SW96 Sorceress at her first RORC Transatlantic 2017

SW96 Sorceress at her first RORC Transatlantic 2017

SW96 Sorceress cuts a fine figure at the RORC Transatlantic 2017

Sport

17/12/2017 - 16:05

After her regatta debut in September in Sardinia at the 2017 Maxi Rolex Cup, the freshly launched SW96 Sorceress has continued her regatta season with her first transoceanic race, the RORC TRANSALTLANTIC RACE, an annual race organised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club in association with the International Maxi Association (IMA). A record fleet of 23 yachts from nine different countries took part in the fourth edition of this 3000-mile race from Lanzarote to Grenada taking on the challenging open waters of the Atlantic Ocean.
Sorceress’ proud owner was at the helm, backed by a racing crew of just nine, one of whom was Jim Schmicker, vice president of Farr Yacht Design, the studio that designed the naval architecture of this high-performance cruiser, who reports “Having the opportunity to spend nearly two weeks experiencing all aspects of Sorceress, while she was being pushed to perform, was a real treat.  She handled all of the conditions brilliantly and I have never done a race in such comfort.  Many valuable lessons were learned, and we’ll be able to configure her to perform even better in her next regatta.”

The racer/cruiser Sorceress showed her performance soul, leading the fleet in real time for almost half the way, holding off pure racers like the supermaxi CQS and the Volvo 70 Monster Project, until a broken halyard and a subsequent torn gennaker cost her the lead in this highly competitive fleet. Sorceress finished her first transoceanic regatta fourth in real time and with a second place among the racer cruiser yachts.

All aboard were satisfied about the yacht and her performance. Captain Daniel Stump has these words “It was an amazing race: lots of wind and lots of pressure, excellent conditions especially for our navigator who stayed on top of the wind speed and direction at all times. This was the second transatlantic race that this crew has done. Thanks to our teamwork and Sorceress' setup, a crew of just nine worked really well for a transoceanic race." 

Sorceress is currently changing into her cruising mode, getting ready for three months of relaxing exploration of the Caribbean’s most beautiful spots. But she will be back for more racing in June 2018 when she will take part in the Newport to Bermuda Race.

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