News RORC Transatlantic Race: Young guns on Pata Negra

RORC Transatlantic Race: Young guns on Pata Negra

Lanzarote, November 20 2019

The 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race will start from Marina Lanzarote on Saturday 23 November, bound for Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada. The annual race is organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA), and the IMA Transatlantic Trophy is presented to the Line Honours Monohull winner.
Race crews are busy getting themselves and their boats ready for the 3,000nm race across the Atlantic Ocean. RORC Race Officer Steve Cole has been carrying out safety inspections of all of the competing yachts for the World Sailing Category 1 Race, with offshore special regulations. Giles Redpath's Lombard 46 Pata Negra will be skippered by Andy Lis and a crew of six, all under 30 years of age. Andy is just 27 years old and is the self-styled 'old man of the crew' racing in the 2019 RORC Transatlantic Race. Andy has sailed yachts across the Atlantic numerous times but this will be his debut as a transatlantic race skipper. "We have an entire RORC season planned for 2020 and it starts here, so let's go racing," confirmed Andy Lis. "Months in advance we have been preparing the boat for this race; there are strict regulations to adhere to which is phenomenally important. It is great that the RORC come down and go through everything to make sure we are up to date and have everything we require. With a few days to the start, we are making sure we have all our food packed. We are really looking forward to racing across the Atlantic to Grenada."

Amy Seabright sailed with Andy Lis as a child,racing Optimists at the Royal Corinthian YC Burnham on Crouch. In 2013 Amy teamed up with Anna Carpenter for a tilt at selection for the 2020 Olympic Games in the 470 Class. The pair consistently placed within the top ten at international regattas, but this summer lost out on selection to Eilidh McIntyre and Hannah Mills.

"This is a bit different to 470 sailing and this is my first offshore race," commented Amy Seabright. "Having lost the Olympic trials to Hannah and Eilidh, I just wanted something that really put the pressure on and completely different to what I do; a challenge to put a bit of drive on. I am glad it's a downwind race, it is quite a different concept when you are heeled over on Pata Negra compared to a 470," laughed Amy. "Racing a 470 is normally two 50-minute races and then it's home and dry. So this is a massively different dynamic, just even packing for this was quite hard. I normally take items with me so that I can feel at home as I can, but I have had to pack the least I can manage for the RORC Transatlantic Race."

Will Harris has just finished the Transat Jacques Vabre, completing the 4350nm race in just under 15 days, racing two-handed with Boris Herrmann on IMOCA 60 Malizia. Will has also excelled in the Figaro Class, claiming rookie of the year in 2016. "I have sailed with Pata Negra a few times, including winning the Sevenstar Round Britain and Ireland Race," commented Will. "It was a great experience to race with Giles (Redpath) on that race, but it is also exciting to race with this young crew. This is a big change from the IMOCA as we have six crew on Pata Negra which is a great fun boat to sail. We have just done our first training session together as a crew and we are working out our watch system and how we will perform as a team. We are really looking forward to the race."

Whilst the teams in the RORC Transatlantic Race are busy preparing for the start, the sailors took time out today, Wednesday 20 November to welcome young members from the Real Club Nautico de Arrecife (RCNA). The junior sailors were treated to a guided tour of the competing boats including Volvo Ocean 65 Childhood I, which is supporting the World Childhood Foundation, founded by H.M. Queen Silvia of Sweden. The RORC Transatlantic Race Welcome Party will take place tonight, with crews and invited guests enjoying complimentary drinks and Spanish tapas at the RCNA.

For more information please go to: www.rorctransatlantic.rorc.org 

(Report by Louay Habib /RORC)

NOTES TO EDITORS

THE RORC TRANSATLANTIC RACE:

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

The 6th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race started from Calero Marinas, Marina Lanzarote on Saturday 23rd November 2019.

Race minisite: http://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/ 

RORC website: www.rorc.org

Twitter: #rorctransatlanticrace @RORCracing

Facebook: www.facebook.com/royaloceanracingclub

Instagram: instagram.com/rorcracing 

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 

https://www.facebook.com/CaleroMarinas/ @CaleroMarinas 

Enquiries: phernandez@caleromarinas.com

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

 

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