RORC Transatlantic Race| Multihull Line Honours and IRC Class Winners Decided

Multihull Line Honours for Oran Nataf’s Pulsar 50 Rayon Vert (FRA) © Arthur Daniel/RORC

Oran Nataf’s Pulsar 50 Rayon Vert (FRA) crossed the finish line outside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada on Friday 24th January 2025 to be the first multihull to finish the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race.

Rayon Vert crew: Oren Nataf, Francois Seruzier, Cristiano Sereni.

This was the second time Rayon Vert has been first to finish the race, but the first time into Grenada as the victory in the pandemic-affected edition finished in Antigua in 2021.

Rayon Vert crew: Francois Seruzier, Oren Nataf, Cristiano Sereni with RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole

RORC Racing Manager Steve Cole presented Oran Nataf with the RORC Transatlantic Race Multihull Line Honours Trophy at Camper & Nicholson’s Port Louis Marina.

“I am very proud to be the skipper of this boat with a great crew,” commented Oran Nataf. “ This was a long race for us because both our small and large gennaker exploded early in the race. This meant we had to sail wider wind angles with a smaller sail area. I did not think we would be first, but the strong wind at the end of the race really helped us. Thank you to the RORC for organising a great race. It is the perfect way to sail across the Atlantic. It takes a lot of energy, but a fair competition makes it so much more interesting than cruising across the Atlantic.”

Oran Nataf’s Pulsar 50 Rayon Vert (FRA) © Sailing Energy/Calero Marinas

Runner-up for Multihull Line Honours was Jacopo Bracco’s Banuls 53 Finn (USA) which finished the race in an elapsed time of 12 Days 02 Hours 58 Mins and 56 Secs. Finn had a terrific battle with Rayon Vert, coming second by just 5 hours. Watch out for a future feature on Jacopo and his team of Sam Mabey, Jeff Mearing and Etienne Messikommer.

Team Finn - Jacopo Bracco’s Banuls, Sam Mabey, Jeff Mearing and Etienne Messikommer © Arthur Daniel

Class40 Tquila (GBR) finished the RORC Transatlantic Race on Friday 24th January in an elapsed time of 11 Days 17 Hrs 28 Mins 21Secs. On the course from Lanzarote to Grenada, this is the fastest elapsed time for a Class40.

Tquila was skippered by Alister Richardson, with James McHugh at the helm and David Vela adding his vast experience to the team. Tquila finished the race covering the last 300 miles in just 24 hours. Tquila had a very successful race, ranking second overall after IRC time correction, winning IRC Two and the Class40 Division.

IRC Two and Class40 win for Tquila - David Vela, James McHugh and Alister Richardson © Arthur Daniel

“We have had an absolutely incredible race; the conditions were great for Tquila,” commented Alister Richardson. “We had good wind all the way and to have done the fastest that a Class40 has ever done to Grenada is very satisfying.”

Class40 Tquila at the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race © Sailing Energy/Calero Marinas

“This the first time Tquila has entered into the IRC fleet; it is something that we've been delving into a little bit. It was great to get the boat measured and we've enjoyed racing against all the other types of boat. It made for a really good race because you can see the live ranking changing, sometimes you’re ahead, sometimes behind; you can see the results changing all the time.

“A transatlantic race is always a big event; it's a lot of mileage and you can prepare as much as you like, but ultimately, you're going to get problems. Some may be big, some may be little, but they add to the stress. This race we got away fairly lightly; we blew up an A2 spinnaker in a big squall but fortunately we took a second one.

“Later on in the race we started having issues with our electronics just turning off randomly due to the heat and the moisture in the cabling. It’s just one of those gremlins you have to deal. You wish it wasn't happening, but you have got to suck it up, put your big boy pants on and deal with it and get Tquila to the finish line.”

James McHugh started distance racing solo and doublehanded on the Swiss Lakes. Since racing Tquila, James has taken part in the RORC Caribbean 600 and the 1800-mile Sevenstar Round Britain & Ireland Race, but this was his first transatlantic race.

“This has been the next step, a new challenge for me,” commented James McHugh. “Racing just three up there is a lot going on, but at night when the stars are out, you’re on deck by yourself, the boat is in the groove, you’re ripping along - it’s pure bliss. Racing is often 90% pain and 10% pure pleasure! It's been hard work but a lot of fun. I have been privileged to race with two top professional sailors who are also fantastic people.”

Patrick Isoard’s Open Uship-pour Enfants du Mekong (FRA), racing double-handed with François Moriceau, finished the race in an elapsed time of 13 Days 11 Hrs 09 Mins and 51 Secs. Uship-pour Enfants du Mekong is the winner of the IRC doublehanded Class for the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race.

The latest boat to arrive at Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina is Thierry Roger’s Echo II catamaran Perros-Guirec (FRA), racing double-handed with Renan Le Penven. Eight boats are still at sea and expected to finish in the coming days.