Transatlantic Race 2025

Transatlantic Race

A North Atlantic Adventure Like No Other

Organized by the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club with support from the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Storm Trysail Club, the Transatlantic Race 2025 from the East Coast of the United States to the shores of the United Kingdom stands as one of sailing’s most time-honored and demanding challenges. The west-to-east route tests sailors with the unpredictability of the North Atlantic, serving up everything from gales and fog to high-pressure systems and subtly shifting wind patterns.

The origins of this contest trace back to the 19th century, when the age of steam had not yet replaced the romance and utility of sail. In 1866, the American owners of three yachts (Henrietta, Fleetwing and Vesta) made a now-legendary wager of $30,000 each and raced from New York to the Isle of Wight in the Great Ocean Race, with the winner taking the entire purse.

This daring mid-winter adventure—an extraordinary feat of ambition, technology and endurance—was won by Henrietta in an elapsed time of 13 days, 21 hours and 55 minutes. Henrietta was helmed by James Gordon Bennett Jr., who was to become the Commodore of the New York Yacht Club in 1870. This was the first truly publicised transatlantic yacht race and arguably the moment ocean racing was born.

The tradition continued into the 20th century with the Transatlantic Race organised every few years. Yachts that have become legends in their own right have raced this route, from Windward Passage and Condor of Bermuda to more recent high-tech campaigns like ICAP Leopard, Rambler 100 and Comanche. Not just a contest of speed, the race has long drawn those seeking personal conquest. From seasoned offshore veterans to families sailing for legacy, experience and connection to the sea. The Transatlantic Race 2025 carries forward more than 150 years of heritage.

Click here for current entry list