PRESS RELEASE: Antigua, 22 January 2026
Palanad 4 (FRA) has clinched the RORC Transatlantic Trophy for IRC overall in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race, owned by Olivier Magre and skippered by his son Antoine Magre. The French-flagged Mach 50 completed the 3,000 mile race from Lanzarote to Antigua in an elapsed time of 8 days, 5 hours, 55 minutes, and 50 seconds, marking an exceptional performance.
As competitors continue racing at sea, no boat can surpass Palanad 4’s IRC corrected time, securing its overall victory in one of the toughest offshore sailing events. This victory is a significant achievement for the Magre family and for the Mach 50 project, which has garnered success in just its second offshore race after debuting at the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race.
The accomplishment holds personal significance for owner Olivier Magre, who expressed it as a longstanding dream to win the race alongside his son. “To win the RORC Transatlantic Race with my son is the greatest result I could imagine in sailing. I am incredibly proud of Antoine and what he has achieved,” he stated. Olivier participated in the race as part of the crew while also fulfilling his parental role.
Antoine Magre echoed the significance of this accomplishment, noting, “This race is a strong proof of concept for the scow bow design under IRC. Winning overall sets the bar for what is next.” The team has high expectations for upcoming competitions, including the RORC Caribbean 600, where they expect to face off against some of the fastest IRC platforms.
The victory also underscores the importance of meticulous preparation. Antoine highlighted that the successful performance was enabled by extensive training and coordination throughout the autumn leading up to the race. “We had the whole autumn to train and refine everything. The difference was enormous,” he noted, explaining that despite the race presenting angles less suited to the boat’s design, they still managed to outperform many competitors.
While the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race celebrated the triumph of Palanad 4, it also served as a reminder of the ocean’s inherent risks, with the team extending their condolences to those affected by a tragedy involving another racing vessel.
Antoine concluded, stating that the victory holds lasting personal significance and affirms his commitment to the Royal Ocean Racing Club, where he has been a member since 2016. As the remaining fleet continues to arrive in Antigua, Palanad 4’s remarkable performance stands as a testament to innovation and teamwork in offshore racing.
Louay Habib/RORC
Website: https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/
Tracker: https://rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/tracking
Live Results: HERE
Social Media: @RoyalOceanRacingClub #RORCTransatlanticRace #RORCracing
More Offshore Sailing stories: Click here
