Line Honours for Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA) in the Transatlantic Race 2025
by Louay Habib 27 Jun 05:15 NZST
26 June 2025
Volvo 70 Tschüss 2 (USA), owned by Christian Zugel and co-skippered by Johnny Mordaunt, has taken Line Honours in the West to East Transatlantic Race 2025 in an elapsed time of 07 Day 15 Hrs 29 Mins and 10 Secs.
Tschüss 2 Crew: Christian Zugel, Johnny Mordaunt, Al Fraser, Andrew McLean, Campbell Field, Christopher Welch, Edward Myers, Fredric Shanks, Neal McDonald, Nicholas O'Leary, Pete Cumming, Stefano Nava, Stu Bannatyne, Trystan Seal.
Christian Zugel may be relatively new to offshore racing, but his recent achievements with Tschüss 2 are nothing short of astounding. Since July 2024 Tschüss 2 has won four major offshore races overall under IRC and logged 22,000 nautical miles in the process. Tschüss 2 has been the overall winner for the 2024 Roschier Baltic Sea Race, the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race, RORC Caribbean 600 and looks untouchable for the West to East Transatlantic Race.
"This was a phenomenal race - very fast and far beyond my expectations," said Christian Zugel, owner of Tschüss 2. "We ended up beating the IRC corrected time record by 30 hours. That's something I never imagined when we set out. In this campaign we've now sailed the same as one lap around the equator - including two transatlantic races. We've been pushing hard, but smart. Our boat is still in great shape, and our crew is motivated and injury-free. We could probably go sailing again tomorrow!"
Reflecting on the crossing itself, Zugel added, "It's hard to put into words. You leave Newport in fog, thread your way through the Gulf Stream with bizarre wave patterns and bubbling 25 degreesC water, and then make a break north just in time to ride a cold front across the Atlantic. I've flown over the ocean 150 times but sailing it is something else entirely."
His advice to others? "Go for it - but be prepared. You need a serious boat and a professional crew. If you get caught in 55 knots unprepared, that's trouble. But for me, this was the race of a lifetime."
Tschüss 2 trimmer and helmsman Nicholas O'Leary reveals what life is like on board in the North Atlantic:
"Our watch system is pretty slick," commented O'Leary. "We run four groups rotating every two hours with two watch captains - Stu Bannatyne and Neal McDonald. It means there's always someone on deck who knows exactly what's going on, and intel gets passed seamlessly. When you're helming in zero visibility, spray flying, pitch dark and fog so thick you can't see two boat lengths, you've just got to trust the numbers. You're trimming for VMG constantly. One night a tanker with no AIS popped up just four boat lengths away - it was that kind of race.
"Despite the brutal conditions, the mood on board was always positive. Everyone's a pro, and even though most hadn't sailed together before, we clicked fast. I was trimming alongside Pete Cumming - what a gent - and we were in sync from day one.
"And then there's the wildlife. I'm into fishing, so when a couple of fish washed onto the deck after a nosedive, I made ceviche with lime - Campbell and I were the only takers! We saw whales, dolphins, and sunfish and even passed a longliner deploying 40 miles of swordfish line. We warned the boats behind via WhatsApp. That camaraderie, sharing safety info mid-ocean, was really special."
Tschüss 2 co-skipper Johnny Mordant attributes the team's success to the highly experienced offshore sailors and a well-prepared boat with virtually no equipment failures.
"The key to our success across has been the strength of our team. We've got some of the best offshore sailors in the world, each bringing a wealth of experience. That knowledge trickles down and creates a solid foundation. The crew know what to expect, how to stay safe, and how to push performance. It's about discipline and consistency, and it's worked again. We push hard, stick to our plans, and execute well. From my side as boat captain I'm pleased to report virtually no equipment failures - just two minor issues, and neither were on me! The boat was fast, the team was sharp, and we were calm even in tough conditions like zero visibility at 22+ knots of speed.
"Now we turn our focus to the Rolex Fastnet Race. We're picking up new sails tomorrow and heading into the most competitive offshore fleet imaginable. With the race's centenary and the return of the Admiral's Cup, it's going to be an incredible event - truly inspiring, even for someone like me who's been doing this for decades."
Oliver Kobale's VO65 Sisi is expected to be the next boat to finish the Transatlantic Race 2025. The Austrian team is just off the South Coast of Ireland with 300 miles to go.
Follow the fleet live via YB Tracker or on the YB Races app (free, no login).
The Transatlantic Race 2025 is organised by the New York Yacht Club and the Royal Ocean Racing Club, with support from the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Storm Trysail Club.