Thanks to Suzanne and Alan for this latest sailing update. Ed
This inaugural RORC Transatlantic Race, in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA), set off on Sunday 30th November from Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, Canary Islands bound for the West Indies, 2,995 nautical miles across the Atlantic Ocean.
After a warm welcome to Puerto Calero, the fleet finally got underway on 30th November following two postponements. A low pressure system sitting over the Canary Islands produced unseasonal gale force winds and rain, but on the Sunday, a full rainbow heralded the start of the race and gave the teams a magnificent send-off.
One of several maxi yachts taking part, Lupa of London, Jeremy Pilkington’s 78ft Baltic yacht was skippered by Daniel Stump. This was the first transatlantic crossing for the Reichel Pugh-designed racer which won her class at both the Rolex Maxi World Championships in Sardinia and the Giraglia Rolex Cup earlier this year.
Cowes-based Stump was delighted to be competing and said before the start from Lanzarote,
“To take part in the first RORC Transatlantic Race on board Lupa of London is a great adventure and something we wanted to support. We expect to be at sea for 12 days and have a superb crew; all seasoned ocean sailors and above all, great company. I have been Captain of Lupa for the past eight years and it has been thrilling to be part of and see the development of Lupa from a fast cruising boat to a podium finisher.”
Rising star on-board
Also on board Lupa was Gurnard-based solo sailor and project manager, Jonny Malbon and young sailor, Jack Bouttell who is a graduate of the East Cowes-based, Artemis Offshore Academy. Jack is a rising star and was nominated top British ‘rookie’ in the gruelling 2013 solo race, Solitaire du Figaro.
Top sailor, Brett Aarons from Cowes was racing on one of the smaller boats in the fleet, Nigel Passmore’s J/133 Apollo 7. Most of the crew are from Plymouth, but Brett brought his navigational skills to the team, whilst owner Nigel was achieving a lifetime ambition of sailing across the Atlantic in this first RORC Transatlantic Race.
Eighth crossing for Brett
This was Brett’s eighth Atlantic crossing and prior to the start Brett gave a resume of what the smaller yachts could expect during the crossing,
“The jet stream has been funnelling low pressure systems down to the Canary Islands for a while. For the first part of the race, it will be tough going and our goal is just to settle down into life offshore and not go at it too hard, as we have another 2,800 miles to go.”
By the 6th December, in the battle for Line Honours and the IMA Trophy, Russian Southern Wind 94, Windfall skippered by Fabrizio Oddone had opened up a 25 mile lead on Jeremy Pilkington’s RP78, Lupa of London. During the 24 hours prior to this both yachts covered about 250 miles and with more wind expected to arrive the battle was certainly on.
Meanwhile Apollo 7 was 200 miles south of the rhumb and estimated to be leading the race overall under IRC.
The finish line
After 11 odd days of racing it was a tired, but elated crew on Lupa of London that crossed the finish line off Quarantine Point, Grenada. As they sealed their Line Honours win and secured the International Maxi Association Trophy, a display of water canon fired by the Grenada Fire Service was a fitting finale to their transatlantic crossing, which they completed in an elapsed time of 11 days, 01 hour, 38 minutes and 55 seconds.
Speaking of their victory after the finish, Skipper Daniel Stump said:
“We were only eight crew, but they are some top sailors with great commitment and willpower. We worked really hard and seamlessly together to get the boat going as fast as we could and I am really proud of all the crew. I was running one watch and Jonny Malbon was running a slightly stronger watch as well as the navigation, and Jonny did an awesome job on that score. On the delivery to Puerto Calero, Lanzarote, I sat down with Jonny in Gibraltar and in our dreams we wanted to win Line Honours and the overall win, but that was a big call. Winning Line Honours is a dream and we have a great shot at winning the race overall.”
Jonny Malbon, Lupa of London’s Navigator explained their game plan for the fight to the finish with Windfall:
“We haven’t got an A2, so we have been handicapped by light breeze and about half way across, we were in light airs to the south and we were level pegging with Windfall, but we knew we had to take a chance or they would get away. We gybed north looking for better pressure and it did fill in and when we gybed back, we were golden. If we had not found that pressure, it would have been all over for us. It was a risky move to break away from Windfall and we had to go north for 12 hours on an unfavourable gybe, but it really worked out for us.”
Nigel Passmore’s Apollo 7, crossed the finish line at 18:45:15 UTC on Monday 15th December 2014 with an elapsed time of 15 days, 08 hours, 45 minutes and 15 seconds and after time correction was leading IRC Two.
After crossing the line Nigel said,
“This is something I have wanted to do for 20 years or more and to do it, you have got to get yourself in the right frame of mind. Two years ago, something happened to an old friend of mine and I thought I had to do it now. I had my 50th birthday recently and I thought, come on, you have to start doing a few of these things.
“I have always liked to sail with good friends and I don’t like to single anyone out, but I have to give a big hand to Brett (Aarons). He has been fabulous. He has looked after us totally and been an absolute rock for the whole campaign.”
Image: © RORC
