Antigua, 16 January 2026: Jason Carroll’s MOD70 Argo (USA) has claimed Multihull Line Honours in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race, finishing off English Harbour, Antigua, on Friday at 12:31:15 UTC. Argo set a new Multihull Race Record for the Lanzarote-Antigua course, completing the journey in 4 days, 23 hours, 51 minutes and 15 seconds, establishing a new benchmark for the route.
Chasing closely behind, Erik Maris’ MOD70 Zoulou (FRA) crossed the finish just 2 hours and 32 minutes later, marking one of the toughest multihull battles in the history of the race. From the outset, the two vessels were neck-and-neck, maintaining average speeds above 30 knots over a grueling five-day contest.
Throughout the race, both teams demonstrated impressive seamanship, with Argo managing to sustain an incremental lead. Skipper Chad Corning noted, “We knew it was going to be a close match race. We managed to get a small lead early on and built it slowly while Zoulou kept up the pressure, resulting in a frenetic pace.” Even after docking, the adrenaline from the intense competition lingered.
The team’s success was rooted in thorough preparation prior to the race. Argo was based in Lanzarote for extensive refitting and inspection. Corning stated, “Everything mechanical came off the boat, and we conducted necessary scans and servicing. This level of preparation absolutely paid off. Out there, you have to trust your gear fully.” This trust was tested when they detected a concerning issue with the port rudder mid-race, which was swiftly addressed by crew member Alister Richardson.
Once the trade winds kicked in, the race escalated, with Argo reaching speeds of 30 to 32 knots under challenging conditions, particularly at night, described by Corning as akin to “skiing a black diamond run with a blindfold on.” The physical exertion required led to reduced helm rotations amidst high sea states.
Argo’s performance stood out not just for its speed but also for the strategic decisions made throughout the race. Sam Goodchild, part of the crew, compared the MOD70 to a go-kart, highlighting its agility and speed. The race built a sense of historical significance, with veteran sailor Brian Thompson noting the importance of being the fastest to traverse a route historically sailed since Columbus’s time.
The focus now shifts to the monohull fleet, with the Baltic 111 Raven expected to arrive in Antigua this Sunday, 18 January, possibly setting the monohull benchmark under IRC corrected time.
Follow all the updates from the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race at:
Website: https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/
Tracker: https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/tracking
Blog: https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/live-blog-2026-rorc-transatlantic-race
Social Media: #RORCTransatlanticRace #RORCracing
More Offshore Sailing stories: Click here
