2005 Rolex Transatlantic Challenge

The Rolex Transatlantic Challenge was a 2005 discharged transatlantic race between New York and the English Isle of Wight for large sailing yachts with a length of 70 feet (about 21.3 meters). Here, the oldest sailing record in the world was, as planned, broken.

Event: 100 -year-old record

The occasion was the 100th anniversary of 1905 undertaken by Kaiser Wilhelm II initiated Emperor 's Cup, the Scottish America's Cup veteran Charlie Barr with the almost 57 -meter schooner Atlantic ( owner: Wilson Marshall) won, while a transatlantic speed record for monohull under sail between New York and the English south-western tip ( Lizard Point ) aufstellte (12 days, 4 hrs, 1 min, 19 sec). In the following decades, the record was indeed improved several times over this distance, even with monohulls. However, the newer records were not reached during regattas, but the sailors were waiting for each record for good weather. The race record for the Atlantic was, however, unchanged since 1905 and was considered the oldest sailing record in the world.

The Regatta 2005

The price of the Transatlantic Challenge led by New York ( starting 21st) across the North Atlantic, past the twin lighthouses of The Lizard off the English coast where the record route ends, and continues through the Channel to a second finish line off the Isle of Wight. During the race, the current positions of the yachts on the website of the New York Yacht Club ( NYYC ) could be traced.

The favored American yacht Mari Cha IV won and improved the 100-year -old record for a regatta ride on a monohull from New York to Lizard Point for over two days: the 42.6 -meter-long two-master of the British owner needed for the 2925 nautical miles across the Atlantic and billionaire Robert Warren Miller at an average speed of 12.61 knots 9 days, 15 hours, 55 minutes and 23 seconds. n ).

The regatta was hosted by the New York Yacht Club ( NYYC ) and the Royal Yacht Squadron ( RYS ) and sponsored by the watch manufacturer Rolex.