The 8th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race, organized by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in collaboration with Yacht Club de France, started today, 8th January 2022 at 11.00 UTC/local time (12.00 Italian time).
Maserati Multi 70 and the other 31 yachts competing in the race crossed the starting line in two staggered fleets in front of Arrecife in a wind of 15/18 knots from the East (multihulls at 11:00 UTC/local time, monohulls at 11:10 UTC/local time). From Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, they will cover 2995 miles, passing the Canary Islands and sailing across the Atlantic Ocean to the island of Grenada in the eastern Caribbean.
On the line, armed with the latest generation of foils, the Italian team’s direct rivals: Argo with Brian Thompson (USA), and PowerPlay which features british sailors Giles Scott (tactician for Ineos Team UK in the America’s Cup and winner of two Olympic gold medals in the Finn class) and Miles Seddon (who set the record on this leg with Phaedo3 in 2015). The Italian team’s third competitor is the 80ft maxi trimaran Ultim Emotion 2 skippered by Antoine Rabaste (FRA). An open challenge to the speed record of 5 days, 22 hours, 46 minutes and 03 seconds, set by Lloyd Thornburg’s MOD70 Phaedo 3 in 2015.
Maserati Multi 70, in flying trim, set off down the coast, with Argo and PowerPlay further out to sea. At the turning mark the trimarans made the first gybe with PowerPlay in order of passage, followed by Maserati Multi 70 and Argo, and slightly behind Ultim’Emotion 2.
“The weather situation is still complex,” commented Giovanni Soldini a few minutes before the start. “The big decision is either to risk staying lower and having light winds or to go and look for the cold front further north with the risk of not being able to find the trade wind at the end of the course and getting stuck in the high pressure that forms behind the front. It will be a very tactical race and we are determined, we have the knife between our teeth. Maserati Multi 70 is ready and it will be fun”.
