RORC Transatlantic Race: "Rafale" crew celebrates "an almost perfect race"

Just under a week ago, Giovanni Soldini's Multi70 "Maserati" set a new multihull record in the RORC Transatlantic Race with just 5 days, 5 hours, 46 minutes and 26 seconds. Although no new records were set for the best on a hull, it was one of the most beautiful transatlantic races in the history of the classic.

Line Honours for "I love Poland", two podium places for German owners and their teams

I love Poland" was the first monohull to cross the finish line of the RORC Transatlantic Race. The team led by skipper Grzegorz Baranowski completed the 3,000 nautical mile leap across the Atlantic in 8 days, 23 hours, 37 minutes and 7 seconds. This earned them the Line Honours and the IMA Transatlantic Trophy. However, it was not quite enough for a place on the podium in the overall IRC rankings.

The IRC victory went to Eric de Turckheim's French NMYD 54 "Teasing Machine" ahead of Stefan Jentzsch's IRC 56 "Black Pearl" and Henri de Bokay's Berlin Elliott 52 "Rafale" from the Seglerhaus am Wannsee club. As skipper, Philipp Kadelbach led a crew across the Atlantic for the first time, having previously crossed it twice as a crew member on other boats. The ambitious amateur team of experienced dinghy and big boat sailors completed the course in 10 days, 7 hours, 21 minutes and 17 seconds.

"The team was in full coastal regatta mode"

"It was an almost perfect race, definitely perfect weather-wise," reported Philipp Kadelbach after arriving in the harbour of St. George on Grenada. He continued: "The foreship man on the 'Teasing Machine' already has 22 Atlantic crossings under his belt. He said that this one was the best."

The mix of good humour in the team, the strong leadership, the recurring battle with seaweed, magical Atlantic nights and the competition for VMG and Polar made the race an unforgettable regatta adventure for the "Rafale" crew. One on-board report was highly motivated: "The crew was in full coastal racing mode. Skirmishing was forbidden, and our 470 and other dinghy experts got their money's worth."

A "hammer start", a tough first night in the Passat and strong women on board

While it was getting cold at home in Berlin, the "Rafale" team sailed towards the Caribbean sun. Philipp Kadelbach reminisced about the transatlantic regatta at the finish line:

"It was a great start with the split between Lanzarote and Tenerife, when we led the field for a while. The first night in the Passat was a bit tough. I had a few doubts as to whether we were really in full throttle mode. We sailed very conservatively that night with a reef and A5. At times like that, you really feel the responsibility as a skipper. That's why I'm very happy with the result and my job. It doesn't get any better than this."

The RORC Transatlantic Race now has a proud tick on the Rafale crew's bucket list. Kadelbach continues: "The morning after that first night, all doubts were gone. From then on we just banged along with A2 and without reefing. We were a perfect team the whole time. Above all, our two girls on board were the real machines and feel-good managers."

Lessons in battling seaweed and saildrive, tears of happiness at the finish line

There were also some nasty moments in this dream race, as Kadelbach reports: "The huge patches of seaweed really got to us in the last third. The whole engine vibrated like crazy, especially on the saildrive. We were worried that something would break out at some point. We didn't have this issue on our watch. It caught us unprepared. Definitely a learning experience."

Compensation was made with the happy ending: "The arrival was magical with the narrow lead over 'I love Poland' and the crew of the 'Teasing Machine' at the dock with applause. Kirstie was in tears. I'm super proud of the team, especially because we're not pros. We have a 17-year-old boat and we've sailed it to the podium without ever being unsafe or breaking anything."

• Click here for the results of the RORC Transatlantic Race.