Crew of Lucky interviewed after breaking RORC Transatlantic Race record
by Louay Habib / RORC 21 Jan 06:15 NZDT
20 January 2025
Bryon Ehrhart's Juan K 88 Lucky (USA) set a new race record in the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race © Arthur Daniel / RORC
Bryon Ehrhart's Juan K Maxi 88 Lucky (USA) crossed the finish line outside Camper & Nicholsons Port Louis Marina, Grenada on Monday 20th January 2025 at 09:19:41 UTC.
Taking Monohull Line Honours for the 2025 RORC Transatlantic Race, Bryon Ehrhart was presented with the IMA Transatlantic Trophy by IMA Secretary General, Andrew McIrvine.
Lucky's elapsed time eclipsed the record set by VPLP 100 Comanche in 2022 by 01 hour 25 minutes to set a new RORC Transatlantic Race Monohull Race Record of 07 Days 20 Hrs 34 Mins and 41 Secs.
Lucky crew: Bryon Ehrhart, Antonio Cuervas mons, Brad Butterworth, Brian Giorgio, Charlie Enright, Chris Lefferdink, Daniele Raddavero, Dean Phipps, Joca Signorini, Jonathan Clough, Jonathan Rankine, Juan Vila, Peter Van Niekerk, Rodney Daniel, Sam Mason, Samuel Rosenbaum, Scott Beavis, Simon Daubney, Stuart Wilson, Will McCarthy.
"The breeze picked up for the last third, but honestly, six hours from the finish we did not think we would make the record. Comanche is a boat that we have great respect for; it's good to see that we can actually perform to a level that is a little bit better than they did, but not by much!" commented Bryon Ehrhart.
"This is the longest race that we have done and it is a beautiful racecourse. The RORC organise great races and the RORC Transatlantic Race is a very desirable way to come to the Caribbean to take part in the RORC Caribbean 600. On Lucky we have a very experienced and senior leadership group making the boat go fast all the time, so the boat does what it's supposed to do at all times. We've had tight spots in this race, especially a light patch of wind in the second third, but we fought through."
Joca Signorini, helmsman and watch captain for Lucky runs through some of the defining decisions in the race:
"We went north of Canaries because we were looking to get the righthand shift that would be coming from the west, and we managed to also get a little bit of an acceleration close to La Palma. This has been a very long VMG race, we only went upwind in the last few miles. The boat and the crew did an amazing job. We're very happy that we managed to break the record because it means a lot to Bryon and the crew. You know it's a lot of work and to put together the whole program is not straight forward.
"Juan Villa did an awesome job placing ourselves in some really good positions in terms of the shifts and the best pressure, and sometimes playing with clouds. The last big decision was approaching Barbados. Juan was very confident that we would find more pressure north of Barbados and we did. Conditions changed quite abruptly in terms of direction and the wind speed got up to 29 knots. The crew work was just unbelievable, we were running along the edge of a shift requiring a lot of high speed manoeuvres."
Lucky's Sam Rosenbaum, just 21 years old, is a finance student at the College of Charleston and a member of the college's sailing team. This was Sam's first Atlantic race, and what a milestone at the start of his yacht racing journey. As part of Lucky's programme for youth sailors, which includes participants from the US Merchant Marine Academy, Sam stepped up to join the crew just one day before the start of the RORC Transatlantic Race, replacing a team member sidelined by illness.
"When Dean [Phipps] told me I was on board with the best ocean sailors in the world, I felt pure excitement," shared Sam Rosenbaum. "I had been working with the team for nine months, but I was definitely a little anxious at first. The crew looked after me incredibly well - every single one of them kept an eye on me. I helped out wherever I could, working on different parts of the boat, keeping my head down and focusing on the job.
"My favourite moment was the penultimate night. The conditions were pretty sporty, and the team really stepped up. Watching the crew perform in those challenging conditions was incredible. I got to see sailors I've admired my entire life, in action. The biggest lesson I've learned from this race is that maintaining a positive attitude is the key to improving and performing at your best."
Bryon Ehrhart is a strong supporter of the US Merchant Marine Academy and was full of praise for Sam Rosenbaum: "I am keen to bring youth sailors into this environment. Sam got his chance through illness, but he also earned it," commented Ehrhart. "This crew have very high levels of expectations and he's done a great job; he impressed throughout."
The next boat expected to finish the RORC Transatlantic Race is Christian Zugel's Volvo 70 Tschuss 2.
Race Website: rorctransatlantic.rorc.org
Tracker: rorctransatlantic.rorc.org/tracking
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