Palanad 4 claims overall victory in RORC Transatlantic Race 2026
by Louay Habib / RORC 22 Jan 03:04 PST
22 January 2026
Palanad 4 (FRA) win the RORC Transatlantic Trophy for IRC overall in the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race © Arthur Daniel / RORC
The Royal Ocean Racing Club has confirmed Mach 50 Palanad 4 (FRA), owned by RORC Member Olivier Magre and skippered by his son Antoine Magre, also a RORC Member, as the overall winner of the 2026 RORC Transatlantic Race on IRC corrected time.
While competitors remain racing at sea, none can now beat Palanad 4's IRC corrected time, securing overall victory in one of offshore sailing's most demanding ocean races. The French-flagged Mach 50 completed the 3,000 mile race from Lanzarote to Antigua in an elapsed time of 8 Days 05 Hours 55 Minutes and 50 Seconds - a standout performance.
The result marks a major milestone for both the Magre family and the innovative Mach 50 project, which has delivered overall victory in only its second offshore race, following its debut at the 2025 Rolex Fastnet Race.
A father and son victory
For owner Olivier Magre, the achievement carried a deeply personal significance.
"For me, as a father, this is a fantastic dream," said Magre. "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."
Olivier Magre sailed as part of the Palanad crew, balancing his role as owner with that of a proud father and committed team member.
"At every moment I am the father," he smiled. "I tell Antoine to be careful, to look after himself. But on the boat, he is the boss. He makes the decisions, and the crew follows him. For me, it was easy to be a crew member. I prepared food, I helped where I could. The mix was fantastic."
Validation of a radical concept
For skipper Antoine Magre and crew member and designer Sam Manuard, the victory represents a decisive validation of the Mach 50 concept - particularly the scow bow canting keel design under IRC.
"This race is a very strong first proof of concept," said Antoine Magre. "We believed in the potential of the scow bow in IRC, but it had to be proven in real offshore conditions. Winning overall here really sets the bar for what comes next."
Antoine highlighted that the result opens the door to head-to-head competition with some of the fastest IRC platforms in the world for the RORC Caribbean 600 next month. "Now we can look forward to racing against the Carkeek 50s, TP52s, Volvo 70s and others. This race shows Palanad 4 belongs in that company."
Preparation made the difference
While the Rolex Fastnet Race provided an early glimpse of Palanad 4's potential, the RORC Transatlantic victory was built on a far deeper level of preparation.
"The Fastnet was only our third time sailing the boat," said Antoine Magre. "We had almost no preparation. For this race, we had the whole autumn to train and refine everything. The difference was enormous."
That preparation translated into a disciplined, confident race across the Atlantic, even on angles that were not ideally suited to the design.
"This was largely a VMG downwind race, which is not necessarily the boat's strongest point," Magre explained. "But even our weaker angles are faster than many boats' strongest ones. That made the difference over distance.
Crew work and confidence
The Palanad 4 crew combined experience with cohesion throughout the crossing:
Palanad 4 Crew: Olivier Magre (Owner), Antoine Magre (Skipper), Sam Manuard, Jean-Philippe Saliou, Pablo Santurde, Simon Koster, Richard Fromentin.
The crew's ability to maintain consistency and avoid major issues proved decisive. "Having a well-organised race like this is incredibly important, especially with a new boat," said Olivier Magre. "The organisation was excellent, and the boat itself has been remarkably reliable. Even with very limited miles before the Fastnet and now a full Transatlantic, we had no major problems."
Looking ahead: Caribbean racing next
With Palanad 4 now alongside in Antigua, attention is already turning to what comes next, including the RORC Caribbean 600.
"The difference between the RORC Transatlantic Race and the Caribbean 600 is huge," said Antoine Magre. "Six hundred miles instead of three thousand; more reaching, more upwind, more transitions. I think people will be surprised by how the boat performs upwind. This race has given us huge confidence."
For Olivier Magre, Antigua also offers a moment to pause and reflect. "Antigua is a fantastic destination," he said. "My family and friends are here to join us, and we will take some time here before heading home. Winning a race like this and being able to enjoy it together is very special."
Respect for the ocean
This year's RORC Transatlantic Race has also been marked by a tragedy on Walross 4 - a reminder of the inherent risks of offshore ocean racing. The Royal Ocean Racing Club and the Palanad 4 team have expressed their respect and sympathy to all those affected, underlining that success at sea is always measured first by safety and seamanship.
A defining result
For Antoine Magre, the victory carries personal meaning. "Winning the RORC Transatlantic Race overall is something very special," he said. "To do it with my father on board, with this team and this boat, is something I will never forget."
Antoine also reaffirmed his long-term commitment to the Club. "I have been a member of the RORC since 2016 and plan to remain one for a very long time. RORC racing is a huge part of what we do."
As the fleet continues to arrive in Antigua, Palanad 4's performance stands as one of the highlights of the 2026 race: a demonstration of innovation, preparation and teamwork in offshore ocean racing.