2027 RORC Transatlantic Race–Monohull Line Honours Battle Taking Shape
Swedish connections, Canadian ambition and an Anglo-Australian Volvo 70 rivalry set the scene for a compelling contest.
The battle for Monohull Line Honours in the 2027 RORC Transatlantic Race is taking shape, with an international line-up of high-performance boats confirmed and further entries expected ahead of the start on Sunday 10 January.
The record-breaking Baltic 111 Raven, with strong Swedish connections, returns to defend her Monohull Line Honours title. Proudly flying the Canadian Maple Leaf, Scott Shawyer's foiling IMOCA 60 Canada Ocean Racing – Be Water Positive will challenge double-handed with British co-skipper Alan Roberts.
Adding another dimension is an Anglo-Australian contest between two Volvo 70s: Gweilo 70, campaigned by Australian co-owners Chris Townsend and Matthew Donald, and British sailor Johnny Vincent's Pace.
With approximately 3,000 nautical miles from Lanzarote to Antigua, the strength and direction of the trade winds, as well as transition zones, could play a decisive role in the outcome. These are very different boats, each with particular strengths, promising a fascinating tactical battle across the Atlantic.
Raven © SailingEnergy
Raven: The Record Holder Returns
In the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race, Raven established a new monohull race record from Lanzarote to Antigua of 6 days, 22 hours, 27 minutes and 47 seconds, taking Monohull Line Honours and the IMA Transatlantic Trophy.
The innovative 34-metre foil-assisted yacht is an international crew but has strong Swedish roots, including project manager Claes 'Klabbe' Nylöf. Skippered by Damien Durchon, Raven demonstrated extraordinary sustained speed during her record-breaking crossing.
For Raven’s New Zealander Brad Jackson, returning to Lanzarote brings back particularly fond memories. Jackson was a watch captain aboard Ericsson 4, winner of the 2008–09 Volvo Ocean Race under Torben Grael. The Ericsson Racing Team was based at Puerto Calero during its preparations, establishing a lasting connection for Jackson.
Raven © James Mitchell/RORC
"The RORC Transatlantic Race is always a really nice part of the world to go racing, with good trade winds generally, fast sailing and warm weather. I personally have a special connection with Lanzarote and the Calero family, so any chance I get to go back there I jump at."
According to Jackson, Raven has undergone further development since her record-breaking crossing. "Raven has had some modifications since the last Transatlantic Race, so we should be a little quicker through the water and have a bit more all-round performance. We are still trying to develop the boat more for VMG downwind, which is not our preferred point of sail, so hopefully we have made some gains there."
A new downwind sail should allow Raven to sail deeper angles, particularly in lighter and moderate conditions. Improvements to foil reliability should also enable the crew to push harder. However, Jackson recognises the competition. "If the IMOCA is well sailed then they will be very fast and hard to keep up with, but we probably sail very different modes, so tactically we have to worry about ourselves and set up for the angles we sail. The Gweilo 70 and Pace will be quick VMG downwind as well, so there will be plenty of competition for us."
Canada Ocean Racing © Georgia Schofield
Canada Ocean Racing: The Double-Handed Challenger
For Canadian skipper Scott Shawyer and British co-skipper Alan Roberts, the RORC Transatlantic Race represents both an opportunity to challenge for line honours and an important stage in Shawyer's preparations for the 2028 Vendée Globe.
The pair previously raced together in the 2023 RORC Transatlantic Race in a non-foiling IMCA, setting a double-handed record of 9 days, 12 hours, 26 minutes and 16 seconds on the former Lanzarote-to-Grenada course.
This time they return aboard a considerably faster yacht. The Guillaume Verdier-designed IMOCA 60, formerly 11th Hour Racing and Groupe Dubreuil, won The Ocean Race in 2023 and finished third in the 2024–25 Vendée Globe with Sébastien Simon.
Scott Shawyer - Canada Ocean Racing © Georgia Schofield
Shawyer has analysed historical weather patterns and run routing simulations to assess the possibility of challenging Raven's record. Using the weather experienced in 2026, his calculations suggest the foiling IMOCA could complete the course in approximately six days and 23 hours at 95% of its predicted performance.
That would bring the double-handed crew tantalisingly close to the outright monohull record. "It'd be great to break the double-handed record again, and it would be great to beat Raven across the line and win line honours, but we like being the under-dogs." Commented Shawyer who is realistic about the additional demands of racing with just two sailors against fully crewed rivals. "Finish safely. That's level one. We're not going to jeopardise that one for a win or a record time."
The RORC Transatlantic Race will provide valuable offshore experience as Shawyer prepares for the 2028 Vendée Globe, offering thousands of miles of valuable boat data.
Australia v Great Britain: The Volvo 70 Battle
The two Volvo 70s bring another dimension to the Monohull Line Honours contest, particularly if the race develops into a predominantly downwind sleigh ride.
Australian co-owners Chris Townsend and Matthew Donald will campaign Gweilo 70, formerly Pyewacket 70. She has been substantially modified from her original Volvo Ocean Race configuration, with a taller rig and longer bowsprit providing increased performance potential.
Racing as Pyewacket 70, she claimed both Monohull Line Honours and IRC Overall in the 2023 RORC Caribbean 600. Interestingly, Brad Jackson was among the winning crew on that occasion and will now be racing against his former boat aboard Raven.
Flying the British flag, Johnny Vincent's Pace, formerly Tschüss 2, remains much closer to her original Volvo 70 configuration. Although not as quick as Gweilo 70 on paper, Pace has proven offshore credentials, winning IRC Overall in both the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race and the RORC Caribbean 600 under her previous name and as Pace winning line honours and IRC overall the 2026 Round Britain and Ireland Race.
An exciting and intriguing Anglo-Australian contest across the Atlantic is all set with both boats in with a real chance of the IRC overall win and possibly monohull line honours.
A Race of Different Strengths
The developing Monohull Line Honours contest could ultimately come down to the weather. Strong reaching conditions should favour the foil-assisted designs, while strong trade winds and deeper downwind sailing angles could bring the Volvo 70s firmly into contention. Across 3,000 nautical miles, reliability, weather routing and the ability to maintain high average speeds will matter every bit as much as outright performance.
With further entries expected the battle for Monohull Line Honours is still taking shape. The 13th edition of the RORC Transatlantic Race promises an exciting international contest from Lanzarote to Antigua.
The 2027 RORC Transatlantic Race starts on Sunday 10 January from Marina Lanzarote, Canary Islands, racing approximately 3,000 nautical miles to Antigua, West Indies.
The RORC Transatlantic Race is organised by The Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA) and the Yacht Club de France.
