TRANSAT WAYS

While the America’s Cup remains the most prestigious event in our sport, a similarly ancient competition, to which the New York Yacht Club is also central, is the Transatlantic Race. This was first run in 1866, the result of three wealthy New Yorkers bragging about whose boat was fastest during a night on the razz. The argument culminated in a race that, unbelievably, set sail in December, saw “only” six crew lost during a gale and was won (along with a bet, the equivalent of US$1.4million today) by 25-year-old John Gordon Bennett Jnr in the 107ft Henrietta.

Since the Daimler Chrysler Transatlantic Race in 2001 and the Rolex Transatlantic Race in 2005, the race has been run every four years, by the New York Yacht Club, but in association with the Storm Trisail Club, the Royal Yacht Squadron and the Royal Ocean Racing Club.

The 2019 race will go down