islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique are widely considered to be the most unspoiled cruising grounds in the Caribbean. Famed for its people's warm and gregarious hospitality Pure Grenada, the Spice of the Caribbean has a varied topography of mountains, rainforests and waterfalls, fringed by icing sugar beaches and cooled by trade winds.
www.puregrenada.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/discovergrenada
Twitter: www.twitter.com/discovergrenada
Instagram: www.instagram.com/discovergrenada
Youtube: www.youtube.com/puregrenada
image: Jangada, the smallest boat in the RORC Transatlantic Race finishes in Grenada and wins overall © RORC/Arthur Daniel