Organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the International Maxi Association & Yacht Club de France
Marina Lanzarote, Arrecife, Lanzarote, Canary Islands to Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada
Race Update: Ten boats were still racing (as at 21 Jan 1800 UTC). Unfortunately, Andrew & Sam Hall’s Lombard 46 Pata Negra (GBR) has retired from the race with rudder damage - all crew on board are safe and well. While Warrior Won (USA) has been declared the Overall Winner under IRC, all of the boats still racing have a chance of making the overall podium and the IRC One class winner is very much undecided.
After 15 days of the RORC Transatlantic Race, Jean-Pierre Dreau’s Mylius 60 Lady First 3 (FRA) became the tenth boat to finish on Sunday 21st January in an elapsed time of 13 Days 16 Hrs 2 Mins 5 Secs. The owner, principal helmsman and octogenarian, Jean-Pierre Dreau completed his eleventh transatlantic. Lady First 3 is currently placed second overall under IRC and second in IRC Zero:
“Passion is passion,” commented Jean-Pierre Dreau. “What is interesting in the RORC Transatlantic Race is that everything changes; the crew are changing their lifestyle. It is a new world that can sometimes be difficult and you are a long way from help. You must deal with the changing weather and you need to choose the right route that is the fastest; not just at the moment, but also in the future. The team for this race is very important and you don’t want just excellent sailors. They must also get along together; with 11 people, the boat is small and we are living on board for two weeks. Many congratulations to the RORC, the organisation of this race is very important and it is important to recognise how well that is achieved.”
Lady First 3 Navigator is Christopher Pratt, twice winner of the Tour de France à la Voile, Figarist, and top IMOCA sailor. Christopher Pratt has achieved podiumed in the IMOCA Class in the last three Rolex Fastnet Races, including winning in 2019 on Charal, and was third in the Ocean Race with Team Malizia.
“I enjoy managing the Lady First 3 project, including choosing the crew. This is a project that goes on all year,” commented Christopher Pratt. “Personally for me, racing Lady First 3 is very different to IMOCA, which is more like sailing in a ‘bunker’ with many computerised systems. I grew up sailing ‘outside’ with nature. We just spent 14 days mainly on deck, racing past dolphins, and whales; enjoying sunrise and sunset, so that was amazing for me to go back to racing as I knew it, with a great crew and enjoying life at sea.”
IRC ONE
As at 21 Jan 1800 UTC: Richard Fromentin’s JPK 1180 Cocody (FRA) has regained the lead after IRC time correction in IRC One. Ed Bell’s JPK 1180 Dawn Treader (GBR) seemed to have speed reduction over the last 24 hours, but has now regained some of their earlier pace, 500 miles from the finish line. Cocody is 375 miles from the finish and expected to arrive in Grenada on Tuesday 23rd January. Cocody is also on course to challenge for the podium for IRC Overall
Gavin Howe’s Sun Fast 3600 Tigris, racing Two-Handed with Maggie Adamson is 730 miles from the finish and going well. Tigris is expected to complete the race on Friday January 26th. Frans Van Cappelle En Michelle Witsenburg’s J/122 Moana (NED) is 724 miles from Grenada. Stronger tradewinds are anticipated for Tigris and Moana, as well as Jean-Francois Guillon’s Solaris 50 Sea-Nergy (FRA), which is 600 miles from the finish.
The next two boats to finish the RORC Transatlantic Race were Mikhail Malamud’s ClubSwan 50 Pimu (USA), and Hanno Ziehm Marten 49 Moana (GER), who made the IRC Overall and IRC Zero podium.
Image: Mikhail Malamud’s ClubSwan 50 Pimu (USA) © Arthur Daniel
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