Unforgettable Transatlantic Race 2025 finish amidst drama offshore
by Louay Habib / NYYC 4 Jul 03:10 NZST
Unforgettable Transatlantic Race 2025 finish amidst drama offshore © Corinna Haines
It was rush hour in Cowes on Day 15 of the west-to-east Transatlantic Race 2025, as boats crossed the finish line in Cowes within minutes of each other after an epic 3,000-mile battle for top honors in IRC 1.
First to arrive was Ocean Fifty Calamity, co-skippered by Timo Tavio and Kimo Nordström, taking Multihull Line Honors in 13 days, 15 hours, 10 minutes and 52 seconds. The team, mostly from Finland, were elated to finish the race and claim the MOCRA Class title.
Shortly after Calamity had finished, a thrilling drama played out in the IRC 1 fleet. After an intense race to the finish, Hanno Ziehm's Marten 49 Moana was first to finish in a pack of three boats in an elapsed time of 13d:17h:29m:52s. Just 49 seconds later, Clark Murphy's Swan 80 Ikigai crossed the line. Hot on their heels—just a mile astern—was the Hamburgische Verein Seefahrt's JV52 Haspa Hamburg, skippered by Katrina Westphal.
After IRC time correction, the final podium for IRC 1 has Moana as the provisional winner, with Haspa Hamburg runner-up and Ikigai completing the podium.
The Transatlantic Race 2025 is 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 race started from Newport, R.I., on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, and finishes off Cowes, England, one to three weeks later. The competitors covered a distance of approximately 3,000 miles. IRC handicap scoring will determine the winners in each division. The 2025 edition is the 32nd Transatlantic sailing competition organized by the New York Yacht Club. The race is sponsored by Peters & May and Helly Hansen.
This was one of the closest finishes in recent west-to-east Transatlantic racing memory—proof that even after thousands of miles, every second counts. The crews of Moana, Haspa Hamburg and Ikigai celebrated at the RORC Cowes Clubhouse after completing the race.
"The Transatlantic Race has truly been the pinnacle of my sailing career," said Moana bowman Robert Ziehm, who did the race with his father. "To win IRC 1 after 3,000 miles is something I wouldn't have believed at the start. We've always focused on offshore racing, but to take a Transatlantic Race win—especially with my father on board—feels incredible. We led since Point Alpha, but the closing miles were unbelievably intense. Ikigai was storming up behind us and we had to push the Code Zero hard just to hold them off. In the Solent, it came down to less than 50 meters at the line. After two weeks of racing, to beat them by under a minute was unreal. The pressure just dropped, and we were ecstatic. Sharing that finish with my dad—who's been racing with me since I was a kid—was a dream come true. The boat held up, the team stayed motivated, and even through the tough conditions and sleepless nights, we stuck together. It was everything offshore sailing should be tough, tactical, emotional—and absolutely exhilarating."
For the Haspa Hamburg crew, this was another remarkable chapter for their association, the Hamburgische Verein Seefahrt, as explained by the team's young skipper, Katrina Westphal.
"We're incredibly proud to represent the Hamburgischer Verein Seefahrt in this race. HVS has been promoting seamanship and offshore sailing since 1903, with a strong commitment to youth development. It's a club that gives young sailors real offshore experience, teaching us teamwork, leadership and resilience through challenging races. Competing in major events like the Transatlantic Race 2025 isn't just about the result—it's about continuing a legacy of ocean racing and pushing ourselves to be better sailors. Being part of that tradition, and sailing under the HVS burgee, is something truly special for all of us on Haspa Hamburg."
This was the fifth Transatlantic Race in a row for Clarke Murphy, skipper of JV82 Ikigai. Clarke loves to sail with a core group of top professionals as well as his immediate family. The joy of the Ikigai crew was there for all to see after the race as they celebrated in the RORC Cowes Clubhouse.
"This Transatlantic Race has been one of the most meaningful experiences of my life," said Murphy. "To safely complete a 3,000-mile ocean crossing is always an achievement, but to do so surrounded by experienced sailors who've become close friends over many years—and alongside my children, Morgan and Liam—made it unforgettable. Morgan has dreamed of racing across the Atlantic with me since she was young, and this was her first. Watching her handle the watch system, the tough conditions and the joy of landfall was deeply emotional. Liam, now on his third crossing at just 23, continues to impress with his seamanship and resilience. We planned meticulously and faced-up the usual curveballs, but we came through strong, safe, and smiling. That blend of professional grit, family spirit and camaraderie is exactly why I keep coming back. It's more than a race—it's a lifetime memory."
Four teams are still at sea in the Transatlantic Race 2025, the next to finish is expected to be Dan Litchfield's classic Nielsen 59 Hound which had 346 miles to go as of July 3 at 00:00 EDT.
Mid-Atlantic on July 1, Gary Nackman's Baltic 51 High Note contacted the race team reporting damage to the rudder. Below is the official statement from the Transatlantic Race Team about High Note and the seven crew on board.
During the early hours of July 1, High Note, one of the yachts competing in the NYYC/RORC Transatlantic Race, race hit an unidentified object underwater causing significant damage to the yacht's rudder and propellor. Another competing yacht, Avanti, diverted to offer assistance. The crew of Avanti carried out a dive on High Note to assess damage, and during the next few hours the crew of High Note worked to try and free the rudder without causing further damage to the yacht. Unfortunately, this was unsuccessful and further assistance was offered and accepted by a French Commercial vessel Anemos.
With a worsening forecast, the crew of High Note made the sensible decision to transfer the crew to Anemos and High Note was taken in tow. After a short time the tow line parted and High Note is currently adrift in the Atlantic.
Great credit should be given to the crew of High Note and Avanti for their seamanlike efforts, and grateful thanks to the skipper and crew of Anemos.
The NYYC/RORC team were in constant contact during the incident and both U.S. and U.K. coast guards are aware of the situation.
The Transatlantic Race 2025 is 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.